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15 Best Beach House Rentals on the East Coast

From the rugged shores of Maine to the Outer Banks and the Florida Keys, the U.S. East Coast offers many fabulous beach destinations for a getaway. Whether you’re looking for something more wild and secluded for a tranquil retreat or a lively spot with a long list of things to see and do, one of the first things you’ll need to do is book a vacation rental. These options provide something for everyone, from charming cottages to high-end homes that can accommodate a large group.

Oceanfront with Stunning Views and Private Deck - Saco, Maine Oceanfront with Stunning Views and Private Deck - Saco, Maine
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Oceanfront with Stunning Views and Private Deck - Saco, Maine

One of the top oceanfront rentals in Maine, this beach house can accommodate as many as eight and offers spectacular panoramic views of the coast. You’ll be less than a one-minute walk from Camp Ellis Beach, a secluded spot where you’ll often have it all to yourself, and a seasonal seafood eatery is right here, too. When you want more action, the city of Portland is only a 30-minute drive away. The home itself has a back porch on the first floor with ocean views, and you’ll find a private deck on the second floor with a 270-degree view. The host kindly provides beach towels, umbrellas, beach chairs, and beach toys during the summer, and you’ll have all the essentials, too, from a full kitchen and Smart TV to a washer and dryer with detergent included.

3-Bedroom Home with Ocean Views and Private Beach - Cape Elizabeth, Maine 3-Bedroom Home with Ocean Views and Private Beach - Cape Elizabeth, Maine
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3-Bedroom Home with Ocean Views and Private Beach - Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Located on a stunning stretch of Maine’s rugged coast just minutes from Portland and in one of Maine’s most charming towns, this three-bedroom home for up to seven guests is incredibly luxurious, with just about every high-end amenity imaginable. It has a farmhouse/coastal feel, while the living room overlooks the Atlantic and includes a fireplace. Smart TV, and a SONOS sound system. You’ll have a spacious, well-equipped kitchen and an outdoor patio surrounded by ocean views with a BBQ grill for cookouts.

Cape Cod Serenity, 4-Minute Walk to the Beach - Dennis, Massachusetts Cape Cod Serenity, 4-Minute Walk to the Beach - Dennis, Massachusetts
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Cape Cod Serenity, 4-Minute Walk to the Beach - Dennis, Massachusetts

This is a quintessential Cape Cod beach house with faded cedar shakes and bright blue shutters that give it lots of character. It can sleep as many as eight guests and is just a short stroll from the sand. You might want to pick up some of the Cape’s famously mouthwatering lobster to cook up a classic New England seafood dinner, enjoyed under the rental’s shaded outdoor space. You’ll have a grill, a full kitchen, an outdoor shower, and beach accessories too.

The Surf Shack with Ocean Views From Every Room - Narragansett, Rhode Island The Surf Shack with Ocean Views From Every Room - Narragansett, Rhode Island
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The Surf Shack with Ocean Views From Every Room - Narragansett, Rhode Island

One of Rhode Island’s best beach house rentals, The Surf Shack offers a quiet setting with a fabulous ocean-view front porch and a park-like backyard. You’ll have access to a private beach that connects to Scarborough State Beach, along with complimentary beach towels, beach chairs, and bikes. This is a great place for the family, with many amenities for little ones, like a high chair, beach toys, and bubbles. Parents will love the master bath, which has a Jacuzzi tub. Everyone can enjoy cozying up to the fireplace in the open-concept family room while the spacious eat-in kitchen comes with a Nespresso machine with pods for espresso and coffee supplied.

Oceanfront, Amazing Views of Delaware Seashore State Park & Ocean - Bethany Beach, Delaware Oceanfront, Amazing Views of Delaware Seashore State Park & Ocean - Bethany Beach, Delaware
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Oceanfront, Amazing Views of Delaware Seashore State Park & Ocean - Bethany Beach, Delaware

This stunning oceanfront rental in Bethany Beach is just steps from Delaware Seashore State Park while offering dazzling views of the park, the beach, and the Atlantic. You can enjoy the epic views from multiple decks and porches while two of the four bedrooms sit at the oceanfront and have their own private deck. When you’re not relaxing and just enjoying the view, you can take advantage of the great access to swimming, surfing, kayaking, hiking, biking, and more. You’ll have a BBQ grill for cookouts, a full kitchen, satellite TV, and laundry facilities too.

Seaside Sanctuary Beach House - Virginia Beach, Virginia Seaside Sanctuary Beach House - Virginia Beach, Virginia
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Seaside Sanctuary Beach House - Virginia Beach, Virginia

This luxurious Virginia Beach Airbnb sits on the oceanfront and accommodates up to 12 guests in five bedrooms. It’s ideal for a large family or a couple of families who want to enjoy an upscale retreat; you’ll enjoy direct ocean views, an ocean-facing swimming pool with five jets (heated for an additional fee), a kids’ pool, and a hot tub. There’s a gas grill for cookouts, a full kitchen and wine fridge, five TVs, a washer/dryer, and all of the other usual comforts of home.

The Seaglass Cottage by the Chesapeake Bay - Virginia Beach, Virginia The Seaglass Cottage by the Chesapeake Bay - Virginia Beach, Virginia
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The Seaglass Cottage by the Chesapeake Bay - Virginia Beach, Virginia

The Seaglass Cottage is located in the Chesapeake Bay area in the quiet Ocean Park neighborhood, less than a 10-minute walk from one of the best beaches in Virginia. A vintage home that dates to the 1940s, it offers historic charm, but it’s been fully renovated and comes complete with beach decor and local art to set the mood. You’ll have complimentary use of beach chairs, boogie boards, beach toys, and beach towels, with other notable features including a partially fenced backyard, a game room with foosball and board games, and a big-screen TV in the living room with HULU, Netflix, Disney+, a DVD player and an extensive DVD library. The hosts also provide some complimentary items to get you started, like coffee and tea, creamer, and laundry detergent.

Couple of Pisces On the Ocean - North Topsail Beach, North Carolina Couple of Pisces On the Ocean - North Topsail Beach, North Carolina
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Couple of Pisces On the Ocean - North Topsail Beach, North Carolina

Can you imagine fishing right from your own deck? You can do that by booking this top-rated Topsail Island vacation rental that sits right on the sand. Or just relax and enjoy the view from the lounge chairs. An outdoor shower is the perfect place to rinse off after enjoying the private beach, accessed via an exclusive walkway. While the outdoors is where it’s at here, inside, you’ll have a full kitchen and a 65″ HDTV with Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, HBO Max, and Disney+. Central a/c is provided so you can enjoy a respite from the heat on those hot summer days.

Renovated Beachfront Home at Sea Maiden West - Emerald Isle, North Carolina Renovated Beachfront Home at Sea Maiden West - Emerald Isle, North Carolina
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Renovated Beachfront Home at Sea Maiden West - Emerald Isle, North Carolina

Ideal for a large group, this beach house rental in North Carolina sleeps up to 12 in five bedrooms, and each one has a magnificent ocean view, so you won’t have to argue about who gets what. It has multiple private decks where you can sip your morning coffee while watching a colorful sunrise and enjoying the sounds of the waves. It includes all the comforts of home and then some, from TVs with surround sound to central a/c, and an outdoor hot-and-cold shower, while many attractions are within walking distance.

The Hampton House - St. Helena Island, South Carolina The Hampton House - St. Helena Island, South Carolina
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The Hampton House - St. Helena Island, South Carolina

The Hampton House is a beautiful four-bedroom oceanfront home for up to a dozen guests that will feel like your own slice of private paradise. It sits on Low Country Beach, which has been called the ‘Best Secret Beach For Familes’ by Southern Living Magazine, and comes with beach chairs, umbrellas, beach towels, ocean kayaks, and even a golf cart. There’s also a large resort pool and a screened-in porch for relaxing with the incredible views. A custom home, it’s decorated in “low country beach style,” has a high-end kitchen, and two of the bedrooms are king master en-suites, plus every bedroom has a TV.

Beach Front South End, Designer Decorated, Dream Retreat - Tybee Island, Georgia Beach Front South End, Designer Decorated, Dream Retreat - Tybee Island, Georgia
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Beach Front South End, Designer Decorated, Dream Retreat - Tybee Island, Georgia

Book this dreamy Tybee Island vacation rental and you’ll be right on the sand, just steps from the water. You’ll enjoy awe-inspiring ocean views from nearly every room in the house and you can look forward to some of the best sunset views on the island at the end of the day. It comes with a private custom dock house, four small recreational kayaks, three outdoor porches, and a propane fire pit. Plus, you’ll have a gourmet kitchen with a regular drip coffee maker and a Keurig single coffee maker, along with laundry facilities and all the other essentials.

Seaside Beach House with Private Beach - North Captiva Island, Florida Seaside Beach House with Private Beach - North Captiva Island, Florida
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Seaside Beach House with Private Beach - North Captiva Island, Florida

Want to feel like you’re enjoying your own private island getaway? Book this luxurious beach house that’s just ten steps from the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico. A two-bedroom beach house, it sits on a pristine white sandy beach at the northern tip of the island on four acres of private undeveloped land. Look forward to peace and tranquility with transport by foot or golf car as there are no cars here. Instead of the roar of the engine, you’ll enjoy the sounds of the crashing waves. When it comes to views, they’re incredible – watch for dolphins and savor the magical sunsets. You’ll also have use of the Island Club Membership, which offers free bicycle and kayak use, free beach chairs and umbrellas, use of two swimming pools, tennis courts, and more. The home itself sleeps seven and includes all the essentials.

Charming Beachfront, Walk to Restaurants and State Park - Manasota Key, Florida Charming Beachfront, Walk to Restaurants and State Park - Manasota Key, Florida
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Charming Beachfront, Walk to Restaurants and State Park - Manasota Key, Florida

Ideal for a couple, this one-bedroom quaint cottage rental sits right on the beach in Manasota Key. Look forward to breathtaking views and watching dolphins pass by right from the living room while being steps from Stump Pass State Park, a wildlife sanctuary, and gorgeous beaches. You’ll be able to escape it all in a place with no crowds, traffic lights, or high-rises, but restaurants, grocery stores, and golf courses are just a short drive away. A casual/rustic space, it’s one of three units in a large house and includes a full kitchen, a TV with a DVD player, and a washer/dryer.

Beach Cottage South of 30a, Steps to Beach - Santa Rosa Beach, Florida Beach Cottage South of 30a, Steps to Beach - Santa Rosa Beach, Florida
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Beach Cottage South of 30a, Steps to Beach - Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

This four-bedroom cottage offers plenty of space, accommodating up to 10 while being within a five-minute stroll from white sandy beaches on the Gulf Coast. You’ll also be steps from a community pool, an ice cream shop, and a seafood market. You’ll love the French doors that lead to the porch on the second story, ideal for enjoying a sea breeze. There’s an open living area with a large TV, and you’ll have complimentary use of beach chairs, an umbrella, floats, a cart, and beach and pool toys, too. 

Catherine House: A charming Old Town Key West Cottage - Key West, Florida Catherine House: A charming Old Town Key West Cottage - Key West, Florida
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Catherine House: A charming Old Town Key West Cottage - Key West, Florida

The Catherine House is a charming Key West vacation rental with a ton of local charm. It’s just a half-block from the quieter end of Duval Street and only three blocks to a beach. It comfortably sleeps four in two bedrooms, and you’ll even have a small pool in the backyard, accessed via French doors. Enjoy your morning coffee and evening cocktails on the porch, and when you want to relax inside, you’ll have an open-style living and dining area with comfortable seating and satellite TV.