Almost everyone loves a good beach town. In fact, according to a 2024 study by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, U.S. beaches receive an estimated 3.4 billion visits per year. They’re huge revenue drivers, with tourists spending a whopping $240 billion on visits annually. And while this is great for the economy, it also means some beach towns can get seriously overcrowded, making it harder to find a peaceful escape. The good news: we’ve got the inside scoop on where to go for an actually quiet experience.
In July, online casino platform HelloMillions released the findings of its study on the best hidden-gem beach towns in the U.S. The team scraped reputable online sources, like Tripadvisor reviews, to create a seed list of lesser-known beach towns across the country. Then, it used a keyword explorer to collect search volume data for each of the towns, successfully identifying 20 that qualified as “hidden” and sourcing photos for each. Using AI image analysis, each town received a “beauty score” out of 10. The team combined both search volume and beauty scores to rank the towns, and two of them tied for first place: Sandbridge, Virginia, and Kapa’a in Kauai, Hawaii.
Sandbridge, located on a barrier spit with the Atlantic Ocean to the east and Back Bay to the west, had the highest beauty score across all the towns analyzed. Known for its quiet, local feel, the team at HelloMillions called it a “great coastal spot to escape the bustle of those more popular beaches.”
Kapa’a, on the eastern shore of Kauai, has just 900 average monthly web searches and a beauty score of 8.10 out of 10. Located within the area commonly known as the Coconut Coast, it has historic storefronts, lively local energy, and stunning beaches along the coastline.
In third place was Edisto Beach in South Carolina, known for its relaxed, residential atmosphere. Its location on Edisto Island means it’s surrounded by tidal creeks and marshes that make it feel ultra-private and relaxed.
At No. 4 was Ocracoke, North Carolina, a remote island community in the Outer Banks. The beautiful, 16-mile-long strip is accessible only by ferry, private boat, or small aircraft, with vehicle and passenger ferry service connecting the island to the mainland and Hatteras Island. It is famous for its sandy beaches, salt marshes, and woodlands.
Rounding out the top five is Edgartown, located on the southeastern shore of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. “Edgartown has a protected harbor for yachting and a historic whaling-era town center, as well as its popular South Beach in the Katama area and gorgeous views of the Edgartown Lighthouse,” said the HelloMillions team.
Other top beach towns on the list include Avila Beach, California, which took the No. 6 spot; Bay View, Michigan at No. 7; Hauʻula, Oahu at No. 8; Kaunakakai, Moloka’i at No. 9; and Seabrook Beach, New Hampshire at No. 10.
