TAMPA - You don't need to fly 13-plus hours to the middle of the Pacific Ocean to feel the best beach in America under your toes - it's right here in the Tampa Bay area, according to TripAdvisor.

The travel reviews and booking website announced its best beaches rankings today, and Clearwater Beach edged out Lanikai Beach in Kailua, Hawaii for the top spot on the list.

"The sugar fine white sand is a trademark of this fabulous beach. Perfect for a day in the sun. You might even spot a dolphin or two playing on the horizon," the site wrote of Clearwater Beach on its list of the 25 best beaches in US.

Clearwater Beach was ranked the best beach in U.S. by TripAdvisor. TRIBUNE FILE

Another Pinellas County spot, St. Pete Beach, landed at No. 4 on the list, one spot behind Sarasota County's Siesta Key Beach, about 60 miles south of Tampa.

Florida locales, including Pensacola Beach (No. 7), St. Augustine Beach (No. 9) and Panama City Beach (NO. 10), made up 10 of the 25 beaches on the list, more than any other U.S. state, with California and Hawaii following behind.

Tampa Tribune 

TBO.com Staff