These are the most dangerous summer vacation destinations in the US for 2025

These summer hotspots are the most likely to become people’s final destinations.

Some of the country’s most idyllic summer vacay spots also have a darker side. With the summer travel season in full swing, maritime and resort injury law firm Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. has ranked the nation’s most dangerous summer vacation hubs of 2025 — finding that Sarasota, Florida topped the list in this regard.

Not to be outdone, upstate New York’s Lake George — the so-called Queen Of American Lakes — also placed 7th on the countdown, notably boasting an inordinate amount of drowning and watercraft-related deaths, overall injuries and boating accidents. Meanwhile, the seaside paradise of Asbury Park, New Jersey, was the third safest vacay hub in the US, per the survey.

Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. determined the nation’s most dangerous vacation destinations by analyzing dozens of travel hubs and then ranking them according to the US Centers For Disease Control (CDC) and Coast Guard data on recreational drownings, boating accidents, alcohol-related deaths, and extreme heat.

They then gave each place an overall risk score out of 100 based on these metrics.

The study comes amid rising safety concerns among summer travelers.

While Google searches for “best summer destinations USA” have surged 110% in the past week, terms like “summer travel warning” and “dangerous vacation spots” are also trending, signaling that travelers are anxious about avoiding these idyllic danger zones.

“As summer and vacation season kick off, Google searches are rising dramatically for top summer destinations, but many ports and resorts lack proper safety enforcement, leading to potential dangers,” warned Jason R. Margulies, Board-Certified Admiralty & Maritime Attorney and Co-Managing Partner at Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. “Make your adventure fun, but also keep in mind awareness of your safety on land with criminals targeting tourists and excessive heat, as well as in the water, to avoid a tragedy.”

The “Florida man’s” courageous rep might be justified. The Sunshine State boasted the top three spots on the list: Sarasota (90), Clearwater Beach (89.6), and Key West (86.8).

Meanwhile, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (78.6) and Ocean City, Maryland rounded out the top five (75.4) with the latter hub boasting the highest recreational drowning and watercraft deaths score in the countdown.

The top ten most dangerous summer vacation spots in the US for 2025:

1. Sarasota, Florida – 90.0

2. Clearwater Beach, Florida – 89.6

3. Key West, Florida – 86.8

4. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina – 78.6

5. Ocean City, Maryland – 75.4

6. Lake Chelan, Washington – 74.0

7. Lake Geneva, Wisconsin – 70.0

7. Lake George, New York – 70.0

8. Daytona Beach, Florida – 69.0

9. New Orleans, Louisiana – 68.6

10. Newport, Rhode Island – 68.0

Thankfully, there are plenty of US travel meccas where tourists can relax in relative safety. Lipcon, Margulies & Winkleman, P.A. also listed the top ten safest summer destinations in the US for 2025.

These cities had the lowest composite risk scores when it came to drowning deaths, boating incidents, alcohol-related fatalities, and extreme heat.

Top 10 Safest U.S. Summer Destinations in 2025

1. Lake Tahoe, CA – 23.00

2. Hampton, NH – 29.20

3. Asbury Park, NJ – 31.00

4. Kennebunkport, ME – 32.80

5. Santa Barbara, CA – 37.40

6. Rehoboth Beach, DE – 38.00

7. Miami, FL – 42.80

8. Santa Cruz, CA – 43.20

9. Virginia Beach, VA – 45.00

10. Sullivan’s Island, SC – 48.00

Those who’ve already booked trips to one of these hazard hubs can maximize their chances of enjoying a safe getaway by following some basic safety tips, according to Margulies.

These include wearing a lifejacket while participating in water sports, keeping an eye on the weather, drinking responsibly, familiarizing oneself with watercraft, and only booking reputable tour companies.