Poipu Beach Tops Dr. Beach's 2026 Top 10 as 3 Florida Beaches Make List

10 articles · Updated · Naples Daily News · May 21

Poipu Beach on Kauai took the No. 1 spot in Dr. Beach’s 2026 U.S. rankings, released May 21 ahead of Memorial Day weekend.
650 public beaches were evaluated on 50 criteria including water and sand quality, safety and management, with previous No. 1 winners generally retired from the rankings.
Florida placed 3 beaches in the top 10: St. Andrews State Park rose to No. 2 from No. 7 last year, Caladesi Island State Park ranked No. 3, and Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park came in No. 6.
Cape Florida State Park was excluded because of excessive sargassum seaweed, while beaches in California and North Carolina were skipped over pollution or erosion concerns.
Hawaii claimed 4 of the 10 spots overall, with the rest going to beaches in New York, South Carolina and Massachusetts.

With pollution and erosion disqualifying top beaches, are America's coastlines facing an unavoidable environmental decline?

When a #1 beach ranking fuels an overtourism crisis, is it a blessing or a curse for the local community?