*For a local reaction story to beach tanning, watch above

(STACKER) — Summer vacation is mostly over across the U.S., with kids already headed back to school. So now is the perfect time to start planning next year’s beach vacation.

Travelers were busy this summer. On Memorial Day weekend, largely considered the unofficial start of summer, the Transportation Security Administration screened 9.8 million people, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Trips abroad spiked in popularity as people made up for time lost during pandemic-era travel restrictions.

However, as inflation made travel more expensive, budget-conscious travelers cut costs by driving to their destinations and staying stateside. During the July 4th holiday, AAA projected 43.2 million people would travel by car, a new record.

Beach destinations are popular this year, according to a survey from vacation-rental platform Vacasa, and outdoor recreation remains a top priority. Not only are beaches a great place to unwind and create family bonding moments, but they also boost people’s mental health.

So what makes a good beach town? Access to a beach, of course, but also plenty of indoor and outdoor activities to keep kids entertained, warm weather, and a long beach season (the average number of days beaches are open for swimming).

Stacker determined rankings by several factors, giving the most weight to the number of beaches within a quarter mile of a city or town and the total shoreline of those beaches. Weather patterns and the duration of each beach’s swim season affect town scores. The ranking also takes into account the prevalence of beach-related businesses, unemployment rates, and median home prices.

The EPA lists more than 250 beaches on the Great Lakes, totaling more than 100 miles of beach shoreline.

50. Long Beach, Indiana

• Number of beaches: 5
• Beach length: 3.32 miles
• Average swim season length: 98 days
• Average county summer temperature: 71.7 degrees
• Median home price: $497,100

49. Whites Landing, Ohio

• Number of beaches: 2
• Beach length: 0.05 miles
• Average swim season length: 102 days
• Average county summer temperature: 72.5 degrees
• Median home price: $152,100

48. Winthrop Harbor, Illinois

• Number of beaches: 4
• Beach length: 1.3 miles
• Average swim season length: 90 days
• Average county summer temperature: 71.5 degrees
• Median home price: $206,900

47. Ossineke, Michigan

• Number of beaches: 2
• Beach length: 0.85 miles
• Average swim season length: 105 days
• Average county summer temperature: 66.8 degrees
• Median home price: $135,400

46. Port Clinton, Ohio

• Number of beaches: 1
• Beach length: 0.65 miles
• Average swim season length: 102 days
• Average county summer temperature: 73.5 degrees
• Median home price: $120,300

45. Racine, Wisconsin

• Number of beaches: 4
• Beach length: 0.58 miles
• Average swim season length: 106 days
• Average county summer temperature: 70.5 degrees
• Median home price: $128,000

44. Bridgman, Michigan

• Number of beaches: 2
• Beach length: 1.88 miles
• Average swim season length: 109 days
• Average county summer temperature: 71.2 degrees
• Median home price: $204,800

43. Lakeport, Michigan

• Number of beaches: 3
• Beach length: 1.37 miles
• Average swim season length: 105 days
• Average county summer temperature: 71.6 degrees
• Median home price: $139,000

42. Muskegon, Michigan

• Number of beaches: 3
• Beach length: 1.94 miles
• Average swim season length: 98 days
• Average county summer temperature: 69.3 degrees
• Median home price: $94,900

41. Cheboygan, Michigan

• Number of beaches: 3
• Beach length: 0.35 miles
• Average swim season length: 103 days
• Average county summer temperature: 65.6 degrees
• Median home price: $102,300

40. Sheboygan, Wisconsin

• Number of beaches: 8
• Beach length: 4.04 miles
• Average swim season length: 53 days
• Average county summer temperature: 68.5 degrees
• Median home price: $132,200

39. Au Gres, Michigan

• Number of beaches: 1
• Beach length: 1.7 miles
• Average swim season length: 105 days
• Average county summer temperature: 68.8 degrees
• Median home price: $128,300

38. Norwood, Michigan

• Number of beaches: 2
• Beach length: 8.25 miles
• Average swim season length: 71 days
• Average county summer temperature: 66.5 degrees
• Median home price: $152,500

37. St. Joseph, Michigan

• Number of beaches: 5
• Beach length: 1.29 miles
• Average swim season length: 112 days
• Average county summer temperature: 71.2 degrees
• Median home price: $213,000

36. Tawas City, Michigan

• Number of beaches: 2
• Beach length: 0.67 miles
• Average swim season length: 132 days
• Average county summer temperature: 67.7 degrees
• Median home price: $95,500

35. Benton Harbor, Michigan

• Number of beaches: 2
• Beach length: 0.52 miles
• Average swim season length: 112 days
• Average county summer temperature: 71.2 degrees
• Median home price: $67,300

34. Escanaba, Michigan

• Number of beaches: 2
• Beach length: 3.03 miles
• Average swim season length: 106 days
• Average county summer temperature: 64.3 degrees
• Median home price: $89,100

33. Norton Shores, Michigan

• Number of beaches: 5
• Beach length: 3.39 miles
• Average swim season length: 99 days
• Average county summer temperature: 69.3 degrees
• Median home price: $168,000

32. Beverly Shores, Indiana

• Number of beaches: 4
• Beach length: 4.58 miles
• Average swim season length: 104 days
• Average county summer temperature: 71.8 degrees
• Median home price: $466,900

31. Waukegan, Illinois

• Number of beaches: 2
• Beach length: 1.82 miles
• Average swim season length: 130 days
• Average county summer temperature: 71.5 degrees
• Median home price: $150,200

30. Hammond, Indiana

• Number of beaches: 4
• Beach length: 1.38 miles
• Average swim season length: 100 days
• Average county summer temperature: 71.8 degrees
• Median home price: $112,800

29. Port Huron, Michigan

• Number of beaches: 5
• Beach length: 0.54 miles
• Average swim season length: 106 days
• Average county summer temperature: 71.6 degrees
• Median home price: $108,900

28. Huron, Ohio

• Number of beaches: 4
• Beach length: 0.61 miles
• Average swim season length: 102 days
• Average county summer temperature: 72.5 degrees
• Median home price: $177,200

27. Ashland, Wisconsin

• Number of beaches: 4
• Beach length: 0.7 miles
• Average swim season length: 106 days
• Average county summer temperature: 64.1 degrees
• Median home price: $123,500

26. Crystal Downs Country Club, Michigan

• Number of beaches: 3
• Beach length: 1.35 miles
• Average swim season length: 120 days
• Average county summer temperature: 67.2 degrees
• Median home price: $199,900

25. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

• Number of beaches: 5
• Beach length: 1.73 miles
• Average swim season length: 101 days
• Average county summer temperature: 70.7 degrees
• Median home price: $141,700

24. Evanston, Illinois

• Number of beaches: 8
• Beach length: 1.03 miles
• Average swim season length: 130 days
• Average county summer temperature: 72.5 degrees
• Median home price: $434,200

23. Portage, Indiana

• Number of beaches: 4
• Beach length: 3.36 miles
• Average swim season length: 98 days
• Average county summer temperature: 71.8 degrees
• Median home price: $173,100

22. Traverse City, Michigan

• Number of beaches: 7
• Beach length: 1.2 miles
• Average swim season length: 103 days
• Average county summer temperature: 67.0 degrees
• Median home price: $292,500

21. Munising, Michigan

• Number of beaches: 2
• Beach length: 2.18 miles
• Average swim season length: 128 days
• Average county summer temperature: 63.2 degrees
• Median home price: $116,700

20. Vermilion, Ohio

• Number of beaches: 4
• Beach length: 0.97 miles
• Average swim season length: 107 days
• Average county summer temperature: 72.5 degrees
• Median home price: $135,900

19. Northport, Michigan

• Number of beaches: 8
• Beach length: 0.48 miles
• Average swim season length: 105 days
• Average county summer temperature: 67.0 degrees
• Median home price: $225,000

18. Cleveland, Ohio

• Number of beaches: 3
• Beach length: 0.99 miles
• Average swim season length: 108 days
• Average county summer temperature: 72.2 degrees
• Median home price: $87,000

17. Kenosha, Wisconsin

• Number of beaches: 5
• Beach length: 2.17 miles
• Average swim season length: 106 days
• Average county summer temperature: 70.8 degrees
• Median home price: $173,500

16. Marquette, Michigan

• Number of beaches: 5
• Beach length: 1.56 miles
• Average swim season length: 111 days
• Average county summer temperature: 63.9 degrees
• Median home price: $194,900

15. Superior, Wisconsin

• Number of beaches: 15
• Beach length: 7.69 miles
• Average swim season length: 49 days
• Average county summer temperature: 65.1 degrees
• Median home price: $137,800

14. Two Rivers, Wisconsin

• Number of beaches: 4
• Beach length: 7.07 miles
• Average swim season length: 106 days
• Average county summer temperature: 67.6 degrees
• Median home price: $98,500

13. Mackinaw City, Michigan

• Number of beaches: 5
• Beach length: 0.49 miles
• Average swim season length: 105 days
• Average county summer temperature: 65.3 degrees
• Median home price: $145,800

12. Copper Harbor, Michigan

• Number of beaches: 4
• Beach length: 1.94 miles
• Average swim season length: 105 days
• Average county summer temperature: 62.9 degrees
• Median home price: $124,100

11. Alpena, Michigan

• Number of beaches: 6
• Beach length: 2.11 miles
• Average swim season length: 103 days
• Average county summer temperature: 66.8 degrees
• Median home price: $78,800

10. Michigan City, Indiana

• Number of beaches: 5
• Beach length: 3.43 miles
• Average swim season length: 98 days
• Average county summer temperature: 71.7 degrees
• Median home price: $107,900

9. Euclid, Ohio

• Number of beaches: 9
• Beach length: 0.99 miles
• Average swim season length: 100 days
• Average county summer temperature: 72.2 degrees
• Median home price: $92,500

8. Duluth, Minnesota

• Number of beaches: 31
• Beach length: 17.39 miles
• Average swim season length: 19 days
• Average county summer temperature: 63.4 degrees
• Median home price: $174,400

7. St. Ignace, Michigan

• Number of beaches: 6
• Beach length: 2.24 miles
• Average swim season length: 104 days
• Average county summer temperature: 63.3 degrees
• Median home price: $117,400

6. Grand Marais, Michigan

• Number of beaches: 3
• Beach length: 10.73 miles
• Average swim season length: 105 days
• Average county summer temperature: 63.2 degrees
• Median home price: $146,400

5. Gary, Indiana

• Number of beaches: 6
• Beach length: 4.2 miles
• Average swim season length: 98 days
• Average county summer temperature: 71.8 degrees
• Median home price: $84,900

4. Zion, Illinois

• Number of beaches: 5
• Beach length: 3.05 miles
• Average swim season length: 111 days
• Average county summer temperature: 71.5 degrees
• Median home price: $139,300

3. Presque Isle Harbor, Michigan

• Number of beaches: 4
• Beach length: 10.59 miles
• Average swim season length: 105 days
• Average county summer temperature: 66.0 degrees
• Median home price: $144,700

2. Sandusky, Ohio

• Number of beaches: 4
• Beach length: 4.79 miles
• Average swim season length: 102 days
• Average county summer temperature: 72.5 degrees
• Median home price: $86,800

1. Chicago, Illinois

• Number of beaches: 25
• Beach length: 5.63 miles
• Average swim season length: 125 days
• Average county summer temperature: 72.4 degrees
• Median home price: $295,400