The News Gulf Coast Locals Have Been Waiting For
If you have ever stood ankle-deep in the emerald water off the Florida Panhandle and wondered why the rest of the country had not caught on yet, the secret is officially out. Condé Nast Traveler’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards just named Pensacola Beach the #1 best beach in America, with Navarre Beach coming in at #2. More than 757,000 travelers cast votes, and two neighboring stretches of Northwest Florida sand swept the top of the list.
For anyone who has ever visited the area, the result will not be a surprise. For travelers still deciding where to plan a 2026 beach trip, it is a pretty compelling green light.
What Exactly Did Condé Nast Say?
The rankings are part of the 38th Annual Readers’ Choice Awards, the longest-running reader survey in the travel industry. Condé Nast readers praised Pensacola Beach for its sugar-white sand, emerald-green water, and authentic local culture, from walkable beach scenes to community events that make the area feel like a place, not a resort strip.
Navarre Beach earned its #2 spot on the strength of its quiet, uncrowded shoreline and turquoise Gulf water. The two beaches are separated by roughly seven miles of undeveloped Gulf Islands National Seashore coastline, which is a big part of why the water here stays as clear as it does.
Pensacola also landed at #10 on Condé Nast Traveler’s Best Small Cities in the U.S. list for 2025, which is worth noting if your trip plans include a dinner out, a museum afternoon, or a live music night in addition to beach days.
Why Two #1 Beaches in One Place Matters for Your Trip
Most coastal vacation destinations give you one great beach. The Northwest Florida Panhandle just got validated for having the top two in the country sitting side by side. That means a single trip can include:
- A morning swim in the clearer, calmer water of Navarre Beach
- An afternoon on Pensacola Beach’s livelier main stretch with restaurants and boardwalk energy
- A drive through Gulf Islands National Seashore in between, one of the last truly undeveloped shoreline segments in the state
You do not have to pick a favorite. You just have to pick a home base.
Where Stella Maris Fits Into the Picture
Stella Maris is located in Navarre Beach, on Santa Rosa Sound, which puts both of Condé Nast’s top-ranked beaches within easy reach. Navarre Beach itself is a short drive from the house across the Navarre Beach Causeway, and Pensacola Beach is about 30 minutes west along Via de Luna Drive through the national seashore, one of the most scenic beach drives in the country.
A few things that matter when you are trying to make the most of a two-beach itinerary:
Santa Rosa Sound on one side, Gulf on the other
Stella Maris sits directly on Santa Rosa Sound, which is the calm, shallow inland water between the mainland and the barrier island. It is ideal for kids, paddleboarding, kayaking, and sunset watching. The Gulf-side beaches, including the #1 and #2 ranked ones, are a short drive away. That is the “two waters, one stay” setup that almost no other vacation rental in the area can offer.
Room for the whole group
Stella Maris sleeps up to 14 and has 5 full baths plus 2 half baths, which makes it a practical choice for multi-family trips, reunions, and groups who want to split the cost of a premier beach week rather than booking two or three smaller properties.
A true home base, not a hotel room
Because Stella Maris is a full vacation rental, you get a private kitchen to prep beach lunches, a washer and dryer to handle sandy towels, and the kind of quiet evenings you do not get in a condo tower. You come back from Pensacola Beach or Navarre Beach and actually get to decompress.
Planning Your Trip to the Best Beaches in America
A few practical notes for anyone booking a 2026 trip after this news:
When to come. Navarre Beach and Pensacola Beach have a long season. April through October gives you warm Gulf water and long days. Shoulder months like April, May, September, and October tend to be the sweet spot for weather plus lighter crowds. Summer is peak, and holiday weekends book fastest.
How to split your beach time. Give yourself at least one full day at each of the two ranked beaches. Navarre Beach’s pier (the longest on the Gulf of Mexico) is worth a walk. Pensacola Beach’s Casino Beach area is where the boardwalk, casual dining, and live music cluster.
What to see in between. Gulf Islands National Seashore is free to enter at several points and has some of the quietest sand you will find anywhere in Florida. Fort Pickens, on the western end near Pensacola Beach, is worth a half day for the history and the views.
Where to eat. Both beaches have strong dining scenes. We will be writing more dedicated food guides soon. For now, know that fresh Gulf seafood is everywhere, and the best spots are the ones the locals keep going back to.
Book Your Stay at the #1 and #2 Beaches in America
There is something a little surreal about being able to say “we are staying near the two best beaches in America” and having it be officially true. If you have been thinking about a Gulf Coast trip, this is the year to do it, and Stella Maris is built for exactly this kind of visit. Sound-front location, space for the whole group, and both Condé Nast Readers’ Choice winners within an easy drive.