Forget the Jersey Shore. If you crave the solitude of a never-ending, undeveloped stretch of coast to beachcomb, birdwatch, and sunbathe to your heart’s content, this short list of America’s best national seashores is for you.
Let’s get the basics out of the way. I trust that you are familiar with the National Park Service. But what is a National Seashore? In short, national seashores are a part of the National Park Service but have a different designation — like a national monument or national park.
Federally appointed by Congress as coastal areas that are of natural and recreational significance, national seashores focus on the preservation of a coastline’s natural values while also providing water-oriented recreation and education. So, what makes our National Seashores special?
These coastal areas have rich, biodiverse ecosystems that are especially vulnerable to the threats of climate change. They are critical to protecting coastal communities and ecosystems from extreme weather and offer endless opportunities for seaside adventures.
In total, there are 10 National Seashores located on the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts — so you could check them all off your bucket list. But here are our top three picks.
The 3 Best National Seashores
Cumberland Island
Seven miles off the coast of southern Georgia, you’ll find the state’s largest barrier island. Known as Wisso by the native Timucan nation, Cumberland Island is home to one of the most important loggerhead turtle nesting sites in the southeast.
Only accessible by private boat or ferry, permits are limited to just 300 visitors a day. That means it is easy to ditch the crowds and find your own secluded stretch of pristine, undeveloped shoreline, or dense live oak forest.
While you are welcome to visit for the day, we recommend at least 2 to 3 days to explore the ocean and estuaries, beaches and dunes, oak and pine forests, as well as salt marshes and freshwater wetland ecosystems this remote island has to offer.
Trip Idea: Bikepack on Cumberland Island
Things to Know Before Your Visit
- Location: Mainland Visitor Center, 113 West St. Marys Street, St. Marys, GA 31558
- Getting there: Cumberland Island is only accessible by ferry. Reservations are strongly encouraged.
- Camping: Permits for both group campsites and backcountry campsites are required.
- Bikes: Bicycles are permitted on the island. Visitors can bring their own for a $10 fee. Bicycles are only allowed on the Main Road and on the beach between Sea Camp and Dungeness sea crossings.
- Entrance fees: $10 for adults, youth under 15 years are free.
Cape Cod National Seashore
Trip Idea: Hike Great Island to Jeremy Point and Tavern Loop
Things to Know Before Your Visit
- Location: Salt Pond Visitor Center, 50 Nauset Road, Eastham, MA 02667
- Getting there: Once on the Cape, most park features are off Route 6 from Eastham to Provincetown. Stop at a park visitor center, or at a chamber of commerce, to get a map of the local vicinity.
- Camping: Cape Cod National Seashore does not offer camping, but Nickerson State Park and Wellfleet Hollow Campground are nearby state campgrounds and can be reserved on Reserve America.
- Bikes: Bikes are allowed on the three designated national seashore bike trails, on paved roads and parking areas, and on unpaved roadways (fire roads). Bicycles are not permitted on hiking trails or on beaches.
- Entrance fees: All hiking trails are free, but beaches require a $15-25 entrance fee.
Point Reyes National Seashore
Trip Idea: Backpack to Wildcat Campground and Alamere Falls
Things to Know Before Your Visit
- Location: 1 Bear Valley Road, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
- Getting there: The Bear Valley Visitor Center is located approximately 30 miles north of San Francisco, less than a mile off Highway 1 along Bear Valley Road. Travelers may approach the park via the winding scenic Highway 1, either from the north or the south.
- Camping: Point Reyes National Seashore only offers backcountry hike-in and boat-in camping. Site availability is limited, so be sure to plan ahead.
- Bikes: Point Reyes permits biking only outside of wilderness areas along emergency access/dirt fire roads, paved roads, and a few single-track trails.
- Entrance fees: Point Reyes does not require an entrance fee, but campsites start at $30 per site, per night.