New Study Unveils America’s Top 5 Secret Beaches To Visit This Summer

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Is there any better feeling than discovering places in our travels that nobody seems to know?

The experts at Frugal Flyer released an insightful study this month, revealing the top secret beaches to visit this summer.

We at Travel Off Path give our stamp of approval with their big reveal, as we weren’t aware of these off-the-radar gems spread as far across the U.S. as you can fathom.

With a few pristine unknowns in Hawaii, one hush-hush West Coast hideaway, and a remote boats-only paradise tucked away in Florida, these are the top 5 hidden beaches to visit this summer, courtesy of Frugal Flyer:

5) Shell Key Preserve, Florida

If you’re the type that works a 9-to-5 wanting to escape the hustle and bustle, don’t even bother visiting Miami — Shell Key Preserve is the perfect spot for you.

With no cars, no roads, and not even a single building, this means you’ll have to take the New Year’s Eve Times Square approach when nature calls, or do as the fishies do.

Located southwest of St. Petersburg, this locals’ favorite hangout offers visitors seemingly untouched white sand, perfect snorkeling conditions, zillions of shells, and plenty of space to camp out.

4) Secret Beach, Oregon

Secret Beach lives up to the name as it’s not yet one of Oregon’s new tourism hotspots…but it should be.

Located in the Samuel H. Boardman Scenic Corridor near Brookings, this is truly one of the West Coast’s most beautiful destinations in the shadows of California, as Oregon’s coastline doesn’t hold the same fame.

Bring your hiking shoes as it’s a bit of a trek to reach, hence the ‘Secret’. Once here, if you’re around during low tide, you’ll have a chance to explore sea caves and witness aquatic life like starfish and crabs.

Frugal Flyer recommends visiting in the morning for the fewest crowds, but let’s be real, that’s never a deterrent here.

3) Gray’s Beach, Hawaii

Unlike Shell Key, Gray’s Beach is hidden in plain sight amongst Waikiki’s urban sprawl. And yes, you can leave your diapers at home, as there are ample restrooms.

Hugging Waikiki near the Halekulani Hotel, these gorgeous shores ooze local vibes with fewer crowds. Tourists occupy themselves with grass-skirt hula dances and late-night luaus, completely overlooking this small cove.

The waters are stunningly beautiful, just as you’d expect in Hawaii, and typically calm and warm for a nice swim.

2) Pa’ako Cove, Hawaii

Maui has been through the wringer in recent years, but the beloved paradise claims to be embracing tourism.

While you certainly won’t have to fight of Maui crowds any time soon as not only Maui, but all of Hawaii, has seen a concerning drop in visitors, the island’s best kept secret is Pa’ako Cove.

Located behind a lava rock in Makena, this blip on the map is even has locals referring to it as “Secret Cove”, which may serve you best to befriend someone so they can guide you how to get here as it’s so off the beaten path for tourists, there are no signs.

Don’t be surprised to see an occasional photography shoot here. Otherwise, the wide open shores of this little-known cove boast picture-perfect waters and dramatic lava rocks.

1) Awahua Beach, Hawaii

Alright, so here’s a little fun fact you probably didn’t know. Actually, it’s not so ‘fun’ at all…

If there was ever a reason a beach remained top secret, perhaps it was that it once housed a colony of lepers until the late 1960s.

Not that we’re still in biblical times, but what a curveball…

As you can imagine, Awahua Beach never quite became a household name despite being located on one of Hawaii’s most paradisal swaths of coast, the Kalaupapa Peninsula on Molokai.

Obviously, visiting a half-century ago wouldn’t be ideal, but today this stunning beach offers visitors postcard black sand backdropped by staggering 2,000-foot-tall cliffs.

Keep in mind, reaching remote Awahua isn’t for the faint of heart — it requires mule ride, a difficult hike, or small plane with a hefty price tag.