South Carolina Ranks No. 1 In Top Hidden Beaches, A New Study Says

Forbes

22-06-2025

Two beaches on South Carolina's Edisto Island are cited as hidden, secluded beaches in a new study. (Photo by: Wolfgang Kaehler/Avalon/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) Avalon/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
If you are looking for a hidden, secluded beach this summer, head to South Carolina, a new study says.
Five South Carolina beaches rank in the top 10 of the top 20 hidden coastal spots throughout America, according to the study by BoatBooker, a website that books boating trips throughout the country. South Carolina's Vereen Memorial Park in Little River ranks No. 1, and the state's Driftwood Beach on Edisto Island is No. 2.
Other South Carolina beaches in the top 10 are Morris Island near Charleston, Station 22—Public Beach Access on Sullivan's Island and Edisto Beach State Park Campground on Edisto Island. Morris Island is uninhabited, and the island and its lighthouse are accessible only by boat.
BoatBooker found the best secluded beaches by using Google maps and the search terms "secluded beaches," "hidden beaches" and "quiet beaches." It focused on locations with fewer than 100 reviews, because they are more likely less visited and off the beaten path, BoatBooker says. Each beach was then ranked using a combined score based on its average rating and number of reviews.
Vacationers, though, should be forewarned: U.S. beaches are often crowded in summertime, particularly on weekends. This journalist noticed online comments saying that some of the beaches in the BoatBooker study, particularly some near major cities, were crowded when the commenters visited.
California's Dana Strands Beach is one of the nation's top hidden coastal spots, a new study says. (Photo by Don Bartletti/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
The study noted that 'there's nothing worse than planning the perfect beach getaway, only to find yourself elbow-to-elbow with crowds at America's most famous coastal destinations.' The most tranquil beach spots 'are not along the renowned resort communities but in state parks, nature reserves and little seashore towns.'
Nine California beaches are in the top 20, which, because of ties in the ratings, included 22 beaches. The state's highest-ranking beach is No. 5 Torrey Pines City Beach in San Diego's La Jolla neighborhood.
The beach. also known as Black's Beach, is famous among surfers for big winter swells, but it is better known as San Diego's nude beach, according to the San Diego Tourism Authority. The beach can be difficult to access because of its location beneath the Torrey Pines bluffs. 'Stately eight-figure mansions and state-of-the-art medical research labs now line the bluffs where pastures and the Black family horse farm once lay,' the tourism authority says.
Another nude beach, Gunnison Beach in Sandy Hook, New Jersey, ranks No. 3 in the BoatBooker study. The beach is in the National Park Service's Gateway National Recreation Area.
'A portion of Area G (South Gunnison) on Sandy Hook is used by visitors as a clothing optional area,' the park service's website says. 'While this area is not designated as clothing optional, there is no prohibition against this activity. The park acknowledges the popularity and history of the use and advises unfamiliar visitors of this activity through signs. Nudity, outside the traditional use area, may be considered disorderly conduct.'
The BoatBooker study ranks five North Carolina beaches in its top 20: Caswell, Ocean Isle, Carolina, Coquina and Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Alabama (Gulf Shores Beach) and Texas (Beach Access #4—Beach Circle on Soth Padre Island) are the other states with beaches on the top 20 list.
'2025 is all about escaping the noise and finding America's most peaceful, secret beaches,' says Vukan Simic, BoatBooker's founder. 'While everyone else is fighting for space at the famous beaches, savvy travelers can discover the authentic American coast that locals have cherished for generations."