When thinking of U.S. states, some of the first things that come to mind are beautiful sandy beaches and relaxing oceanside destinations. Many states like California, Florida, and Hawaii are well-known for their stunning coastlines that draw tourists from around the world. However, not every state has direct access to the ocean and beaches. In fact, there are several landlocked states that are completely devoid of any seashore. So which states have no beaches at all?
The United States has a total of 23 states that do not border the ocean and therefore do not have beaches along their coasts. However, some of these landlocked states do still have beaches along inland lakes and rivers. When considering states that have absolutely no beaches of any kind – ocean, lake, or river – the list narrows down to just 10 states.
The 10 U.S. states with no beaches are:
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Idaho
- Kentucky
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- Utah
- Vermont
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
These inland states are located in the Western, Midwestern, and Southern regions of the U.S. Since they lack ocean coasts, bays, and sometimes even sizeable lakes, they have no beaches for swimming, sunbathing, or seaside recreation. However, that doesn’t mean these states don’t have amazing natural scenery, outdoor activities, and their own unique charms!
States Without Ocean Coastlines
To provide some more context, let’s first look at the 23 landlocked states that do not directly border an ocean or have any ocean coastline. These states are dependent on other states for access to seaports and ocean trade routes. The landlocked states are:
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Vermont
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
As you can see, many of these states are located in the center of the country far from the East, West, and Gulf Coasts. Some states like Tennessee and Mississippi do have major rivers that provide inland access to the sea. But ultimately no part of their state borders touch the ocean. Even large states like Arizona, Colorado, and Montana lack any coastline since they are locked in by other landlocked states on all sides.
The 10 True Landlocked States
Now that we’ve looked at the 23 landlocked states overall, we can narrow our focus down to the 10 states that have absolutely no beaches within their borders. When considering beaches, we will define them as shorelines along the ocean, lakes, rivers, or any other body of water that is suitable for swimming, recreation, or seaside activities.
Using this criteria, these 10 U.S. states have no true beaches:
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Idaho
- Kentucky
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- Utah
- Vermont
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
While they may have shorelines along streams, creeks, or man-made reservoirs, these inland states lack larger bodies of water like oceans, bays, gulfs, andsizeable freshwater lakes. Their geography, climate, and proximity to other landlocked states prevent them from having recreation-friendly beaches for public use.
A Closer Look at Each Beachless State
To understand why these 10 states are completely devoid of beaches, let’s take a closer look at each one and their unique geographic and climatic factors:
Arizona
While Arizona is known for stunning desert and canyon landscapes, it lacks any major water features aside from the Colorado River along its western border. Arizona does not border an ocean or have any natural lakes within its borders that could sustain a beach. The state also receives very little precipitation annually, further limiting substantial bodies of water.
Colorado
Colorado is similarly landlocked and dry. While it has several rivers and streams, these lack the size and accessibility for beach recreation. The state also has no ocean access and Great Plains geography that does not allow for major lakes. The few reservoirs that exist are not suitable for beach activities.
Idaho
Despite having multiple rivers and lakes, the nature of Idaho’s waterbodies prevents true beach formation. Lakes like Bear Lake, Priest Lake, and Coeur d’Alene Lake are alpine, forested, and have rocky, steep shorelines. The Snake River has reservoirs but these lack beaches. Overall, Idaho’s rugged topography is not conducive to recreation-friendly shorelines.
Kentucky
Kentucky borders major rivers like the Ohio and Mississippi but lacks coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. The state also does not have natural lakes. While it has man-made lakes and reservoirs, these are not designed with beach recreation in mind. Kentucky’s humid continental climate and rolling hills also limit large lake formation.
Nevada
Nevada is almost entirely desert and has no major water bodies within its borders. With no ocean access, no natural lakes, and limited river flow, there are no beaches in the state. Nevada’s hot, arid climate and closed drainage basins prevent substantial aquatic development.
New Mexico
Like its southwestern neighbor Arizona, New Mexico is geographically landlocked and dominated by dry deserts. Aside from the Rio Grande River, the state has no major waterbodies and lacks precipitation for lakes. New Mexico’s highest elevations provide alpine streams but no suitable beaches.
Utah
Utah is the 7th driest state and mostly consists of arid desert valleys, plateaus, and basins. With no ocean coastal access and an interior closed-drainage basin system, there are no natural lake beaches in the state. While Utah has reservoirs along the Colorado River, these are not developed for recreation.
Vermont
Despite having multiple rivers and streams, Vermont does not have any natural lakes. The state’s humid continental climate and rolling hills limit large lake formation. Man-made reservoirs exist but are not suitable for beach activities. Overall, Vermont’s small size, geography, and climate restrict substantial beaches.
West Virginia
West Virginia is landlocked far from the Atlantic Ocean. While major rivers like the Ohio, Kanawha, and Monongahela flow through the state, they lack wide access points for beach recreation. The state also does not have natural lakes, and its mountainous topography is not conducive to large water bodies.
Wyoming
Wyoming is the second driest state and lacks major water features aside from a few alpine lakes in the Rocky Mountains. The state has no ocean coast, no natural lakes suitable for swimming, and limited river flow. Wyoming’s arid high plains climate and hydrology prevent beach development.
Common Geographic Factors
When analyzing the beachless states, several common geographic and climatic factors emerge:
- No ocean coastline or coastal access
- Landlocked and bordered by other landlocked states
- Located far from the oceans in the continental interior
- No natural lake formation due to climate and topography
- Arid or temperate continental climates with limited precipitation
- Mountainous regions or flat plains not conducive to large water bodies
- Major rivers and streams exist but are often not accessible or suitable for beaches
- Reservoirs lack shorelines designed for swimming or recreation
Essentially, the geography, hydrology, size, and regional characteristics of these states restrict the presence of oceans, bays, lakes, and navigable rivers that can create recreation-friendly beaches. Their inland location and limited water resources due to local climates are the key factors that deny them any true beaches.
States with Limited Beach Access
While the 10 states listed above entirely lack beaches, there are some landlocked states that still have a few hard-to-access beach areas. These limited beach sites include:
Oklahoma
The Great Salt Plains Lake and Reservoir has swimming access but salinity and vegetation limit beach recreation.
South Dakota
Lake Oahe on the Missouri River has limited beaches along its 2,250 mile shoreline.
Nebraska
Lake McConaughy is Nebraska’s largest lake and its 100 mile shore has some beaches, though they are predominantly rocky.
Iowa
Iowa Great Lakes provide some small beach areas though they are interspersed between vegetation and residential docks.
Wisconsin
Lake Superior has a few hard-to-access rocky beaches along the coastline that are not ideal for recreation.
So while not completely devoid of beach options, the offerings in these states are very minimal compared to coastal states. The beaches tend to be rocky, weedy, or on inaccessible shorelines. They lack the vast stretches of sandy beaches available in ocean-bordering states.
States with the Most Beaches
To contrast the beachless states, here are the top 10 states that have the highest number and mileage of beaches along ocean, bay, and lake shorelines:
State | Miles of Beach |
---|---|
Florida | 1,350 |
California | 840 |
Hawaii | 750 |
Massachusetts | 633 |
New York | 470 |
Oregon | 398 |
Texas | 367 |
Washington | 288 |
Maine | 228 |
Louisiana | 397 |
These beach stats demonstrate the correlation between coastal location and abundance of high-quality swimming and recreation beaches. Direct ocean access enables the formation of picturesque sandy beaches like those found throughout Florida, California, and Hawaii.
Beach Alternatives Inland States Offer
Though completely devoid of beaches, the landlocked heartland states provide many other unique opportunities and attractions. Some highlights include:
- Arizona: Grand Canyon, desert landscapes, hiking, golf
- Colorado: Rocky Mountains, skiing, mountain towns, parks
- Idaho: Skiing, lakes, rivers, hiking, forests
- Kentucky: Caves, bourbon trail, horse racing, bluegrass music
- Nevada: Las Vegas, gaming, desert views, Hoover Dam
- New Mexico: Culture, arts, Native American heritage, ballooning
- Utah: Salt Lake City, skiing, Zion National Park, dinosaur fossils
- Vermont: Skiing, foliage, maple syrup, Ben & Jerry’s Factory
- West Virginia: White water rafting, mountain climbing, hiking
- Wyoming: Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, wildlife, dude ranches
So while these states may not offer oceanside getaways, they provide amazing recreational and cultural experiences you can’t find anywhere else. Their natural scenery, unique cities, and history make for wonderful vacations.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, the absence of beaches in about 20% of U.S. states can be attributed primarily to geographic location and climate factors. Being situated in the continental interior far from oceans, limited by arid conditions, and having topography that restricts major aquatic features all contribute to the lack of beaches.
However, those looking for beach alternatives will find that the heartland and mountain states still offer incredible sites and activities. So don’t overlook a vacation in one of these states just because it lacks an ocean coastline. The change of scenery and wealth of other attractions can make for an amazing trip!