Which college has better access to beaches: Duke or the University of Miami?

The biggest practical difference is that Miami places you in a coastal metro area where beaches are reachable for an afternoon, while Duke is in inland Durham and an ocean-beach trip is usually a full-day or weekend outing.

Without a car, University of Miami students can use Miami-Dade public transit, including buses and Metrorail connections, and rideshares are common for beach trips. There is not a simple campus-to-beach rail line, so a transit trip may involve a transfer and take substantially longer than driving, but it is realistic to go after class or on a weekend afternoon. Splitting a rideshare with friends is often the most convenient option, especially for Key Biscayne or Miami Beach.

At Duke, campus and local Durham transit can get you around the Triangle, and nearby lakes provide water and outdoor recreation, but they are not substitutes for an Atlantic beach. Reaching the coast without a car requires intercity transportation plus local transportation at the destination, making spontaneous beach trips impractical. Most Duke students who go to the ocean do so through friends with cars, organized trips, or weekend plans.

For convenient, car-free access to actual beaches, the University of Miami is the clear choice. Duke can still offer occasional beach weekends, but beach access would not be a routine part of campus life in the way it can be at Miami.