East Side Kauai beaches: which fits your day?
Start with Lydgate for playgrounds, Kealia for open-coast views, or Anahola Beach Park for a mountain backdrop. Compare the facilities below, then check conditions before you go.
| Beach | Setting | Restrooms | Camping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lydgate Beach Park | Playgrounds and ocean pools | Restrooms near the Nalu Road end of the coastal path.Checked | Permits listed |
| Kealia Beach | Open surf and a coastal path | Public restrooms at the park.Checked | Not on the County campground list |
| Anahola Beach Park | Mountain views and shaded sand | Public restrooms at the beach park.Checked | Permits listed |
Camping listing checked . These listings do not confirm current availability. Kealia is not on the County camping permit list.
Lydgate Beach Park
A park day with playgrounds
Near the mouth of the Wailua River, two ponds sit behind a wall of dark rock. Waves break on the far side. Behind the sand, Kamalani Playground and a paved coastal path make Lydgate as much a park as a beach.
Explore Lydgate Beach Park
Kealia Beach
A walk with a view of the surf
North of Kapaʻa, Kealia Beach follows the curve of Kūhiō Highway for half a mile. Waves break over sandbars along the shore. From the paved coastal path you can watch the surf without stepping onto the sand.
Explore Kealia Beach
Anahola Beach Park
A picnic in the shade by the bay
At Anahola Beach Park, tree shadows stretch across the sand. Look along the curve of the bay and a green ridge with pointed peaks rises behind the far shore.
Explore Anahola Beach ParkWhich beach has playgrounds?
The County lists Kamalani Playground and an inclusive playground at Lydgate. Start with the Lydgate facilities guide if a playground is part of your day.
Which beaches have lifeguard service?
All three beaches appear on the State lifeguarded-beach list. That does not make them equal choices for swimming, or confirm that a lifeguard is on duty now.
Which photos show the difference?
Look at the wall around Lydgate’s ponds, then Kealia from above the beach. At Anahola, the resident framed the mountain ridge from the shade beside the bay.