Only One New England Beach Made Dr. Beach’s 2026 Top 10 List

Millions of Americans spent Memorial Day weekend kicking off another summer beach season, and now Dr. Beach has released his annual list of the best beaches in the United States.

Dr. Beach is actually Dr. Stephen Leatherman, a coastal scientist who has been ranking America’s public beaches since 1991. His list is not just based on which beach looks the prettiest on Instagram, either. He uses 50 different criteria to judge each beach, including sand quality, water quality, wave size, beach shape, wildlife, cleanliness, safety, and more.

For 2026, the top spot went to Poipu Beach on Kauai in Hawaii. Dr. Beach praised the family-friendly beach for its golden coral sand and crystal-clear water. Because the beach is protected by an offshore island, it is also a popular spot for kids and snorkeling.

Second place went to St. Andrews State Park in Panama City, Florida, followed by Caladesi Island State Park in the Dunedin and Clearwater area of Florida.

But for those of us in New England, the real headline is that only one beach from our region made the entire top 10. That honor goes to Coast Guard Beach on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, which came in at number 10.

The rest of the list included beaches in Hawaii, Florida, New York, South Carolina, and Massachusetts.

So while Hawaii and Florida may have dominated the rankings, New England still managed to sneak one beach into the national spotlight. And honestly, Cape Cod representing the region feels pretty fitting.