12 Best Family Beach Vacations in the US to Visit Before Summer Ends

Skip to main content12 Best Family Beach Vacations in the US for One Last Trip with the Kids Before Summer EndsFrom Puerto Rico to Wisconsin, these are the best last-minute places to enjoy the sun and sand stateside.GettyWhile you could go through the whole ado of planning a big family beach vacation abroad somewhere like the Bahamas or the Amalfi Coast, sometimes there's no place like (closer to) home. The best family beach vacations don't need to cost you an arm and a leg—and your sanity. That stretch of sand that's just right, water that's calm enough to wade in with your toddlers, and a landscape that's ripe for scavenging for treasures like seashells and sand dollars with your adventurous little ones, are scattered all over this country. Prolong your days on the shore into the night through stargazing and marshmallow roasting should you choose to set up camp.Luckily for you, we at Traveler know just where to find these family-friendly, sun-soaked spots. Here, the best family beach vacations home to amenity-rich hotels and resorts where you won't be left wanting on those precious days off. From a quintessential New England coastal retreat, to a rustic lakeside campground, to a luxury estate that channels the French Riviera, timeless summer memories are waiting for you just a stone's throw away.J. Greg Hinson, MD, www.ackdoc.comNantucket, MassachusettsBest for: Families with young, Lilly Pulitzer-clad kidsOne of America's wealthiest islands is—no shocker—not the easiest to reach, but is special enough to make the journey. Sitting 30 miles off the coast of Massachusetts and accessible only by flight or ferry, Nantucket inhabits a world of its own. Straddling Children's Beach and Brant Point lighthouse, White Elephant resort is perfect for families traveling with small kids. This is luxury, laid-back, stocked with Radio Flyer wagons, boogie boards, and a dragon's hoard of beach toys that guests can take to the property's beach, which lies inside a shielded harbor ideal for small swimmers. Upon request, rooms come with diaper genies, Pack N' Plays, and strollers. For a greater sense of exploration, head out to the cobblestoned streets of the town where you'll find Juice Bar, a creamery dishing out the island's best sundaes inside their homemade waffle cones.Judd BrotmanKiawah Island, South CarolinaBest for: Multigenerational family vacationsFor families with slightly older children, the 10 miles of serene coastline Kiawah Island Golf Resort lays claim to is the ideal burnout cure. The property is located on a barrier island hugging the South Carolina coast that's near enough to all the action, but not so immersed in the heart of it all that you lose that sense of total vacation bliss. Accommodations span the range from the oceanfront Sanctuary hotel to resort villas and rental homes that can sleep up to 20, giving you the best place to host an extended family reunion. Guests of all ages have something for them here, whether it's five world-class golf courses which have hosted PGA Championships, 30 miles of paved bike trails, or water access that encourages all forms of outdoors-iness like kayaking, fishing, bird-watching, and camping. And don't skip the pool complex with water slides. We could keep going, but the gist of it all is there’s something to make everyone in your group happy.GettySan Juan, Puerto RicoBest for: Families looking for a no-passport-required tropical getawayAt the historic Condado Vanderbilt, butler service will deliver a frozen piña colada to the resort’s oceanfront pools or white sand beach. (The drink was invented in Old San Juan, after all.) Take in sweeping, palm-tree-lined shore views from a standard room or a spacious one- or two-bedroom suite—all come with scenic views and in-room french press coffee makers stocked with Puerto Rico-grown beans. Former Blue Hill chef Juan Jose Cuevas oversees the resort's restaurants, where he combines his culinary prowess with the flavors and island-grown ingredients of his home town. Don’t miss the chef’s epic banana bread, made using fruit grown on the island.GettyCape May, New JerseyBest for: Families with young kidsOn the tip of New Jersey’s Cape May, Congress Hall is America’s oldest seaside resort, welcoming guests for over 200 years. Modern amenities include plush rooms and a saltwater pool, while retro beach cottage vibes come care of the striped beach tents (available for rent). Classic carnival nights are also held on Mondays throughout the summer. Just steps from the resort’s lawn, find the beach with everything you need for the day—towels, umbrellas, lounge chairs, and even lunch service. Guests can borrow bikes and pedal over to sister property Beach Plum Farm to tour the 62-acre grounds, feed chickens, and pick up provisions for a picnic lunch. During the summer, the working farm hosts an adventure club for kids, with activities like archery, birdhouse making, and nature hikes.GettyLake Oconee, GeorgiaBest for: Keeping the kids busyThe Ritz-Carlton Reynolds Lake Oconee comes with its own Ritz Kids Clubhouse, where your kids can throw themselves into all the immersive, summer-camp-inspired programming that'll keep them off screens and boredom-free in the great outdoors—plus, it'll give the parents some time to check out the adults-only infinity pool, Taylormade golf course, or 30,000 square foot spa. As part of the resort’s naturalist program, an environmental ambassador will lead educational activities like scavenger hunts and games. Beyond the club, there’s swimming—in the new family swimming pool, or the placid lake—jet-ski and boat rentals, fishing, and fireside s’mores every evening. At night, make bedtime feel like an adventure with an in-room tent and sleeping bags.GettyTiverton, Rhode IslandBest for: Families with older kidsIf you’ve dreamed of owning a little beach bungalow on the New England coast, channel the experience by booking one of the waterfront Moore House cottages in Tiverton. A family-run operation, the collection of homes have been lovingly (and expertly—they’re designers) restored, with chef’s kitchens and plenty of windows to take in the bay views. The Boat House on-site sleeps six and comes with kayaks you can drag a few feet over the rocky shore right into the water, while the Harbor Side Cottage has its own private dock and two bedrooms that open up to sprawling waterfront decks. All come stocked with Apple TVs, Sonos speakers, games, and more creature comforts of home. (The waterfront cottages have an eight-plus age policy, making this a good option for families with older kids.)Courtesy Sanderling ResortOuter Banks, North CarolinaBest for: Reuniting with the cousinsIf it’s been too long since the kids have gathered with their favorite gang of cousins, book a stay in the Outer Banks for plenty of outdoor entertainment and room to roam. Set on the sandy shores between the Currituck Sound and Atlantic Ocean, the Sanderling Resort has both private beaches and pools (one perfect for kids, with a sloping wade-in design, as opposed to steps), plus a roster of activities, from kayaking and surfing to guided snorkeling or shell collecting. Rooms are spacious, with soaking tubs and balconies, or small decks for catching some spectacular sunsets.Courtesy The Lodge at Gulf State Park hotelGulf State Park, AlabamaBest for: Getting up close to natureStaying at the Lodge at Gulf State Park—a partnership between Hilton and Alabama’s Gulf State Park—puts you beachfront, inside a 6,200-acre eco-preserve on the Gulf of Mexico. Get acquainted with each of the park’s nine ecosystems through interactive exhibits at the on-site Interpretive Center—Alabama’s most environmentally-friendly building. Borrow a bike to cruise some of the 28 miles of trails, go on a guided nature walk, visit the butterfly garden, rent kayaks, or just swim and hunt for shells along the property’s two-mile stretch of white sand beaches. Keep your eyes peeled for sea turtles; the endangered reptiles nest and hatch here from May to October.Courtesy AulaniOahu, HawaiiBest for: Disney-obsessed familiesBeen there, done the Magic Kingdom? For a tropical Hawaiian getaway infused with some of that sweet Disney magic, book a stay at the Aulani Resort & Spa on Oahu. Accommodations range from standard rooms to three-bedroom villas—perfect for bigger families or for bringing along the grandparents. And while it’s not an all-inclusive resort, dozens of activities come with your stay, including sandcastle-sculpting classes, pool parties with Mickey and friends, nature walks, movie nights, and hula dancing lessons. (No wonder it's one of our favorite family resorts in Hawaii.) Don’t miss the evening Mo'olelo Fire Pit Storytelling, where a master storyteller weaves a tale that illustrates what Disney does best: unparalleled entertainment.Courtesy HuttopiaSouthern MaineBest for: Families who want to feel like they're at summer campThough the beaches of Southern Maine—including Kennebunkport and Ogunquit—are less than 30 minutes away, you may never want to leave the grounds of Sanford-based glamping resort Huttopia. Situated on 40 wooded acres, the property has a heated outdoor pool, plus a tree-lined, freshwater pond perfect for practicing cannonballs, paddling a canoe, or playing on the sandy shore. A host of activities will keep the whole family entertained, from the kids club, where five- to 12-year-olds can treasure hunt and do crafts, to lawn games, pottery workshops, and nightly outdoor movies or magic shows. If reading and lounging are more your speed, Adirondack chairs and hammocks dot the property. Accommodations, from wood and canvas tents to tiny houses, all have electricity and are dog-friendly.Courtesy Timber Cove ResortThe Sonoma Coast, CaliforniaBest for: Beaches with scenic vistasIn the 1960s, photographer Ansel Adams captured the rugged beauty of Timber Cove on the Sonoma Coast, about 15 miles north of the town of Jenner. Nowadays, you can take in the iconic scenery from the secluded Timber Cove Resort, a 25-acre, modern-bohemian enclave set on bluffs overlooking the Pacific. Its range of rooms include double bunk beds and spacious suites with soaking tubs and Smeg fridges. Access the beach from the property, or opt for one of the many on-site activities that showcase this stretch of California coast—hiking trails, wine tasting, and a fire pit with a front-row seat to spectacular sunsets, to name a few. On clear nights, ask to borrow the telescope at the front desk for some world-class stargazing.Courtesy The HenderseonDestin, FloridaBest for: Families of adventurersKnown as the “World’s Luckiest Fishing Village,” Destin sits on the white sand beaches of northwest Florida overlooking the vivid green waters of the Gulf of Mexico. At beachfront resort Henderson, there are plenty of ways to test that moniker—hop on a nearby charter boat, or cast off from the shores at the adjacent Henderson Beach State Park (guests of the resort get complimentary day passes). Other adventures include exploring the coastline on paddleboards from the resort’s private beach, or biking to the beachfront towns of South Walton on the 18-mile Timpoochee Trail. The lazy river, connected to the family pool, makes for a relaxing post-adventure wind-down.This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.More hotels nearby$$$ | United States, Portland, 215 Commercial StreetHands-off service meets graceful decor and unquestionable convenience in terms of both amenities and location.$$ | United States, Austin, 101 Red River StTowering over the Central Business District and the snaking ribbon of the Waller Creek Greenbelt Trail, this 37-story hotel stands out amidst the Austin skyline.$$ | United States, Dennis Port, 426 Lower County RoadA stylish reinvention of the classic Cape Cod motel, Bluebird Dennisport channels nostalgic 1990s beach vacation vibes in all the right ways.$$ | United States , White Post, 13630 Lord Fairfax Hwy