{"id":631014,"date":"2026-05-08T14:02:16","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T14:02:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/631014\/"},"modified":"2026-05-08T14:02:16","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T14:02:16","slug":"4-hidden-gem-beach-towns-around-the-united-states","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/631014\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Hidden Gem Beach Towns Around the United States"},"content":{"rendered":"

The United States has close to 4,000 miles of coastline in the Lower 48<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Videos by TravelAwaits<\/p>\n

That means one thing: there are hidden gem beach towns in more places than you might imagine. While mainstays like Myrtle Beach, San Diego, and Miami are absolutely worth the hype, what about those smaller, unsung heroes?<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re on the hunt for hidden gem beach towns around the United States where you can bet on affordable rates, fewer crowds, and unexpected adventures, here\u2019s where to start.<\/p>\n

Hidden gem beach towns around the US<\/p>\n

History in the Low Country: St. Simon\u2019s Island, Georgia<\/p>\n

Style on the West Coast: Pismo Beach, California<\/p>\n

An alternative beach up north: Machiasport, Maine<\/p>\n

The quiet pick: Matagorda, Texas<\/p>\n

Hidden gem beach towns around the US<\/p>\n

St Simon\u2019s Island, Georgia<\/p>\n

\"\"St. Simons Island, GA sand dune at dawn (Getty)<\/p>\n

St. Simon\u2019s Island is a well-known quantity in Georgia\u2014but anyone who doesn\u2019t know much about the Low Country might not be aware. St. Simon\u2019s Island is a picturesque barrier island about an hour south of Savannah. Think: scores of wild oak trees covered in Spanish moss that lead to the coastline.<\/p>\n

You can wander along wide-open beaches, go on kayak tours, and explore historic sites<\/a> that date back centuries. (The island was first settled by Spanish colonists in the 1500s.) The island\u2019s tourism authority also has a few cool projects. Stop in at the Visitor\u2019s Center to see what activities are on for the week. You can spot the island\u2019s \u2018Tree Spirits\u2019, which were carved into trees around the island.<\/p>\n

I also recommend stopping at the Savannah Bee Company Meadery on main street and sampling a flight of mead\u2014you know, the alcoholic honey-made drinks that you might associate with Ren Fairs.<\/p>\n

Find a hotel or rental on St. Simon\u2019s Island<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Pismo Beach, California<\/p>\n

\"\"Pismo Beach Pier Sunset with beautiful clouds (Getty)<\/p>\n

Pismo Beach is a small beach town located right between San Francisco and Los Angeles on California\u2019s Central Coast. The Central Coast rarely gets enough attention\u2014and Pismo Beach is one of its hidden gems. You\u2019ve got classic coastal vibes thanks to its long, white-sand beaches and its beloved pier, which are perfect for catching the sunsets while grabbing a bite to eat. (You might even spot a humpback whale, if you\u2019re lucky.)<\/p>\n

But Pismo Beach also has a strong sense of community. The city hosts annual events like the World Dog Surfing Championships, pop-up markets, and even car shows. Just outside the city, you can also enjoy world-class wineries and golf courses.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re more intrepid, you can check out some of Pismo Beach\u2019s more adventurous pursuits. Surfing and bodyboarding are popular, but you can even find ATV rentals for the area\u2019s sand dunes. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Find a hotel or rental in Pismo Beach<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Machiasport (Jasper Beach), Maine<\/p>\n

\"\"Machiasport Maine Pier and Mountains Reflection in water (Getty)<\/p>\n

Jasper Beach is a pebble beach in the town of Machiasport, Maine. You can use Machiasport as a home base while you explore the area, including Jasper Beach. Locals love it for the calming sound of the waves hitting the rocky shore, which has earned it the nickname \u2018the singing shore\u2019.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a lovely hidden gem for beach-lovers who are looking for a more rugged experience. (Geology fans will also appreciate the spread of rhyolite and jasper rocks on the beach.) It\u2019s also a pet-friendly beach where you\u2019ll find dogs enjoying the wide-open space and water.<\/p>\n

As with St. Simon\u2019s Island, you can also dive deep into the area\u2019s history. Machiasport was founded in 1633 by the Plymouth Company. It was an important site during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, which you can learn about at Fort O\u2019Brien State Historic Site.<\/p>\n

Find a hotel or rental around Machiasport<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Matagorda, Texas<\/p>\n

\"\"Courtesy of TripAdvisor<\/p>\n

While most people know about South Padre Island, Texas has more to offer in terms of coastal gems. Matagorda is a quiet, historic town where the Colorado River opens to the Gulf of Mexico. It\u2019s home to wide, sandy beaches where you can spot wildlife and sink into a quiet, peaceful atmosphere. If you enjoy birding and fishing, you\u2019ll have plenty to enjoy in Matagorda thanks to its estuaries.<\/p>\n

In town, you can find great seafood eats and a laidback, community-focused atmosphere. Just know that there isn\u2019t much to do, similar to Machiasport. You\u2019ll do well if you like to drop off the map for a while, but you might get bored if you\u2019re expecting nightlife or big-city vibes. (The area gets busier in summer, but is usually quiet in spring and fall.)<\/p>\n

Alternatively, if you enjoy camping, you\u2019ll have plenty of space to set up your tent and kayaks before striking out into the area\u2019s wildlife-laden marshes. You can also book fishing charters, as the area is home to sought-after species like flounder.<\/p>\n

Find a hotel or rental in Matagorda<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The United States has close to 4,000 miles of coastline in the Lower 48. Videos by TravelAwaits That…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":631015,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[23,272807,272808,3,272809,21,19,22,20,25,24],"class_list":["post-631014","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-united-states","tag-america","tag-beach-towns","tag-hidden-gems","tag-news","tag-quiet-vacations","tag-united-states","tag-united-states-of-america","tag-unitedstates","tag-unitedstatesofamerica","tag-us","tag-usa"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/631014","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=631014"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/631014\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/631015"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=631014"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=631014"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=631014"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}