Hawaii and Florida top list of best US beaches for 2026, according to ‘Dr. Beach’
Poipu Beach tops Dr. Beach’s 2026 ranking, which uses 50 criteria and is dominated by Hawaii and Florida entries.
- On Thursday, coastal scientist Stephen Leatherman, known as 'Dr. Beach,' named Poipu Beach on the island of Kauai the top U.S. beach for 2026.
- Since 1991, Leatherman has published the annual list by evaluating 650 major public recreational beaches using 50 criteria including water quality, sand texture, and rainfall.
- St. Andrews State Park in Panama City, Florida, ranked second, while Caladesi Island State Park in Dunedin, Florida, placed third, reflecting Hawaii and Florida's dominance in the top 10.
- Coronado Beach in San Diego was excluded from this year's list for the second consecutive year, joining two other beaches removed from the ranking.
- Leatherman cited sewage from the Tijuana River as the cause, stating, "It is wrecking that whole area," as San Diego County has repeatedly issued bacterial advisories.
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The coastal scientist Stephen Leatherman, known as Dr. Beach, published the ranking of the top 10 beaches in the United States by 2026 and placed Poipu Beach, in Kauai, Hawaii, at the top.This site stood out for its environmental quality and a mid-moon-shaped geography that divides the coastline into two sectors.The classification is published every year before the Memorial Day weekend.How is Poipu Beach, the place that was ranked first?Poipu Be…
A crescent-shaped beach in Hawaii, surrounded by vegetation and facing an island close to the coast, is the best beach in the United States.
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KEZI 9 NewsA crescent-shaped beach in Hawaii, surrounded by vegetation and facing an island near the coast, is the best beach in the United States.
Dr. Beach Reveals Top 10 Best Beaches In America
For over three decades, Dr. Stephen Leatherman, aka Dr. Beach has reviewed, evaluated and rated beaches along coastal areas throughout the world and has released his annual ranking of America’s Best Beaches. The top 10 include: Poipu Beach — Hawaii St. Andrews State Park — Florida Caladesi Island State Park — Florida Wailea Beach — Hawaii Main Beach — New York Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park — Florida Beachwalker Park — South Carolina Kaunaoa Be…
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