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Discover the U.S. state with all the best beaches in the Southeast

The Southeast’s bluest waters are in Florida

By Emily Caldwell Published November 15, 2025

beach — Chris The Island / Pexels

In a first-of-its-kind study, Beach.com found that one U.S. state is home to six of the best beaches in the Southeast U.S. The study, which combined NASA satellite imagery, traveler reviews, and environmental data, with an analysis of 1,300 beaches in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, found that the 12 best beaches in the Southeastern U.S. are located in Florida — with six of them located in Palm Beach County.

Using NASA satellite data, natural language processing, and proximity data, the study found that Florida’s Gulf coast is home to the bluest, clearest water and the highest-rated traveler experiences in the Southeast U.S. All of the top-ranked beaches in the Southeast all scored high in factors such as crystal clear water quality, blue water color, ease of beach access, pristine enviornment, and more. The study also ranked beaches on the list based on strong positive emotions from beachgoers, well-rounded experiences, and proximity to transportation.

Key findings

Ocean Reef Park, Riviera Beach, John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, and Carlin Park in Palm Beach County won the best beaches in the region. Visitors describe Ocean Reef Park as the type of “Instagrammable” beach you think of when you think of Florida’s beaches.
Bonnett Street Public Beach Access in Nags Head, N.C., ranked highest in accessibility and strong reviewer sentiment.
Delray Public Beach in Palm Beach County, FL, has the bluest and clearest water in the analysis.
Washington Oaks Gardens State Park in Palm Coast, FL, ranked highest in the overall experience category.

Contributor

Emily is a Features Writer at The Manual, where she specializes in food, beverage, and travel content. She focuses on weaving…

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