For the first time in 35 years of ranking beaches, data from Dr. Stephen Leatherman — a.k.a. “Dr. Beach” — awarded the title of “America’s best beach” to one outside of Hawaiʻi or Florida.
Coopers Beach in Southampton, New York, earned the number one spot for 2025. It’s a shift for the list, historically dominated by the tropical (and subtropical) sands of the Pacific and Gulf coasts. Coopers Beach is beloved for its broad stretches of grainy white sand, towering dunes covered in swaying beach grass, and backdrop of Hamptons mansions — though it isn’t immune from criticism, as parking there costs $50 per day. But it finally edged out perennial favorites after taking third place in 2023 and second place in 2024. Now, it’s the best beach in the US, according to 50 rigorous data points.
