Online Travel Guide - USA > Southern States

Southern States Beaches (AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC)

Best Southern Beaches

If there is one thing that the southern states are famous for, it's amazing beach weather. So you don't need to work too hard to plan your trip right; you'll pretty much end up with some of the best conditions for swimming, boating, parasailing and scuba diving…almost year round! This of course is made possible by the fact that the southern beaches of the United States are some of the best beaches in the country, if not in the world!

Since Florida, one of the largest areas in what we consider "the Southern United States," is a peninsula and a rather narrow state, you'll find beaches at nearly any tourist destination, facing almost any direction. In Western Florida (and in Southern Alabama and Louisiana), you'll have access to the white sandy beaches along the Gulf of Mexico. On the east coast of Florida (and in Georgia and the Carolinas), you'll get to swim in the clear blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Some of the best southern beaches are found on the islands off of South Carolina or Georgia, but your best bet for year-round southern beach heaven is in South Florida, in Miami, West Palm Beach, or the Keys

Best Beaches in Southern USA

There are far too many world-class beaches in Florida alone for us to give you a definitive list of the best beaches in Southern USA. We will, however, offer you a few of our favorite areas to go beach hopping—then you can visit this glorious beach-filled region, and let us know what makes it to your "Best Beaches" list!

If you're visiting Northern Florida, you'll get to choose whether you want to head east to the Atlantic Ocean or west to the Gulf. Atlantic-side beaches in Northern Florida stretch from Daytona Beach to Jacksonville and then up to the Georgia border. Here you'll get your selection of secluded beaches, urban shorelines, and family beaches—all perfect for swimming, fishing, surfing, and other beach activities.

On the western side of Northern Florida you'll get the Panhandle to traverse—the beach scene here is filled with resorts, rural areas, wildlife viewing areas, and emerald green water. If you continue heading west on the Panhandle, you'll hit beaches around Mobile, Alabama and then move towards New Orleans.

Best Beaches in Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas

As we mentioned before, the best beaches in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas are located in South Florida. South Florida, which also gives beach-goers access to the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico offer visitors much more than just sand and surf. Southern Florida is so well-equipped for tourists that it's not hard to plan a beach vacation that also includes other non-beach tourist attractions. South Beach, just south of Miami Beach, is an example of a beach area that also offers world-class shopping, dining, and clubbing; as such, South Beach has made a name for itself not just as one of the best beaches in the United States, but as one of the hippest tourist destinations in general.

	Beaches in Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia
If you are looking for a beach in Georgia and South Carolina don't miss the Cumberland Island National Seashore Beach.

	Beaches in Jacksonville, Destin, Daytona Beach, Pensacola, St. Augustine, Northeast Florida
Don't miss these beaches in the Northeast Florida and Panhandle region Grayton Beach State Park and St. George Island State Park Beach.

	Beaches in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Cape Canaveral and Central Florida
Favorite beaches in Central Florida are Caladesi Island State Park Beach and Fort Desoto Park - North Beach.

	Beaches in Key West, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami Beach, Boca Raton and Southern Florida
A few of the best beaches in Southern Florida are Bahia Honda State Park Beach, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park Beach and Matheson Hammocks Park Beach.

	Beaches in New Orleans, Louisiana, Biloxi, Natchez, Mississippi, Mobile, Alabama
If you are looking for a beach in Southern Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana don't miss Ship Island Beach.

Major Tourist Attractions in the Region