This Iconic Southern California Beach Was Just Named the Best in the U.S.

The arrival of spring marks the unofficial commencement of beach season in the U.S., a country blessed with more than 95,000 miles of glistening shoreline. With seemingly endless options, stretching from the Pacific to the Caribbean coasts, selecting the ideal stateside spring beach escape can be a challenge even for the most seasoned sun-seekers. 

According to the latest rankings from the travel guide and review site Dive In Travel, Venice Beach, California, is the top U.S. beach to visit this spring. A hotspot for surfing, swimming, and sunbathing, it's not just the water that draws the crowds. Venice Beach’s Ocean Front Walk is the second most-visited destination in Southern California, prime for people-watching, colorful public murals, and seaside restaurants like The Waterfront Venice. 

Take a day trip from Los Angeles or stay the night at one of several boutique hotels like Venice V Hotel, which offers cozy suites and penthouse bungalows overlooking the beach. Keep an eye out for the legendary bodybuilders, skateboarders, and street performers that make this beach truly one of a kind.

Second on the list is Oregon’s Cannon Beach, a mystical landscape “where nature takes center stage,” says Dive In Travel. Just 90 minutes from Portland, this stunning four-mile beach is graced by stone “needles,” tranquil tidepools, and the iconic Haystack Rock. This dominant landmark, perched just off the shore, is not only an impressive sight to behold but also an Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge that transforms into a nesting sanctuary for tufted puffins during spring and summer.

Rounding out the top five are Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina, the standup paddleboard capital of the U.S.; Driftwood Beach in Georgia, famous for its massive weathered trees that have washed ashore; and South Beach in Miami, which epitomizes urban beach glamor. South Beach boasts nearly 300 hotels — the highest on the list — including magnificent Art Deco properties like The Setai, Thompson Miami Beach, and Nobu Hotel Miami Beach.

For this report, Dive In Travel compiled a list of the top 24 beach destinations in the U.S. based on Google search volume, performance across Tripadvisor reviews, hotel prices and availability, parking availability, and average drink and dining costs. To learn more about the methodology and see the complete list of the rankings, visit divein.com.