With over 12,000 miles of shoreline, the United States boasts some of the best beaches for seashell hunting in the world. From the iconic beaches of Florida to the rugged coasts of Washington, shell lovers can find an array of seashells along the sandy shores of America.
If you’re looking for a quick answer, some of the best shelling beaches in the USA include Sanibel Island and Captiva Island in Florida, Shell Beach in Louisiana, Cape May in New Jersey, and Kalaloch Beach in Washington.
In this comprehensive guide, we will share details on 10 of the best seashell hunting destinations across the country, along with tips on the best time to go and types of shells you’re likely to find.
We’ve organized the beaches geographically from east to west so you can easily plan your beachcombing adventure.
Cape May, New Jersey
Overview and What Makes It Great for Shelling
Located at the southern tip of New Jersey, Cape May is renowned as one of the best shelling beaches on the East Coast. With over 18 miles of pristine shoreline, Cape May offers an abundance of seashells that wash ashore daily.
The unique geography of the Delaware Bay and Atlantic Ocean converge here, delivering a bountiful variety of shells right to the beaches.
The shells found in Cape May are some of the most diverse and well-preserved specimens on the East Coast. From whelks to moon snails, olive shells to scallops, beachcombers delight in discovering intact shells along Cape May’s shores.
The shells here are often larger and more colorful than shells found elsewhere thanks to the nutrient-rich waters of the Delaware Bay.
The sloping beaches, sandy ocean floor, and tidal conditions in Cape May make walking along the shoreline and shallow waters ideal for shelling. Gentle waves repeatedly deposit new shells on the beach, revealing hidden treasures.
Whether shelling at sunrise before the crowds arrive or under the glowing light of the full moon, the shelling in Cape May is exceptional year-round.
Best Time to Go Shelling
Spring and fall are considered prime shelling seasons in Cape May. During spring, stormy conditions churn up the ocean floor, depositing piles of shells along the beaches. Fall brings less crowds, cooler temperatures, and a variety of shells cast ashore from summer mating seasons.
That being said, shelling can be rewarding any time of year in Cape May. Some veteran shellers prefer shelling in the winter months when tourist numbers are lower and rare specimens like whelks are abundant. Early morning shelling is recommended to spot shells before beach crowds arrive.
The best time to shell is during low tide or up to 2 hours after low tide, when receding waters have freshly exposed new shells. Local tidal charts can help plan the optimal timing. Shelling 1-2 days after a storm or nor’easter can result in freshly washed up shell bounty.
Common Types of Shells
Cape May’s shell diversity amazes even experienced beachcombers. Here are some of the most common shells found on Cape May’s beaches:
- Whelks – large spiral shells, sometimes called “conchs” in their intact form
- Moon snails – perfectly spiraled shells with a wide lip opening
- Scallops – fan-shaped shells with ridges known as “ears”
- Clams – from tiny white clam shells to large quahogs
- Olive shells – pointed and spiral with a striking marbled brown/green color
- Augers, wentletraps and murex – spiral shaped shells, favorites of shell collectors
- Slipper shells – oval-shaped shells which often wash up in mated pairs
While most shells wash up broken, intact whelks, moon snails, and olive shells can be found, especially after winter storms. With over 350 identified mollusk species off the coast, each walk along Cape May’s beaches offers a chance to make new discoveries.
Sanibel & Captiva Islands, Florida
Overview and What Makes It Great for Shelling
The beaches of Sanibel and Captiva Islands are considered some of the best shelling beaches in the USA. Their location on the Gulf of Mexico, combined with natural currents and the islands’ east-west orientation, causes thousands of gorgeous seashells to wash ashore daily.
Shell seekers flock here to comb the sandy beaches and hunt for these natural treasures.
Sanibel Island is especially known for the variety and abundance of shells that can be found. Over 250 different species have been identified here, including colorful scallops, delicate olives, stunning junonia, and the elusive alphabet cone.
The likelihood of finding whole, unbroken specimans is also higher thanks to Sanibel’s gentle slope and soft sandy beaches.
Best Time to Go Shelling
The best shelling season on Sanibel & Captiva Islands runs from March through September, with peak months being May, June, and July. During this timeframe, winds and currents are favorable for pushing many shells ashore.
Early morning and after high tide are optimal times for hunting, before heavy foot traffic disturbs potential finds.
Shelling can happen year-round though, even in winter! Cooler months may yield fewer shells, but also fewer competing hunters. Die-hard shellers adore Sanibel and Captiva for offering discoveries in every season.
Common Types of Shells
Shelling on these sister islands reveals diverse array of gastropods, bivalves, scallops, and more. Most prized by collectors are the intricate alphabet cone, Scotch bonnet, junonia, fighting conch, lightning whelk, Calico scallop, bay scallop, and coquina.
Other common shells include periwinkles, olive shells, margaritas, nerites, Tulip shells, ceriths, moon snails, false angel wings, pen shells, and the vibrant banded tulip. Whether hunting for rare beauties or enjoying seaside meditation while beachcombing, Sanibel and Captiva beckon shell lovers.
Shell Beach, Louisiana
Overview and What Makes It Great for Shelling
Known as the “Shelling Capital of the World,” Shell Beach in Louisiana is arguably one of the best shelling destinations in the United States (Louisiana Travel). Over 2,000 different types of gorgeous seashells wash up on its shores, making it a shell hunter’s paradise.
What makes Shell Beach so ideal for shelling is its unique location. It lies in a section of shoreline where the tides regularly shift sands and reveal an abundance of spectacular shells (The Crazy Tourist).
The shells come from the Gulf of Mexico and are brought to the beach by strong currents and waves.
Shell Beach stretches for 7 miles along Louisiana’s southeastern shoreline. Its sugar-white sands and calm waters offer breathtaking scenery in addition to outstanding shelling opportunities. Whether you’re a rookie collector or seasoned expert, the diversity and volume of shells will astonish you.
Best Time to Go Shelling
The optimal time for shelling at Shell Beach is early in the morning before the heat and crowds set in. Getting up at dawn to scan the high-tide line just after sunrise almost guarantees shelling success and social distancing along the spacious beach.
It’s also best to go shelling at low tide or when the tide is going out, as this is when the waves push in the freshest shells. Use a tide chart to determine the best days and times for shelling based on low tides.
The early spring is prime shelling season at Shell Beach since winter storms churn up loads of shells. Late fall after hurricane season concludes also brings ideal beachcombing conditions.
Common Types of Shells
You can find a mind-boggling diversity of shells at Shell Beach, far more than any other beach in North America. Some of the most common shells you may spot include:
- Junonia shells
- Helmet shells
- Wentletrap shells
- Scotch bonnets
- Lightning whelks
- Tulip shells
- Lettered olive shells
- Pear whelks
- Pen shells
Rarer finds can include angel wings, paper fig shells, Atlantic nutmegs, and horse conchs over 12 inches long! No matter your shelling skills, Shell Beach offers a bounty of natural seaside treasures waiting to be discovered.
Kalaloch Beach, Washington
Overview and What Makes It Great for Shelling
Located within Olympic National Park in western Washington state, Kalaloch Beach is considered one of the best shelling beaches in the USA. Its rugged beauty and remote location host a variety of seashells that get swept ashore by strong Pacific currents.
The beach stretches over 10 miles and features towering sea stacks, rocky tide pools, and plenty of driftwood that make for great beachcombing.
What makes Kalaloch so ideal for shell hunting is that it faces directly west towards the open Pacific Ocean. This allows shells from a variety of mollusks and sea creatures to wash up on its sandy shores. The diversity and abundance of shells here is amazing.
Beachcombers routinely find delicate olive shells, colorful Japanese glass floats, giant clam and oyster shells, and even rare finds like the elusive piddocks.
Best Time to Go Shelling
The best shelling season on Kalaloch Beach is during the windy winter months between November and February. Strong storms churn up the seabed offshore, dislodging shells and bringing them ashore. It’s common to find piles of shells scattered along the high tide line and among the driftwood after a big storm.
The bounty of shells also draws avid shell hunters to Kalaloch in early spring (March and April) before tourist season picks up. This is when shells tend to accumulate from winter storms. Early mornings are great for spying shells after high tide recedes.
While summer is peak tourist season, shelling can still be decent on Kalaloch depending on winds and currents.Locals recommend checking for storm forecasts offshore as your best indication for summer shelling potential.
Common Types of Shells
Over 200 species of shells have been identified on Kalaloch Beach. Common univalves you’ll find include olive shells, moon snails, limpets, periwinkles, and Washington clams. Occasionally, rare tropical shells like cowries wash up too.
The bounty of bivalves includes giant Pacific razor clams up to 6 inches long. You’ll also discover hinged shells like cockles, butter clams, Pacific littleneck clams, and heart cockles buried in the sand.
Other shells routinely uncovered are chitons, sea biscuits, scallops, oysters, mussels, barnacles, and even octopus jaws. Piddocks are one of the rarest finds – these rock-boring clam shells must be pried out of waterlogged driftwood.
One of the appeals of Kalaloch Beach is you never know what the tides might bring in. From Japanese glass net floats to abalone shells, beachcombing here yields an eclectic mix of marine treasures.
Conclusion
With miles of shoreline spanning two coasts, the United States offers remarkable diversity when it comes to seashell hunting. As we’ve covered, some of the best shelling beaches can be found in Cape May, New Jersey; Sanibel & Captiva Islands, Florida; Shell Beach, Louisiana; and Kalaloch Beach, Washington.
No matter what region you’re headed to, planning your beachcombing adventure in advance helps ensure you visit during peak shelling season. Pay attention to tides, storms, and other conditions to increase your chances of finding that perfect seashell to take home.
With proper preparation and a bit of luck, you’ll be rewarded with nature’s treasures along America’s beautiful beaches.
