Fort Worden Historical State Park
Port Townsend, WA
Fort Worden Historical State Park covers over two miles of shoreline on Admiralty Inlet, a former Army coastal defense fort where gun batteries still sit right above the beach. The 1914 Point Wilson Lighthouse anchors the north end, and a popular scuba diving site off the pier draws divers to depths of 25 to 50 feet.
The single most feature-rich beach park in the region, a lighthouse, a WWII-era fort, a scuba park, and several named beaches in one place, genuinely both a local and tourist anchor.
How we score beachesA Discover Pass is required as of March 2025, and the self-serve kiosk at the beach only takes cards, so buy one online ahead of time if you're not carrying a card reader friendly payment method.
Discover Pass required for parking; a self-serve kiosk is on site.
Dogs are allowed nearly everywhere in the park, including trails and beaches, on leash.
Summer is best for swimming and diving comfort. The beach, fort, and lighthouse are worth a visit year round for the history and scenery alone.
This isn't one entrance, it's a stretch with a few. Here's where locals actually meet up.
Fort Worden Beach
The main beach near the pier and campground, the park's central swimming and picnic spot.
Get directions →Point Wilson
The lighthouse at the park's northern tip, where the Strait of Juan de Fuca meets Admiralty Inlet and rip currents can be strong.
Get directions →North Beach
A quieter stretch connecting toward Chinese Gardens Lagoon, good for a longer beachcombing walk.
Get directions →More Pacific Coast beaches
Zuma Beach
Malibu, CA · Pacific Coast
A wide stretch of sand backed by the Santa Monica Mountains, with reliable swells that draw surfers year-round and plenty of room to spread out even on busy weekends.
Huntington City Beach
Huntington Beach, CA · Pacific Coast
Known as Surf City USA, with a mile-long municipal pier, consistent breaks for surfers of every level, and a laid-back boardwalk scene along Pacific Coast Highway.
Main Beach
Laguna Beach, CA · Pacific Coast
Tucked between rocky headlands, with tidepools to explore at low tide, calmer coves for swimming, and an arts-town backdrop of galleries and cafes just steps from the sand.