Cave in rocks near beach where ocean waves fill and empty. CA
Blow Hole
Blow Hole sits in California along Pacific Ocean. Swimmers come for a natural day on the water without resort amenities.
View detailsBay & Coastal swimming holes
Bay and coastal swimming spots cover ocean, bay, and beach access along salt water. Check tides, currents, and water-quality advisories before you swim.
21 destinations nationwide.
Bay & Coastal swimming holes by state
State-specific lists with bay & coastal destinations only.
What to pack for coastal swimming spots
Salt, sun, and sand — gear we compare for bay and beach swimming days.
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Clothing optional beaches FL
Cape Canaveral National Seashore Swimming Spots
Cape Canaveral National Seashore Swimming Spots sits in Florida along Atlantic Ocean. Swimmers come for a natural day on the water without resort amenities.
View details Bay FL
Ramrod Key Park
Ramrod Park is a free Monroe County bayfront park on Ramrod Key in the Florida Keys (between Marathon and Key West). Secluded bayside beach for swimming, snorkeling, and kayak launches — open 7:30 a.m. to sunset.
View details Artificial Reef FL
Red Reef Park
Red Reef Park sits in Florida along Atlantic Ocean. Swimmers come for a natural day on the water without resort amenities.
View details River beach ID
St Anthony Sand Bar
Anthony Sand Bar is one of those rare finds that locals have quietly cherished for generations. It's the kind of place where a summer afternoon stretches out lazily.
View details River beach ID
Swinging Bridge Beach
Swinging Bridge Beach is a River Beach swimming destination near Boise in Idaho. The setting stays informal and low-key.
View details Bay MD
Elk Neck S. P.
Near Wilmington (De) in Maryland, Elk Neck S.P. Perched at the southern tip of a wooded peninsula where the Elk River meets the upper Chesapeake Bay, Elk Neck State Park is one of Maryland's most quietly rewarding waterfront destinations.
View details Bay MD
Ferry Park
Ferry Park is a Bay swimming destination near Chestertown in Maryland. The setting stays informal and low-key.
View details Lake Beaches NC
Falls Lake S. R. A.
Falls Lake State Recreation Area near Raleigh / Durham, North Carolina has multiple lake swim beaches and day-use areas. North Carolina State Parks fees apply — confirm ncparks.gov for beach status.
View details River Beach NC
Goose Creek S. P.
sits in North Carolina along Pamlico River. Swimmers come for a natural day on the water without resort amenities.
View details River Beach NC
Neuse River
Neuse River lies in North Carolina. Forest Service as an official .
View details Ocean beach NJ
Gunnison Beach
Here, the Atlantic Ocean stretches endlessly before you, salt wind threading through the dune grass while shore birds wheel overhead. The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming.
View details Lake Beach NY
Lakeview Wma
Lakeview Wma sits in New York along Lake Ontario. Swimmers come for a natural day on the water without resort amenities.
View details Glacial lake beach OH
Punderson State Park
Punderson State Park near Newbury / Cleveland, OH — free public beach on a 150-acre glacial kettle lake. Pets banned on the beach; lodge pools are a separate paid option.
View details Bay (salt water) RI
Colt State Park
The park carries the quiet dignity of its storied past. Once the grand seaside estate of the Colt family.
View details Bay RI
Fort Wetherill State Park
Perched on the rocky southeastern tip of Conanicut Island, Fort Wetherill State Park is one of Rhode Island's most dramatic and memorable . The park overlooks Rhode Island Sound, where the water runs clear and cold, carved into coves and channels by centuries of Atlantic tides.
View details Bay (salt water) RI
Point Judith
Perched at the southern tip of Rhode Island where Narragansett Bay meets the open Atlantic, Point Judith is one of New England's most storied coastal destinations.
View details Bay RI
Twelve O'clock High
Twelve O'Clock High lies in Rhode Island, where Rhode Island Sound moves through a wooded corridor. Perched along the windswept edge of Rhode Island Sound near Newport and Brenton Point, Twelve O'Clock High is one of those rare coastal spots that feels genuinely discovered rather than packaged.
View details River beach VA
Potomac Wayside
The result is a scene of genuine, unspoiled beauty: cascading water, moss-edged rocks, and the steady murmur of a river that has been shaping this landscape for millennia.
View details River beach VA
Yorktown Beach
Yorktown Beach is a free sandy public beach on the York River in Yorktown, VA — calm river swimming near Riverwalk Landing, Colonial Williamsburg, and Newport News.
View details Bay WI
Pebble Beach
Pebble Beach is a Bay swimming destination near Green Bay in Wisconsin. The setting stays informal and low-key.
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