Cape Hatteras best beaches make the top 10 again for 2014. Cape Hatteras ranked as the #6 best beach on best beaches list by Dr. Stephen Leatherman of Florida International University and his annual best beaches ranking in the United States for the 2014 year. This is up 2 slots from last year when Cape Hatteras beaches was ranked #8 in 2013. Reasons listed for making the Top 10 best beaches list were “best board surfing”, “famous lighthouse” and “historic fishing villages”.