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Florida has once again established itself as one of the states with the most renowned beaches in the country, ranking three of its coastlines among the top ten in the United States, according to Dr. Beach's annual ranking for 2026, published this weekend just before Memorial Day.
The three Florida beaches selected are St. Andrews State Park (ranked two), Caladesi Island State Park (ranked three), and Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park (ranked six).
The first place on the list went to Poipu Beach, in Kauai, Hawaii, described by the author of the ranking as "a family beach known for its golden coral sand and crystal-clear waters."
The ranking is compiled by Stephen Leatherman, a professor of Earth and Environment at Florida International University (FIU), nicknamed "Dr. Beach."
Leatherman has published this list every year since 1991, always before Memorial Day weekend, which marks the unofficial start of beach season in the country. Its methodology applies 50 evaluation criteria that include water quality, sand softness, wave action, safety, management, and environmental conditions.
St. Andrews State Park, located in Panama City Beach in the northwest of Florida, offers access to Shell Island by ferry, nature trails, kayaking, snorkeling, and camping areas.
Caladesi Island State Park, near Dunedin and Clearwater, has returned to the rankings after being excluded last year due to the damage caused by Hurricane Helene in 2024. Restoration work has largely been completed, and the beach has reopened to the public, although some limitations remain: marina access is restricted to ten vessels, with no electricity available in that area and no overnight accommodations.
Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, located in Naples in the southwest of the state, is renowned for its white quartz sand, the clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico, and its role as a habitat for sea turtles. It also sustained damage from hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, but it reopened in early 2025 following recovery efforts.
The Top 10 of 2026 also includes four beaches from Hawaii, one from New York, one from South Carolina, and one from Massachusetts. Hawaii and Florida have historically been the most represented states in this ranking, competing each year for the highest number of beaches on the list.
The ranking also points out notable omissions. Coronado Beach in San Diego has been excluded for the second consecutive year due to contamination from wastewater originating from the Tijuana River in Mexico. Lighthouse Beach in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, remains excluded due to coastal erosion that revealed the remains of an old naval espionage station of the United States Navy, along with residues of oily substances.
The good moment of Florida's beaches in national rankings is not limited to Dr. Beach's list. In February of this year, Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice Best of the Best ranking, based on millions of verified reviews, placed four beaches from the state in the national Top 10 — Clearwater Beach, Siesta Beach, St. Andrews State Park, and Honeymoon Island State Park — matching Hawaii as the state with the most presence on that list.
In Dr. Beach's 2024 ranking, Florida had also placed three beaches among the top ten in the country, making the 2026 result a confirmation of the state's coastal strength.
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