This SC beach is among 10 best in US, scientist explains. Here’s why

Beachwalker Park on Kiawah Island was once again ranked the best beach in the Carolinas in the latest annual list from geoscientist Stephen “Dr. Beach” Leatherman.

“This is a nature-lovers coast so visitors can bring their canoes and kayaks to paddle through the tidal inlets,” according to the 2025 list. “It is also fun to walk or bicycle down the fine-grained sand beach to Captain Sam’s Inlet to see thousands of birds.”

Leatherman, the director of the Florida International University Laboratory for Coastal Research has ranked the 10 best beaches in the United States every year since 1991. He assigns beaches numerical scores one through five on more than 50 criteria. Factors include natural criteria, like sand softness, water temperature and rip currents, as well as social criteria like access, amenities and lifeguards.

“The water is not clear, but it is clean and provides fantastic seafood,” Leatherman wrote of Beachwalker Park.

The Kiawah Island beach came in at number six this year, dropping a spot from the 2024 list. Beachwalker Park was only beach in North or South Carolina to make this year or last year’s lists, but Ocracoke Lifeguard Beach in North Carolina won first place in 2022.

This year New York took the top spot, with two entries on the list. Hawaii had the most beaches ranked in 2025, with four in the top 10 list.

Here’s the complete 2025 America’s Best Beaches list:

10. Coast Guard Beach

Cape Cod, Massachusetts

9. Lanikai Beach

Oahu, Hawaii

8. Kaunaoa

Big Island, Hawaii

7. St. Andrews State Park

Panama City, Florida

6. Beachwalker Park

Kiawah Island, South Carolina

5. Main Beach

East Hampton, New York

4. Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park

Naples, Florida

3. Poipu Beach

Kauai, Hawaii

2. Wailea Beach

Maui, Hawaii

1. Coopers Beach

Southampton, New York