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

How Far: DCA to Portland is a ~1.5 hour flight + 43 min drive south to Goose Rocks Beach.

Where to Stay: 

• The Tides Beach Club

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

New Hampshire -  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.

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

Where To Eat:

• Breakfasts: 

• Beach Donut Shop

• Cristy’s Madison

• 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:

• Ashley’s Ice Cream

New York -  Ditch Plains Beach (Montauk)

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.

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

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

• Dinner: Margie & Ray’s Crab House & Raw Bar

• 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

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…