East Coast Beaches: Hidden Gems in Each State
The heat index keeps on rising, and with it nearing 100 degrees this week, we can’t help fantasizing about an escape to the beach, cool water and summer breezes. Here’s a comprehensive guide to beaches up and down the East Coast with estimated travel time, and recommended places to stay and where to eat. We hope you feel inspired by this list, and please, do add your own hidden gem in the comments.
Maine - Goose Rocks Beach
Goose Rocks Beach
How Far: DCA to Portland is a ~1.5 hour flight + 43 min drive south to Goose Rocks Beach.
Where to Stay:
Where to Eat:
Breakfast: Musette
Lunch: The Tides Beach Club or Cape Porpoise Chowder House (excellent clam chowder and lobster rolls) or Mabel’s Lobster Claw (incredible Lobster Rolls)
Dinner: White Barn Inn (18 min drive) or Earth at Hidden Pond
Dessert / Sweet Treat: Goose Rocks Dairy
White Barn Inn
New Hampshire - Hampton Beach
Hampton Beach
How far: Fly into Boston from DCA (~ 1.33 min) + 1 hour drive from Boston
Where to stay: Beachfront Airbnb
What to eat:
Breakfast: KB’s bagels and java
Lunch: Bernie’s Beach Bar
Dinner: The Shuck Shack - amazing oysters!
Ice Cream: The Beach Plum
Massachusetts - Steps Beach Nantucket
How Far: Fly directly into Nantucket from DCA (~1H 32Min) or if you want to drive your car onto Nobadeer beach, drive and take a ferry!
Where to Stay: Rent a house!
Where to Eat:
Breakfast: Island Kitchen
Lunch: Stop by Millie’s for a lobster roll or one of their famous quesadillas
Dinner: Galley Beach (on the beach overlooking the Nantucket sound)
Ice cream: If you are willing to wait in line Juice Press has the BEST ice cream on the island. Soda Fountain also is a great sweet treat place inside of an old drug store.
Galley Beach
Rhode Island - Watch Hill (East Beach)
How Far: 7 Hours via Amtrak from D.C. OR 1H 20 mins DCA to Providence plus 1 hour drive.
Where to Stay: Ocean House & Weekapaug Inn
Where to Eat:
Breakfast: The Cooked Goose
Lunch: St. Clair Annex (sandwiches)
Dinner: Olympia Tea Room
Dessert / Sweet Treats: Sift Bake Shop & Ice Cream at St. Clair Annex
Connecticut - Hammonasset Beach
How Far: 6.5 Hour drive from Alexandria, or 4 hour and 40 min train to New Haven + 26 min drive
Where To Stay:
Madison Beach Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton
Madison Beach Hotel
Where To Eat:
Breakfasts:
Lunch:
Lobster Landing (Connecticut-style lobster rolls)
Saldamarco’s Deli (incredible sandwiches)
Dinner:
The Place Restaurant: A classic New England clam and lobster bake
Bufalina: Amazing Pizza
Dessert / Sweet Treat:
New York - Ditch Plains Beach (Montauk)
Ditch Plains Beach
How Far: DC To LGA - 1h 9min + LIRR (4hr 33 min) Or by Car ~ 2hr 41 min
Where to Stay:
Marram : A truly unique oceanfront experience located in the heart of Montauk, MARRAM is a ninety-six-room boutique resort hotel, offering barefoot luxury and essential experiences that invite you to focus on life’s simple pleasures.
Marram Resort
Where to Eat:
Breakfast: Bird on the Roof (must-try blueberry buttermilk pancakes)
Lunch:
Ditch Witch (food Truck on the beach serving poke bowls, burritos, cinnamon rolls, etc.)
Navy Beach Restaurant - Delicious food on a stunning private beach.
Dinner:
The Crow’s Nest - The menu is full of Montauk staples ( Fluke Crudo, Lobster Pasta, etc.)
Mavericks Montauk - Fancy seafood & steakhouse.
Seaside House Bar - Sushi
Dessert/ Sweet Treat:
John’s Drive-In - Try the double fudge Oreo ice cream.
New Jersey - Cape May NJ
How far: 4 hour drive from Alexandria or fly from DCA into Atlantic City National Airport, 45 minutes from Cape May
Where to stay: Congress Hall Hotel - seaside resort
Where to eat:
Breakfast: Bella Vida Garden Cafe
Lunch: Beach Plum Farm
Dinner: 410 Bank Street for New Orleans cuisine or Andrea Trattoria Italiana for Italian cuisine
Dessert: Fine Fellows Creamery
Delaware - Fenwick Island
How far: 3 hour drive from Alexandria
Where to stay: Airbnb
Where to eat:
Breakfast: Jimmy’s Kitchen
Lunch: Catch 54
Dinner: One Coastal Farm & Kitchen
Sweet treat: Kohr Brothers
Maryland - Ocean City
Ocean City
How far: 3 hour drive from Alexandria
Where to stay: Airbnb - luxurious private pool and 20 steps to the beach
Where to eat:
Breakfast: Uber Bagels and Deli or the famous fractured Prune Donuts
Lunch: Belly Busters for on-the-bay seafood, classic Maryland crabs and anything Old Bay!
Dinner: Sunset Grille for a dockside dinner
Virginia - Sandbridge Beach
How far: 3h 45 min drive from Alexandria
Where to stay: Private cottage
Where to eat:
Breakfast: The Bee & The Biscuit
Lunch: Waterman's Surfside Grille
Dessert: Sandbridge Sugar Shack
North Carolina - Figure 8 Island
How far: 5.5 hour drive from Alexandria
Where to stay: Rent a house!
Where to Eat: Figure 8 Island is a private island, the best bet for restaurants is going into the town of Wilmington or Wrightsville Beach which is only about a 10-20 min drive.
Breakfast: Casa Blanca has the best acai bowls and coffee
Lunch: Dockside for a cocktail and sandwich on the water, Trolley Stop for the best hotdogs
Dinner: Bridge Tender, a beautiful restaurant also on the water or Tower 7 for a casual margarita and amazing Mexican food
Sweet Treats: Boombalattis (ice cream)
South Carolina - Pawley’s Island
How Far: Fly into Myrtle Beach from DCA ~1.5 hours + 1 hour drive
Where To Stay: Rent a vacation home or Airbnb on the Island
For example, this is a 6-bedroom, ocean front home available on Vrbo:
Where to Eat:
Breakfast: Bisqit (for biscuit breakfast sandwiches)
Lunch: Get sandwiches from Publix to enjoy on the beach or a smoothie/acai bowl from Kosta Bowls
Dinner: Perrone’s, Bistro 217 and Rustic Table
Dessert / Sweet Treat: Gilbert’s Ice Cream
Georgia - Tybee Island
Tybee Island
How far: Fly into Hilton Head from DCA (~1H 45min) and drive 45 min to Tybee Island
Where to stay: Captains Cabana Airbnb with stunning views and just steps away from the beach
What to eat:
Breakfast: The Deck Beach Bar & Kitchen
Lunch: A-J’s Dockside for a sandwich to take on the beach!
Dinner: Looking for a low country boil? Go to The Crab Shack and try Georgia's fresh seafood
Ice Cream: The Sugar Shack for ice cream while you watch the sunset
Florida - Little Palm Island Beach
Finishing off with the most secluded beach experience of all in Florida - Little Palm Island Resort!
How far:
Fly into Key West International Airport (~3H from DCA) and take a seaplane or boat to the island!
Where to stay: The stunning Little Palm Island Resort & Spa
Where to eat:
The dining room is recognized as the best hotel restaurant in Florida for all meals, they also offer private dining experiences. They are also known for their unforgettable Sunday brunch.
See Also: When in Paris or Watching the Olympics in Paris…
