In most states some portion of beaches are public land and all members of the public have a right to use that portion of the beach. The ability to walk along the beach is known as lateral beach access.

But the land between where people can park or walk to the beach and where they can enjoy the beach is often private property, making it difficult to provide access to the public while protecting personal property rights. The ability to reach the beach is known as vertical beach access.

Laws regarding public access to beaches vary from state to state but many states recognize the public trust doctrine, a legal doctrine that certain natural resources such as beaches are owned or held by the government in trust for the public’s use and enjoyment and that the government has an obligation to protect and maintain these resources for the public.

In Missouri, the public trust doctrine applies to the state's waterways and shores, including beaches. This doctrine establishes that the state holds these areas in trust for public use and enjoyment. While Missouri is not a coastal state and thus does not have oceanfront beaches, it does have riverbanks and lake shores where the public trust doctrine is relevant. The state ensures public access to these areas for activities like fishing, boating, and swimming. However, the specifics of access rights can vary depending on the location and whether the land adjacent to the water is privately owned. In cases where private property extends to the water's edge, vertical access (the ability to reach the beach from land) may be limited, and property owners' rights must be balanced with public access rights. Lateral access (the ability to walk along the shore) is typically protected, but again, this can be subject to local regulations and the nature of the water body. It is advisable to check local ordinances and state statutes for detailed regulations regarding beach access in specific areas of Missouri.