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Top U.S. Beaches for 2026: Hawaii and Florida Lead the Rankings

KVIA•Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 8:50 AM•CNN Newsource

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According to coastal scientist Stephen P. Leatherman, also known as Dr. Beach, Poipu Beach in Kauai, Hawaii, has been named the best beach in the United States for 2026. This ranking is based on 50 individual criteria, including water quality and cleanliness. Florida's St. Andrews State Park follows closely as the second best. Notably, the list features a mix of well-known beaches, with Hawaii and Florida dominating the top spots. Leatherman emphasizes the importance of warm swimming conditions, which often excludes colder beaches from the rankings. Additionally, some beaches are removed from the list due to pollution issues, such as Coronado Beach in San Diego, which has faced contamination problems from the Tijuana River.

Key Details: • Poipu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii is ranked as the best beach for 2026. • St. Andrews State Park in Panama City, Florida is the second best. • Dr. Beach's rankings are based on 50 criteria including water quality and cleanliness. • Coronado Beach in San Diego has been removed from the list due to pollution issues. • Leatherman has visited all 650 major public recreational beaches in the U.S.

travel pollution florida hawaii beaches

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FloridaSan DiegoCape CodPanama CityKauaiStephen P. LeathermanPoipu BeachEast Hampton

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