![](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/beach-answers-issue.jpg?quality=85&w=2400)
The U.S. coastline — from the rocky inlets of New England to the turquoise coves of Hawaii — receives some 62 million visitors annually. And there’s no doubt that there are at least 62 million opinions on what makes a great beach. Still, TIME set out to find the best strip of seashore using a mathematical method.
Our top pick? Huntington Beach State Park in Orange County, Calif.
Huntington, also known as Surf City USA, came in in at number one thanks to its combination of good beach weather, summer water temperature and accessibility. It also has a good reputation with the public — a metric we evaluated using reviews data from TripAdvisor.com.
Huntington can add this honor to another recent claim to fame: It set a record earlier this month for the largest surfboard ride in the world, with 66 surfers on one, 42-ft.-long board.
This article was originally published in the July 13 issue of TIME.
See New York's Beaches From Above
![Coney Island, Brooklyn tobias-huztler-beaches-1](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/tobias-huztler-beaches-1.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Rockaway, Queens tobias-huztler-beaches-2](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/tobias-huztler-beaches-2.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![The People's Beach at Jacob Riis Park, Queens tobias-huztler-beaches-3](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/tobias-huztler-beaches-3.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Brighton Beach, Brooklyn tobias-huztler-beaches-4](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/tobias-huztler-beaches-4.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Coney Island, Brooklyn tobias-huztler-beaches-5](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/tobias-huztler-beaches-5.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Brighton Beach, Brooklyn tobias-huztler-beaches-6](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/tobias-huztler-beaches-6.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Coney Island, Brooklyn tobias-huztler-beaches-7](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/tobias-huztler-beaches-7.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Rockaway Beach, Queens tobias-huztler-beaches-8](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/tobias-huztler-beaches-8.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Brighton Beach, Brooklyn tobias-huztler-beaches-9](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/tobias-huztler-beaches-9.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Coney Island, Brooklyn tobias-huztler-beaches-10](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/tobias-huztler-beaches-10.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![New Boardwalk, Coney Island, Brooklyn tobias-huztler-beaches-11](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/tobias-huztler-beaches-11.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Coney Island, Brooklyn tobias-huztler-beaches-12](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/tobias-huztler-beaches-12.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![MacCarren Pool Williamsburg, Brooklyn tobias-huztler-beaches-13](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/tobias-huztler-beaches-13.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Lasker Pool, Central Park, Manhattan tobias-huztler-beaches-14](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/tobias-huztler-beaches-14.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Astoria Park Pool, Queens tobias-huztler-beaches-15](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/tobias-huztler-beaches-15.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Astoria Park Pool, Queens tobias-huztler-beaches-16](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/tobias-huztler-beaches-16.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Orchard Beach, Bronx tobias-huztler-beaches-17](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/tobias-huztler-beaches-17.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![South Beach, Staten Island tobias-huztler-beaches-18](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/tobias-huztler-beaches-18.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Orchard Beach, Bronx tobias-huztler-beaches-19](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/tobias-huztler-beaches-19.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![South Beach, Staten Island tobias-huztler-beaches-20](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/tobias-huztler-beaches-20.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Coney Island, Brooklyn tobias-huztler-beaches-21](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/tobias-huztler-beaches-21.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Central Park, Manhattan tobias-huztler-beaches-22](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/tobias-huztler-beaches-22.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Biden Drops Out of Presidential Race , Endorses Harris to Replace Him
- Why Biden Dropped Out
- The Chaos and Commotion of the RNC in Photos
- Why We All Have a Stake in Twisters’ Success
- 8 Eating Habits That Actually Improve Your Sleep
- Stop Feeling Bad About Sweating
- Welcome to the Noah Lyles Olympics
- Get Our Paris Olympics Newsletter in Your Inbox
Contact us at letters@time.com