7 Off-The-Grid Atlantic Coast Towns To Visit In 2025
The next time you want to explore the beautiful beaches of the Atlantic coast, skip the high-rises and boardwalks and opt for smaller communities; they still exist. Only in these small seaside hamlets can you enjoy the tranquility of the Atlantic Ocean without getting up at the crack of dawn to find a good beach spot. You can admire the wild ponies that inhabit the beaches in Chincoteague or explore the untapped wetlands in Port Royal. There are no crowds, no traffic, and very little commercial development to obscure your views of the ocean.
Lubec, Maine
Starting at the very top is Lubec, Maine, the easternmost municipality in the United States. Its nearly off-the-map location creates a secluded atmosphere where you have some of the most stunning vistas on the Atlantic coast all to yourself. Lubec has a population of just over 300 residents and is only a bridge away from the coastal shores of Canada. One of the most stunning landmarks in Lubec is the West Quoddy Head Light, located within the scenic area of Quoddy Head State Park. The candy-striped lighthouse is truly a sight to behold, but even it doesn’t hold a candle to the views where the rugged cliffs meet the Atlantic Ocean.
There are plenty of isolated public beaches to catch some rays, like Mowry Beach, but Lubec is still an operating fishing village. That means it offers some of the best seafood in the state. If you love seafood, it doesn’t get any better than the fresh-caught fish offered at their quaint diners and restaurants. Fisherman’s Wharf Restaurant is a seaside eatery with magnificent views, and it’s a great spot to order a lobster roll on their cozy seaside outdoor patio.
Stonington, Connecticut
Smack dab between New Haven and Newport is the hidden seaside village of Stonington; many vacation-goers often flock to the nearby town of Mystic for quiet beaches and completely overlook it. However, not much has changed in the center of Stonington since its founding. Think narrow winding streets, colorful colonial storefronts, and uncrowded coastal views. One of the best ways to take in panoramic views of the area is by climbing to the top of the Stonington Lighthouse Museum, a rustic stone structure built in 1840.
Other coastal towns hung up their fishing hats to focus on tourism, but not Stonington. It’s still an operating fishing village where you can watch lobster boats roll into the fishing docks near the scenic Stonington Town Dock and Memorial. Then, follow the day's catch to one of their popular seaside restaurants, like Dog Watch Cafe. If you want to enjoy a glass of wine amid the salty sea air, there’s no better spot than the Saltwater Farm Vineyard.
Avalon, New Jersey
On the southern tip of New Jersey’s Seven Mile Island, you’ll find the remote beaches of Avalon. Far removed from the spectacle of some of New Jersey’s more famous coastal cities, Avalon is a family-friendly retreat with charming locally owned shops and uncrowded beaches. There are fascinating museums like the Avalon History Center and long, untouched rocky shores at the Avalon Seawatch.
While there are plenty of public beaches to work on your tan, like the Beach at Avalon, there are plenty of opportunities to explore the natural wonder of Avalon’s natural scenery. The Avalon Dunes and Beach Trail gives visitors a rare glimpse of what the shores of New Jersey may have looked like for the indigenous Lenape and early colonists. The nearby Stone Harbor Bird Sanctuary is another great spot to explore, offering hiking trails through saltwater wetlands where you can see native herons and egrets in their natural habitats.
Slaughter Beach, Delaware
Slaughter Beach, Delaware, isn’t just a coastal retreat for beach lovers. It’s an untouched naturalist paradise ripe with isolated, windswept shores, dark night skies lit up only with stars, and amazing hiking within the wetlands of Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. If you want to unwind to the sound of waves crashing on the shoreline, Prime Hook Beach is an idyllic place dotted with cozy beach cottages free of crowds and high rises.
Slaughter Beach is so remote and isolated that visitors must travel outside town to grab a bite. Thankfully, nearby towns like Lewes offer amazing seafood at restaurants like Big Oyster Brewery, where you can fill up on fresh seafood before driving back into central Slaughter Beach. With secluded retreats like Marvel Salt Marsh Preserve and the DuPont Nature Center (both just a few miles away in Milford), a weekend at Slaughter Beach allows visitors to enjoy the solitude of the Atlantic coast without the summer crowds and light pollution.
Chincoteague, Virginia
Virginia Beach may be Virginia’s most popular seaside destination, but so many small villages tucked away on Virginia’s 5,000 miles of coastline don’t get nearly enough attention. Chincoteague is one of those underappreciated gems. Located on the south side of Assateague Island, it’s an isolated town that delivers untouched miles of coastline and uncrowded beaches. The biggest attraction in Chincoteague is the wild ponies that live on the Assateague Island National Seashore. If you visit at the end of July, you can attend the annual Pony Swim, celebrating its 100th year in 2025.
However, there’s so much more to see in Chincoteague other than wild horses. Assateague Island has miles of undeveloped coastline with hiking trails and bike paths without a high-rise or hotel in sight. When you’re ready to refuel after a long day of exploration, more than a handful of tasty restaurants serve excellent seafood with even better views. The Ropewalk Restaurant is one of the most popular spots serving mouthwatering crabcakes in a seaside setting.
Oak Island, North Carolina
South of Wilmington, on the southern edge of North Carolina, is the isolated community of Oak Island. It’s the type of remote island town where you rent a house on the beach, stock up on groceries and beach snacks at the Food Lion, and spend your days soaking up the sun at the SE 55th Street Public Beach Access with a view of the Oak Island Lighthouse in the distance.
After a long day of sunbathing, you can pack up and go for a walk down the Oak Island Pier and grab a bite to eat at Lazy Turtle Oceanfront Grille or Koko Cabana. Oak Island may have miles of pristine coastline, but it still has that quaint, small-town charm that’s missing in most touristy beach towns. There are cozy little coffee shops like Big Pups Coffee Company, and a locally owned restaurant serving classic southern cuisine like Fixins OKI.
Port Royal, South Carolina
While the summer crowds flock to Hilton Head Island, you can beat the bustle by visiting Port Royal. As a part of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton metropolitan area, this undiscovered gem delivers the same amazing seaside vibes, sans the crowds and traffic. You can relax along the windswept shores of the Sands Beach during the day, and then head inland to central Port Royal for fantastic seafood at Fishcamp on 11th Street, which overlooks a shrimp port.
It’s not just the uncrowded beaches and amazing seafood that make Port Royal a hidden gem of South Carolina. It also has unique natural landscapes you can only find in Port Royal, like the Cypress Wetlands. You can walk across winding boardwalks through salty cypress swamps to watch herons, turtles, and an alligator or two. Port Royal is also considered a gateway to the Sea Islands within Hunting Island State Park, where you can hike maritime forests and climb to the top of the Hunting Island lighthouse.
Discover the Atlantic’s Best-Kept Secrets
When you’re ready to hit the open road in search of salty sea air in 2025, these hidden gems along the Atlantic coast are your ticket to tranquility. They may not have bustling boardwalks or surf shacks on every corner, but it’s all a part of their old-world charm. From the rocky shores of New England down to the calm, windswept beaches of South Carolina, these hidden oceanside havens are heaven on earth. Just make sure to visit them before word gets out.
