Dr. Beach Unveils 2026 Top 10 U.S. Beaches, Spotlighting Environmental Issues

Coastal scientist Stephen P. Leatherman, known as “Dr. Beach,” released his annual Top 10 U.S. beaches list on May 21, 2026. The ranking, based on evaluations of 650 public beaches, names Poipu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii as the best. The full top-ten is: Poipu Beach (Kauai, HI); St. Andrews State Park (Panama City, FL); Caladesi Island State Park (Dunedin/Clearwater, FL); Wailea Beach (Maui, HI); Main Beach (East Hampton, NY); Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park (Naples, FL); Beachwalker Park (Kiawah Island, SC); Kaunaoa (Mauna Kea Beach, Big Island, HI); Lanikai Beach (Oahu, HI); Coast Guard Beach (Cape Cod, MA).

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Leatherman has compiled the list each year since 1991 while teaching at Florida International University. He rates beaches on 50 criteria, emphasizing warm, clear water for swimming. Factors include water and sand quality, wave size, beach shape, cleanliness, safety, management, rainfall, and water temperature. Beaches that fail to meet standards are “retired” to allow others to rise.

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Three beaches were omitted in 2026: Coronado Beach, San Diego, due to sewage from Mexico’s Tijuana River; Lighthouse Beach, Outer Banks, NC, after severe erosion exposed a submarine-spy station; and Cape Florida State Park, Miami, because sargassum seaweed reduced its visual appeal. Leatherman notes strong tides can cloud water, limiting visibility for swimmers who “want to see their toes.”

CNNAmerica’s best beach named for 2026, while environmental challenges sideline othersNaples Daily News

Leatherman said warm, clear water earns higher scores, while cold or turbid conditions lower them. He warned that pollution, erosion and seaweed directly affect rankings and urged local authorities to address sewage discharges and coastal management. He highlighted Poipu Beach’s family-friendly amenities, lifeguard presence and smoking ban as factors in its top placement.

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Environmental groups cite the Tijuana River sewage as a public-health threat and criticize the repeated exclusion of Coronado Beach. The erosion at Lighthouse Beach underscores broader concerns about climate-driven shoreline loss on the Atlantic coast.

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The list draws national attention, shaping tourism and prompting local governments to prioritize water-quality monitoring, erosion control and habitat protection. Public recognition of high-scoring beaches encourages investment in amenities such as restrooms, lifeguard stations and stewardship programs.

America’s best beach named for 2026, while environmental challenges sideline others

• “It is wrecking that whole area,” — Stephen P. Leatherman, coastal scientist

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• “People want to see their toes.” — Stephen P. Leatherman, coastal scientist

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• “This family beach is known for its golden coral sand and crystal-clear water,” — Stephen P. Leatherman, coastal scientist

America’s best beach named for 2026, while environmental challenges sideline others

• “peaceful, countryside setting in a small village” — Stephen P. Leatherman, coastal scientist

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The 2026 rankings will appear in travel guides before the Memorial Day weekend, the peak beach-tourism period. Leatherman says he will keep monitoring the excluded sites and may reinstate them if water quality, erosion or seaweed problems improve.

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