Travel Southeast The Prettiest Beach Towns In Every Southern State From Texas to Virginia, these coastal towns are picture perfect. By Lisa Cericola Lisa Cericola Lisa Cericola has been on staff at Southern Living since 2015. As Deputy Editor, Lisa manages the food and travel departments and edits those sections of each issue, as well as digital content. Previously, she was the features editor at Food Network Magazine and has more than 15 years of experience writing, editing, and managing photo shoots for print and digital lifestyle brands. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on March 10, 2024 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Courtesy of The Golden Isles There are many reasons to fall in love with a particular beach. It could be a haven for shell-seekers. Or the perfect place to catch some waves. Maybe the sand feels extra soft between your toes. Or it could be one of the prettiest spots you've ever laid eyes on, like this collection of beaches. Some of the most picturesque shorelines in the country are these spots found throughout the Southern coasts. Many of these beaches are longtime favorites, like St. Augustine or Port Aransas. Others, like Ocean Springs or Grand Isle, might be less familiar. The one thing that they all have in common is their breathtaking beauty. Whether you prefer the Gulf or Atlantic beaches on the east coast, there's a stretch of sand and sea on this list that's sure to inspire your next vacation. Or at least give you somewhere gorgeous to dream about. 01 of 20 Alabama: Fairhope ROBBIE CAPONETTO; PROP STYLING: RACHAEL BURROW; HAIR AND MAKEUP: CELINE RUSSELL/ZENOBIA This gem on Mobile Bay along the shimmering Gulf of Mexico has a charming little downtown complete with a waterfront park, a pair of lovely beaches, and a fishing pier. An added (and somewhat secret) charm: Point Clear is located just to the south, with a stunning bayside walking path that begins from the equally picturesque and gracious Grand Hotel Golf Resort and Spa. Explore Fairhope 02 of 20 Delaware: Rehoboth Beach Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Rob Pongsajapan/Flickr/CC BY 2.0 If you can’t imagine a getaway without your favorite furry friend, set your sights on Delaware’s Rehoboth Beach. You’ll want to stay at the Canalside Inn where Fido’s welcome and dog amenities are plentiful. Hit the beach and when you come back, Canalside Inn has outdoor doggie showers to rinse off those sandy paws. Explore Delaware 03 of 20 Delaware: Bethany Beach Bethany Beach is a family-friendly town with its nostalgic, pedestrian-only boardwalk and mile-long strand right on the Atlantic. The Delaware shoreline delights with mechanical cleaning three times a week to maintain the real postcard image of the Atlantic Shoreline. Nearby coastal towns offer shopping, hiking, and museums sharing the area's history, making this a great summertime escape for the entire family. Explore Delaware 04 of 20 Florida: Anna Maria Island Melanie Wynarski / EyeEm / Getty Images Anna Maria Island is what beach town dreams are made of. You won't find any hotel chains or condominium towers here, just a collection of tropical-style homes and friendly neighbors who wave from golf carts. Stretching from the bay to the gulf, Pine Avenue is the perfect place to shop funky boutiques, dine at local cafes, and get a feel for that ultimate island lifestyle. Make sure to grab a Margarita Donut or some other crazy confection from The Donut Experiment for breakfast. Explore Anna Maria Island 05 of 20 Florida: St. Augustine SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images From the ramparts of its 17th-century Castillo de San Marcos to the old-world streetscapes of the historic district and its oak-canopied roads, this storied city on Florida's Atlantic coastline is nearly picture-perfect. This scenic town includes seven white-sand beautiful beaches, stretching from Vilano Beach in the north to Crescent Beach in the south. Ghost tours and horse-drawn carriage rides transport you into the past, adding old-world charm to this breathtaking beachy town. Explore St. Augustine 06 of 20 Georgia: Tybee Island Courtesy of Georgia Department of Economic Development This barrier island beach town is a stone's throw from the numerous refinements of Savannah. Tybee Island offers the perfect complement of colorful and tiny cottages, seafood shacks, and miles of wide Atlantic-facing beaches. Sneak in a visit on the North Beach Birding Trail near Tybee's famous lighthouse. Explore Tybee Island 07 of 20 Georgia: St. Simons Island Getty Images/DorothyBlahnik One of Georgia's largest barrier islands, St. Simons Island, is known for its wide variety of things to do. In addition to typical water activities like fishing, swimming, and kayaking, there's also plenty to explore in town, including art and antique shops, farmer's markets, wine tastings, live music, and great restaurants. The Pier Village downtown is great for spending an afternoon shopping, strolling, and sipping. Learn more about the island's history at Fort Frederica National Monument, the WWII museum, and the historic St. Simons Island Lighthouse. Explore St. Simons 08 of 20 Louisiana: Grand Isle Cavan Images / Getty Images Perched near the toe of Louisiana's boot, this barrier island has survived more than its share of challenges from both Mother Nature (hurricanes) and Modern Man (oil spills). But Grand Isle has survived. Renowned for its fishing and bird habitat, this beautiful town is a little-known gem on the Gulf of Mexico. Explore Louisiana 09 of 20 Louisiana: North Beach Getty Images / Steven Turner / EyeEm If the Great Lakes prove anything, it's that an ocean isn't necessary to have a perfect beach day. Located on Louisiana's Lake Charles, there's always something happening on the white sand shores of North Beach. A scenic promenade on the lakeshore links three popular Lake Charles parks, where events and festivals are hosted year-round. The beach is popular for beach volleyball, beachcombing, and picnicking. Plus, you won't have to worry about saltwater stinging your eyes! Explore Louisiana 10 of 20 Maryland: St. Michaels This gorgeous Eastern Shore enclave has everything in spades—a spectacular waterfront resort, a stunning maritime museum, a humming little downtown, and charming historic homes. It seems Chesapeake Bay's broad and captivating vistas are everywhere within sight. Explore St. Michaels 11 of 20 Mississippi: Ocean Springs Alex North Photography Lined with live oaks and old-fashioned, busy storefronts, this artsy town on the Gulf of Mexico has no commercial development marring its shoreline. The streets lead to a pale-sand public beach with a fishing pier, a charming park, and glistening views of the delicate and pristine Gulf Islands. It is equally known for its arts and festivals, and downtown is home to many independent shops and galleries. Explore Ocean Springs 12 of 20 Mississippi: Bay St. Louis This quirky town on the Mississippi coast is a haven for creatives and an oasis for anyone looking for a quiet vacation. Just 51 miles away from New Orleans, Bay St. Louis couldn't feel further from the hustle and bustle. It's positioned on the Mississippi Sound, an embayment of the Gulf of Mexico, which provides an awe-worthy stretch of white-sand beach with virtually no crowds. Come happy hour, grab a seat at Daiquiri Shak for—you guessed it—daiquiris, which come in over a dozen different flavors. Then, grab a lobster roll from Thorny Oyster. Explore Bay St. Louis 13 of 20 North Carolina: Southport chapin31 / Getty Images There are scenic postcards, and then there's Southport, which has them beat. In this tiny harbor town near the Cape Fear River outlet, you'll find white cottages with red roofs, stately sea captains' homes, two lighthouses, and water in seemingly every direction. Catch the ferry and visit Bald Head Island, which is so private that even cars are not allowed on the island. Explore The Brunswick Islands 14 of 20 North Carolina: Carolina Beach red_moon_rise/Getty Images It's not just all about the fun to be had driving on the broad sands of this southern coast getaway at the northern end of Pleasure Island; or hitting its vintage boardwalk (which features old-school amusement rides in summer), lively beach bars, and superb seafood spots. This classic summer vacation spot is also home to natural gifts, including Carolina Beach State Park, with some of the area's finest fishing and the Flytrap Trail, named for the carnivorous Venus Flytrap plants along its path. Explore North Carolina 15 of 20 South Carolina: Sullivan's Island Csfotoimages / Getty Images At the mouth of Charleston Harbor, this tiny, primarily residential community sits along 3.3 miles of Atlantic shoreline. Sullivan's Island is a quiet, Lowcountry jewel with stunning beach houses in gracious lines along protected beaches. This hidden gem is a thoughtful mix of preserved nature and modern-day adventure. Explore South Carolina 16 of 20 South Carolina: Fripp Island Courtesy Discover South Carolina Only three and a half miles long and about a half-mile wide, Fripp Island is a sanctuary worth seeing. Located just 25 minutes from Beaufort, South Carolina, here you'll find the perfect place to put your towel down on laidback beaches, only leaving to visit a handful of restaurants or do something sporty like tennis, golf, or boating. You'll also find a popular trail maintained by the Audubon Club that not only gives great views of land and water wildlife, but of more than 175 bird species. Explore Fripp Island 17 of 20 Texas: Galveston Tim Leviston / EyeEm / Getty Images Strung along a narrow barrier island on the Gulf of Mexico, Galveston is a beautiful blend of graceful Victorian and early 20th-century mansions, bungalows, cottages, and a stunning historic downtown lined with tall palm trees and live oaks. To explore an exotic locale without leaving the states, visit the Moody Gardens. The conservation, rehabilitation, and recreational hub is home to tropical animal species from the rainforest and aquatic attractions. Explore Galveston 18 of 20 Texas: Port Aransas Cedric Angeles This sleepy fishing village has long been a nostalgic vacation spot for generations of Texas families. Perhaps the biggest draw of Port Aransas is its broad, walkable beachfronts with firm sand, gentle surf, and warm water that lasts well into the fall months. Beach activities range from sandcastle building to surfing lessons. And you can't forget what the town is best known for--fishing. Closer to the shore and in the bay, the daily catch could include redfish, flounder, black drum, and trout. Farther out in the Gulf waters, offshore trophies such as tuna, kingfish, sailfish, and marlin prove bountiful game. Explore Port Aransas 19 of 20 Virginia: Cape Charles Robbie Caponetto Fronting the Chesapeake Bay, this once-sleepy beach town with stately Victorian houses is transformed from its days as a former railroad hub to a small-town vacation destination. Located at the tip of the Delmarva Peninsula, white-sand beaches line the coast of one of "America's Happiest Seaside Towns." Vacation-goers are sparking the economy, and restaurants, breweries, and shops are popping up to meet this demand. Explore Cape Charles 20 of 20 Virginia: Assateague Island Joesboy/Getty Images Assateague Island National Seashore stretches 37 miles along the Atlantic and is home to a herd of roaming wild horses. A favorite place for enjoying white-sand beaches overlooking the Atlantic, Tom's Cove, and Assateague Bay, the island is located on the Eastern Shore and is also home to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, where you'll find hiking trails, marshes, and the Assateague Lighthouse. Next door on Chincoteague Island, you can enjoy the only resort island in Virginia. In these coastal areas, you're invited to lounge on the beaches, see the sunset, and glimpse a wild pony or two. Explore Virginia Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! 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