Cleanest Beaches in United States

Assateague Island National Seashore photo © NPS

It's that time of the year again. Digging through your dresser drawers to find a bathing suit, knowing that warm summer weather can't be that far away. Picking a beach, near or far, to visit for some quality time with the sun. Lucky for you, the Clean Beaches Council released its annual list of beaches which have been officially certified for public safety, cleanliness, and environmental quality.

Which beaches made the grade? Located in Alabama, California, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia, and Wisconsin, many of the beaches are located in National Parks or along National Seashores.

The Clean Beaches Council runs the most comprehensive, national environmental and public safety beach certification program in the country. Now in its fourth year, the Blue Wave Campaign has expanded significantly: the number of beach communities all over the country that participate in the program doubled in size last year and grew another 40 percent this year.

“Beach communities are responding to growing public demand for information about the cleanliness, safety and environmental management of beaches by ‘Seeking the Wave’ and participating in our program,” said Walter McLeod, President of the Clean Beaches Council. “Our Blue Wave Campaign is the only program of its kind which helps families and tourists identify beaches that don’t pose a serious health or safety risk and are managed to protect the environment and beach wildlife.”

The Blue Wave Campaign is a voluntary program open to both rural and resort beaches. For a beach community to apply for certification, a particular entity within that community, such as a business, state agency, county agency, or multiple agencies, must sponsor the effort.

The Clean Beaches Council works with state and local environmental and health authorities to verify application data. Blue Wave certification is valid for one year only. The Clean Beaches Council will continue to conduct certifications throughout the country this summer.

The Clean Beaches Council has certified the following Blue Wave beaches around the country in time for the opening of this summer beach season:

2002 BLUE WAVE BEACHES

Alabama

Gulf Shores Beach

California

Drakes Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore Wildcat Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore Limantour Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore Crescent Beach, Redwood National Park Gold Bluff Beach, Redwood National Park Enderts Beach, Redwood National Park

Delaware

Bethany Beach South Bethany Beach Dewey Beach Fenwick Island Beach Lewes Beach Rehoboth Beach

Florida (South Atlantic)

Hollywood Beach Dania Beach Fort Lauderdale Beach Pompano Beach Deerfield Beach

Florida (Gulf Coast)

Fort DeSoto Park Beach St. Pete Beach Access St. Petersburg/Treasure Island Beach Sand Key Park Beach Clearwater City Beach Honeymoon Island State Park Caladesi Island State Park Fred Howard Park Beach

Florida (North Atlantic)

Jacksonville Beach Crescent Beach, Fort Matanzas National Monument

Florida (Central Atlantic)

Cherie Down Park Indialantic Boardwalk Beach Alan Shepard Park Ocean Park Spessard Holland Park

Florida (Pan Handle)

Inlet Beach Rosemary Beach Seacrest Seagrove Seaside Watercolor Grayton Blue Mountain Santa Rosa Dune Allen Sandestin Seascape Miramar DeerLake State Park Grayton Beach State Park Topsail Hill State Preserve

Hawaii

Keauhou Landing, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Halape Shelter, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Ka' aha Beach, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Indiana

Kemil Beach, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Lake View Beach, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Mount Baldy Beach, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore West Beach, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Maine

Sand Beach, Acadia National Park Echo Beach, Acadia National Park

Maryland

North Ocean Beach, Assateague Island National Seashore

Massachusetts

Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore Herring Cove Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore Marconi Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore Nauset Light Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore Race Point Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore

Michigan

Pere Marquette Beach Esch Beach, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Glen Haven Beach, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore North Bar, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore Platte Point Beach, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore South Manitou Island, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

New Jersey

North Beach, Sandy Hook National Seashore N. Gunnison Beach, Sandy Hook National Seashore Lot Beaches (B-E), Sandy Hook National Seashore

New York

Sunken Forest Beach, Fire Island National Seashore Watch Hill Beach, Fire Island National Seashore

North Carolina

North Core Banks, Cape Lookout National Seashore South Core Banks, Cape Lookout National Seashore Shackleford Banks, Cape Lookout National Seashore

South Carolina

Isle of Palms

Texas

Rockport Beach Malaquite Beach, Padre Island National Seashore Little Shell Beach, Padre Island National Seashore Big Shell Beach, Padre Island National Seashore

U.S. Virgin Islands

Maho, Virgin Islands National Seashore Hawksnest, Virgin Islands National Seashore Trunk Bay, Virgin Islands National Seashore

Virginia

Virginia Beach Tom's Cove Beach, Assateague Island National Seashore

Wisconsin

Julian Bay Beach, Apostle Island National Lakeshore Little Sand Bay Beach, Apostle Island National Lakeshore Meyers Beach, Apostle Island National Lakeshore

Click here for more information on the Clean Beaches Council.