These May Be the 10 Busiest Beaches in the World This Summer

TripAdvisor, one of the top three most-visited travel planning websites in the world (along witH Airbnb and Booking.com) recently released its 2025 Summer Travel Index, and the millions of pieces of data reveal a clear trend: 51 percent of respondents cite relaxation and rejuvenation as their main reason for travel this summer. The Index looked at data from TripAdvisor users, and drew conclusions about where travelers are headed this summer. While some unexpected beaches in Florida seem to be catching travelers’ attention, four of the top 10 beach destinations people are planning to visit are in the Caribbean.

For domestic travel, some destinations remain forever popular, like Las Vegas and New York City. (Internationally, Paris, London, and Rome — despite the crowds sure to be in town for the Vatican Jubilee — are the most popular). But when it comes to beach destinations, data show that these are the most popular destinations. So if you’re headed to any of the beaches below this summer, expect some crowds.

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1. Key West, Florida
2. Panama City Beach, Florida
3. Honolulu, Hawai’i
4. Ocean City, Maryland
5. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Myrtle Beach ranked highest based on TripAdvisor data, probably for a combination of factors. Its location on the East Coast makes it reachable from several major metropolitan areas, and it’s reputation for being more affordable than resort destinations in North Carolina or Florida likely gives it broader appeal to a wider range of travelers. It’s also grown into a popular family beach vacation town, with draws like a 30-course mini golf trail through town and laid-back activities that don’t require tons of advanced planning.

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1. Cap Cana, Dominican Republic*
2. Oranjestad, Aruba*
3. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
4. Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
5. Cancun, Mexico

Cancun is a no-brainer when it comes to beach travel for Americans, so much so that it has a reputation for being populated in the summer almost exclusively by Americans. But it’s not suprising to see it on top, with a large airport that welcomes many direct flights from the US, lots of all-inclusive resorts that make it easy to plan a last-minute trip, and draws like an underwater museum perfect for snorkeling.

*Barcelona, Spain, and Venice, Italy, would take the fourth and sixth spots, if you could those as beach destinations.

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1. Dewey Beach, Deleware
2. North Wildwood, New Jersey
3. Big Sur, California
4. Isle of Palms, South Carolina
5. Fort Walton Beach, Florida

If you’re keen on a beach vacation not filled with crowds, get to one of the destinations above quickly. While they don’t yet rank high enough to be top destinations, they’re becoming more popular, with the biggest increases year-over-year in travel interest of any beach destination in the US.

Interestingly, Fort Walton took the top spot. While it may not be a household name the way Miami or even Pensacola are, it’s got plenty to offer low-key travelers. It’s a roughly 20-minute drive from Destin but less crowded with visitors, and has reliably warm, calm water, thanks to its position on the Gulf of Mexico. If you like the idea of a beach trip where you can plop your beach chair in the sand and post up all day without interruption, it could be a good choice this summer.

The full TripAdvisor report is available online.