Washington state has more than 3,000 miles of saltwater shoreline, but most of it sits along Puget Sound, not the open Pacific. If you want wild Pacific Ocean beaches with sea stacks, driftwood, and tidal flats, you need to head west to the Olympic Peninsula or the southwest coast. If you want calm, accessible family beaches, Puget Sound delivers. This guide covers both.
Long Beach: 28 Miles of Hard-Packed Sand
Long Beach sits on the southwest Washington coast and stretches 28 uninterrupted miles, making it one of the longest natural beaches on the entire US West Coast. The sand is hard-packed and flat, wide enough that you can legally drive on it with the right vehicle permit. Kite flying is serious business here: the town hosts a major kite festival every August that draws competitors from across the country.
Rating: 4.8/5 (9 reviews)
The ocean side delivers consistent swells and dramatic views of the North Head Lighthouse. The bay side faces Willapa Bay, where the protected water is calmer and good for kayaking. The town itself has a vintage, low-key feel with seafood shacks and local shops rather than resort development. Parking is free and beach access is open.
Best for: Long walks, kite flying, vehicle beach driving, casual surf watching
Long Beach Boardwalk
The Long Beach Boardwalk runs parallel to the water through the town's commercial strip. It gives you beach access with shops and food nearby without committing to a full walk down the sand. Tide pools and shells are common finds here.
Rating: 4.7/5 (576 reviews)
This is one of the most-reviewed beaches in Washington state, which reflects how much foot traffic Long Beach actually gets. Families with younger kids do well here because the boardwalk makes it easy to retreat to food or shelter quickly when the coastal weather shifts.
Best for: Families, beachcombing, easy access
Ocean Shores Beach
Ocean Shores is a planned beach community on the northern edge of the Grays Harbor peninsula. The beach itself stretches for miles with tidal flats that expose sea stars, anemones, and other tide pool creatures at low tide. The area is well-known for razor clamming, a Washington tradition that draws hundreds of diggers on open-season days.
Rating: 4.7/5 (1,600 reviews)
With over 1,600 reviews, this is the highest-volume Washington beach in our database. The protected bay location keeps waves calmer than fully exposed Pacific beaches, which works well for families and kayakers. The town has a classic beach resort feel: bumper boats, moped rentals, go-karts, and horseback riding on the sand.
Best for: Families, razor clamming, kayaking, tide pool exploration
Pacific Beach
Pacific Beach is a small coastal village north of Ocean Shores with direct ocean access and a quieter atmosphere than its larger neighbor. The beach offers good conditions for beachcombing, photography, and watching Pacific surf without the resort town amenities. Rocky outcroppings and tide pools become accessible during low tide.
Rating: 4.7/5 (231 reviews)
The relatively sheltered cove setting here reduces wave exposure compared to fully open beaches, which makes it workable for families but still delivers on Pacific Northwest scenery. Parking is accessible directly off the road.
Best for: Photography, quiet beach walks, tide pooling
Double Bluff Beach (Whidbey Island)
Double Bluff Beach sits on the south end of Whidbey Island and is defined by a 150-foot sandstone bluff that rises sharply from the shoreline. The tidal flats at the base of the bluff expose wide, walkable areas at low tide with views across Puget Sound to the Olympic Mountains on clear days. The beach has a designated off-leash dog area, making it one of the most popular dog beaches in western Washington.
Rating: 4.7/5 (653 reviews)
Getting here requires a short ferry ride or a drive through Deception Pass (which adds scenic value). The calm Puget Sound water is suitable for wading and kayaking, but this is not a surf beach. The bluff geology and the views are the draw.
Best for: Dogs, hiking, views, geology
Waikiki Beach (Cape Disappointment Area)
This Waikiki Beach (not Hawaii) is a sandy cove along Willapa Bay near Ilwaco in the southwest corner of Washington. The bay-side location creates calm, protected water that is far gentler than the open Pacific beaches nearby. It is popular with families for swimming and with locals for kayaking.
Rating: 4.8/5 (116 reviews)
The name is genuinely confusing but the beach is legitimately good for calm-water activities. The Cape Disappointment State Park entrance is nearby, which adds access to ocean-facing beaches and two historic lighthouses (Cape Disappointment and North Head) if you want to add distance and drama to your day.
Best for: Calm water swimming, kayaking, family days
West Beach (Whidbey Island)
West Beach on the northwest side of Whidbey Island faces the Strait of Juan de Fuca and delivers a rugged Pacific Northwest coastal experience without requiring a trip to the Olympic Peninsula. The beach is known for sea glass, shells, and driftwood along with rocky outcroppings and tide pools at low tide. The views extend toward the San Juan Islands and Vancouver Island on clear days.
Rating: 5.0/5 (10 reviews)
Small sample size, but consistently rated highly by everyone who visits. The beach stays relatively uncrowded because it requires the ferry or Deception Pass drive to reach. Photographers favor it for sunset light over the water.
Best for: Sea glass hunting, photography, uncrowded beach walks
Shilo Beach Approach (Ocean Shores)
Shilo Beach Approach is a protected cove within Ocean Shores offering calmer conditions than the main exposed ocean beaches a short distance away. It attracts kayakers, paddleboarders, and bird watchers looking for a quieter spot. Dune vegetation backs the beach and the shallow waters are reliable for beginners.
Rating: 4.6/5 (7 reviews)
A local favorite rather than a tourist destination. Good for early mornings when conditions are glassy and wildlife is active.
Best for: Kayaking, paddleboarding, bird watching, sunrise visits
What to Know Before You Go
Washington's ocean-facing beaches (Long Beach, Ocean Shores, Pacific Beach) are cold year-round, with Pacific water temperatures averaging 52 to 58 degrees Fahrenheit. Swimming in the open ocean is possible in summer but the waves and rip currents can be strong. Puget Sound beaches (Double Bluff, West Beach) are calmer but still cold.
The Olympic Peninsula beaches (Ruby Beach, Rialto, Shi Shi) are among the most dramatic in the US but require driving through Olympic National Park. Those are not covered in this list but warrant a separate trip if you have extra days.
Most Washington state beaches are free and publicly accessible. Ocean Shores and Long Beach have vehicle access programs with permits. Some state park beaches require a Discover Pass ($11.50/day or $35/year).