Where to Turn a World Cup Trip Into a Beach Vacation

Fortunately, the vast majority of host cities are on coastlines, from Vancouver on Burrard Inlet to the ever-popular beaches on the Jersey Shore, east of Philadelphia. But not all beaches are created equal, nor are all beaches equally easy to reach from crowded downtown areas. That’s why Beach.com, known for its annual “best beaches” list, released a new analysis of what host city to visit if you want to combine the World Cup and time at the beach into one packed day.

To rank the host cities, Beach.com analyzed 1,500 beaches across the US, Canada, and Mexico, narrowing results to the top five per stadium. To qualify, a beach needed at least 100 Google reviews, a minimum 4.5-star rating, and a sandy shoreline. Drive times were calculated using Google Maps, sampled 21 times across different days and times of day to reflect realistic traffic during the tournament. The ranking below is based primarily on how close a beach is to each stadium, with beach quality factored in — which is probably why both Canadian host cities edge out Miami, despite the latter’s more famous coastline.

Here are the five host cities where a beach trip can be a real, practical stop before or after kick off.

Vancouver, BC

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English Bay Beach is 1.9 miles from BC Place

It may seem odd to hear that Vancouver has better proximity to a beach than Miami, but World Cup attendees are sitting on a jackpot (in sand terms). English Bay Beach is just under two miles from BC Place, and with a rating of 4.7 across more than 19,000 reviews, it’s the highest-rated beach in the entire study. It’s a wide, sandy stretch backed by mountain views with a lively West End neighborhood right behind it. After the final whistle, you can grab a drink, dip your toes in the water, and watch the sun set over Burrard Inlet before dinner. In the summer, there are lifeguards on duty, kayak and watersports rentals, and public washrooms on site.

If you’re used to Caribbean beaches, remember that this is still the Pacific Northwest. June in Vancouver is warmer than its reputation suggests, and July is usually downright hot, but water temperatures are still pretty cold. For most people, it’s a good spot for a dip or wading in to your waist for a few minutes, but only the hardiest visitors will want to spend the whole afternoon in the water.

Toronto, ON

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Sunnyside Park is 2.9 miles from BMO Field

If you’re a person who prefers lake beaches to ocean beaches, you may already know that Toronto’s lakefront is the most accessible beach option in the whole tournament. Sunnyside Park is a mere six-minute drive from BMO Field (a shorter drive time than English Bay Beach, even though that’s closer to Vancouver’s stadium). In fact, Sunnyside is the closest beach to any stadium among all 16 host cities. But if you have 20 minutes, Woodbine Beach is the move for a proper afternoon out. It’s the most-reviewed option in the city at nearly 14,000 ratings (and a 4.6-star average), with a boardwalk, food stands, and a wide stretch of sand on the shore of Lake Ontario.

It’s worth knowing that Lake Ontario’s water quality can vary and is subject to the occasional swim advisory. But on a hot summer day, it’s a great spot for a beach day, with lifeguards, showers, water fill-up stations, and a nearby park with volleyball courts and playgrounds. Because it’s a lake beach, you don’t have to worry about waves, riptides, or sharks — though that could be a downside, if bodyboarding and surfing are your summer go-tos.

Los Angeles

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Dockweiler Beach is 7 miles from SoFi Stadium

It shouldn’t be surprising to see LA ranking highly, as the city is known for its sun-soaked coastline. SoFi Stadium sits seven miles from Dockweiler Beach, making it the closest ocean beach to any World Cup venue in the study. The more famous Manhattan Beach, rated 4.7 stars, sits just a few minutes beyond that and has a more upscale scene with walkable restaurants. You can also rent bikes along the shoreline and bike between several beaches in a single afternoon.

While Southern California sees tons of sunshine year round, June is known for days of ocean fog — in fact, it’s called “June Gloom.” So if you’re able, set aside a few days to tentatively hit the beach, making your final decision based on what day has the best weather. There are plenty of sporty things to do in LA during the days where you’re not posted up at the stadium.

Seattle

Photo: Emily Marie Wilson/Shutterstock

Alki Beach Park is 7 miles from Lumen Field 

Seattle’s Alki Beach Park is seven miles from Lumen Field and one of the most beloved beaches in the entire analysis (4.7 stars and more than 9,300 reviews ) with sweeping views across Puget Sound of the Seattle skyline and the Olympic Mountains beyond. And with an extended stretch of cafes and bars along Alki Avenue, it’s easy to spend the whole day at the beach. Since June and July have plenty of daylight in a city as far north as Seattle, you’ll have lots of time to dip your toes in the water before or after the matches. Just remember that the water is usually pretty chilly, with average temperatures in the mid-50s Fahrenheit. Alki is also a popular local hangout, meaning parking and pedestrian traffic can be heavy on the weekends. Go midweek or arrive early.

Miami

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Sunny Isles Beach is 11.5 miles from Hard Rock Stadium

While it’s not on the top of the list, Miami is still an excellent host city for mixing soccer action with beach action. It has the warmest water, the hottest temperatures, and the widest range of beach options of any city in the ranking. Hard Rock Stadium is 24–25 minutes from Sunny Isles Beach, which earns the highest rating of any US beach in the analysis at 4.8 stars. Samson Oceanfront Park (4.7 stars) is another strong pick just up the coast. Unlike areas where the Atlantic can be a little rough, these beaches are usually warm, clear, and reliably swimmable.

Florida is known for summer storms, so anticipate days where thunderstorms will roll in fast (and can roll out just as quickly). It can also be unbearably hot, so be sure to bring plenty of water and sunscreen, and a giant sun hat if you’re walking to the beach — which may be the quickest option, as Miami’s traffic can be notoriously slow.

Mexico’s host cities

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Mexico has fantastic beaches on both the Atlantic and Pacific sides, but its three host cities — Guadalajara, Mexico City, and Monterrey — are all landlocked, and none has a beach within less than three and a half hours of driving. So you’ll need to forgo the idea of a day trip and instead add a few extra days to one end of your vacation. Fortunately, the “closest” beaches are some of the best in the world, like Playa Los Muertos in Puerto Vallarta (about 4 hours from Guadalajara). It’s a stunning Pacific Ocean beach that backs to the cobblestone streets of Puerto Vallarta’s Romantic Zone and has a 4.6-star rating.

From Mexico City, the closest beach is in Acapulco, but it’s a long drive at about 5.5 hours. However, Mexico City’s fantastic airport connectivity means you can fly to some of the country’s best beach towns in less than two hours. Both Tulum and Cabo San Lucas are each about a 2-hour flight, while Puerto Escondido and Veracruz are even shorter, at about an hour by plane each. If you’re headed to Monterrey, the closest coastal escape is Laguna Madre on the Gulf of Mexico, known for relatively crowd-free beaches, towns that don’t feel super touristy, and even excellent birdwatching. However, it’s pretty far: about a 4-hour drive. At that point, you’d be better off sticking around Monterrey to experience the city, and doing a beach trip as a separate getaway.

Sorry, Kansas City

If you’re trying to plan a beach-meets-World Cup trip, Kansas City is probably not your best choice. The closest beach is at Lake Eufaula State Park in Oklahoma, and it’s about a 5-hour drive. So while you can find pretty good deals on Kansas City World Cup hotels, it’s a city to skip if you care more about the sand and surf.

The good news is that Kansas City doesn’t need a beach to justify itself. The barbecue alone is worth the flight, as are its jazz scene and genuinely underrated downtown area. But if you’ve got tickets, you’re better off trying to rent a KC Airbnb with a pool than you are trying to turn it into a beach trip, too.