7 Prettiest White Sand Beaches in the US

There is something about a white sand beach that just makes you think of paradise. Turquoise waters lapping against it, perhaps there are some palm trees overhead, either way, all you want to do is lay down your towel or go for a paddle in the water while enjoying Maui snorkeling. Unfortunately, white sand beaches are few and far between and it can take a bit of planning finding the nearest (and prettiest) one to you.

In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the prettiest white sand beaches in the United States. Hopefully, there’ll be one that’s easy for you to visit!

Poipu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

Is there anywhere better to start when looking at a list of white sand beaches than Hawaii? Probably not. But how to choose the most beautiful?! Well, it’s been hard but the title goes to Poipu Beach on the island of Kauai. It’s the quintessential paradise beach – three crescents of white sands, turquoise waters breaking against the shore, and palm trees swaying gently in the breeze. Hey, some of them may even have hammocks up in there! If the beach wasn’t already perfect enough, it’s calm waters are great for young kids taking their first steps into the sea and there’s a lifeguard on duty every day of the week. It’s also a great spot for water sports, including stand up paddle boarding. Wildlife watchers will be pleased to know that you can easily spot the endangered Hawaiian monk seal here. Honestly, you could spend weeks at Poipu Beach!

Waimea Bay Beach Park, Oahu, Hawaii

If there’s one criticism you can have of Poipu Beach, it’s that it’s not on the most popular island in Hawaii – Oahu. Away from the bright lights of Waikiki Beach in Honolulu Beach, you’ll find this chilled out stretch of sand on the island’s less developed North Shore. Surfers love this beach as there are regular competitions here, while it’s easy to make the 4 mile journey to Sunset Beach on your stand up paddle board.

If you see photos of Waimea Bay, you could be forgiven for thinking you’ve seen it before. In fact, you probably have as it’s where the plane crashed in Lost!

It’s impossible to list all of Hawaii’s beautiful white sand beaches in one list, but others worth checking out include Lankiai, Kailua, and Waimanalo Beaches. Clearwater Beach, Florida

If you think that you have to leave the mainland United States to get a beautiful white and beach, you can stop panicking. There are several on the Gulf of Mexico, one of the best known being Florida’s Clearwater Beach. It may not boast the swaying palm trees of Hawaii, but it’s got enough to have been voted as the #1 beach in the US by Trip Advisor. With deckchairs, shallow waters, parks, and a range of water sports on offer, it’s fun for all the family!

Another beautiful white sand beach in Florida is Pensacola Beach – which offers wonderful snorkelling if you can drag yourselves off the powdery sands.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina

Want a big choice of beaches for your vacation? It might be best to head to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina. Warmed by the Gulf Stream, there are more than 70 miles of beautiful beaches where you can do everything from taking long walks, to stand up paddle boarding, to enjoying a relaxing cycle ride between each stunning stretch of sand.

Carmel Beach, Carmel by the Sea, California

California has its fair share of beautiful beaches. While there are lots of options in the big cities like LA, San Francisco and San Diego, sometimes it does you good to get off the beaten track. A couple of hours south of San Francisco and on the northern fringes of Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, Carmel has many white sand beaches. Choose one of them for front row seats to one of the best sunsets in the world! Check out more places to SUP in California.

Orange Beach, Alabama

Confusingly, Orange Beach offers some of the most beautiful err… white sands in the United States. Not largely associated with beaches, some people may even be surprised to know that Alabama has a coast on the Gulf of Mexico. The pristine sands here are made up mostly of quartz that has found its way here from the Appalachian Mountains. Just off the coast, you have the largest artificial fishing reef in the country, so it’s great for deep sea fishing. Other activities you can enjoy at Alabama’s Orange Beach include stand up paddle boarding, frisbee on the sand, and Dolphin Cruises, where sightings are guaranteed.

Flamenco Beach, Puerto Rico 

Okay, this one technically isn’t in the US. But as a US territory, American residents don’t need a passport to head to Flamenco Beach, widely regarded as one of the most stunning beaches in the entire world. You’ll find Flamenco Beach on Puerto Rico’s Culebra Island in the Caribbean. There’s little development here, so make the most of epic snorkelling and swimming in the gorgeous turquoise waters. Look out for the tanks abandoned here by the US Military, which have been re-decorated with bright Caribbean colours!