New York retreat ranks among most dangerous summer vacation spots of 2025
By Ben Cost
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.
Person drowning.
6
The summer danger zones were scored based on their risk of drowning deaths, boating accidents and other metrics.
Dudarev Mikhail – stock.adobe.com
Sarasota, Florida.
6
Sarasota, Florida placed number one on the countdown.
MJ Kerr – stock.adobe.com
Lake George.
6
Upstate New York hotspot Lake George was ranked 7th on the countdown.
tamas – stock.adobe.com
Explore More
A Ryanair passenger was escorted off a plane bound for Alicante, Spain by six cops after he was busted vaping in the lavatory, which resulted in a two-hour delay.
Passenger kicked off flight after causing 2-hour delay over major plane violation
A smiling young man hugging an older woman sitting on the couch.
I want to date a man that is one year older than my daughter
Dollywood
Beloved theme park ranked No. 1 in the US — besting even Disney and Universal fun spots
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.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
6
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina placed 4th on the list.
4kclips – stock.adobe.com
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.”
Ocean City, Maryland.
6
Ocean City, Maryland boasted the highest risk score for recreational drowning and watercraft-related deaths.
Zarathustra – stock.adobe.com
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.
Capsized sailboat.
6
“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.”
geoff childs. – stock.adobe.com
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.
Welcome to Billionaire Club Co LLC, your gateway to a brand-new social media experience! Sign up today and dive into over 10,000 fresh daily articles and videos curated just for your enjoyment. Enjoy the ad free experience, unlimited content interactions, and get that coveted blue check verification—all for just $1 a month!
Account Frozen
Your account is frozen. You can still view content but cannot interact with it.
Please go to your settings to update your account status.
Open Profile Settings