How-To Camp Directly on the Beach!
Picture this: you’re secluded on a beach with nothing but the ocean, the sand, and your camping gear. You spend the day relaxing in the sun, collecting seashells, reading a book while listening to waves, just to end the night by a crackling fire with your toes in the sand.
That, my friend, is beach camping.
Keep scrolling for our guide on beach camping and learn what you need to enjoy your own experience like the one described above!
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WHAT IS BEACH CAMPING?
The most common and easily accessible form of beach camping that we’ve seen involves camping in a campground with a beach ‘view’ (likely surrounded with hundreds of other campers)…
When we think of beach camping however, we think about camping directly on the sand, outside of any established campground, not a single person in site, the sand and the sea all to yourself.
ACCESSING THESE LOCATIONS
Sites like this can typically be accessed in a few different way. Either by parking nearby and carrying in your tent and supplies, or in rare cases like we were able to experience recently, by driving your vehicle down the beach and across the sand, parking and camping in, on, or next to your vehicle.
Camping in or with your vehicle involves quite a bit more research because many beaches have specific regulations. Some allow camping, but not driving. Others allow driving, but not camping. Most allow neither, and very rarely, you will find a beach that allows both. If you can find a beach that allows both driving and camping on the beach then you are in for a treat!
RESERVATIONS & PERMITS
The things that almost all beach camping sites have in common is the need to make advanced reservations and/or obtain permitting. For these locations you need to start your research early, and don’t rely solely on blog posts for your information (even ours).
In most cases you’ll find these types of camping sites to be on public lands, so check with the state or federal websites for the best information regarding reservations and permits.
WHEN’S THE BEST TIME TO GO?
Our only steadfast rule here is trying to go during the off seasons and midweek to avoid the crowds. Planning your trip around these slower times will make it easier to secure reservations or permits. Not to mention, you will have more of the beach to yourselves with less people around!
Aside from that, you really need to ask yourself where you want to go camping and what type of experience you are looking to have. If you plan to camp in Baja or the Southeastern U.S., you might want to sunbathe, swim, relax and read a book. All of which are typically enjoyed in the warmer sunny months. However, if you’re going to the Pacific Northwest you might actually enjoy the quiet moody feel of a foggy and rainy trip.
Either way, knowing your forecasted weather is crucial!
PREPARING FOR THE WEATHER
Anticipating the variance in temperature and other conditions will allow you to appropriately plan your wardrobe and the types of gear you’ll need to bring. Consider all of the possibilities in advance and pack accordingly.
Take a moment to consider the most common weather elements you’re likely to encounter while camping on the beach. There may be some factors you wouldn’t think to consider.
TIDES
This might not be something you’ve ever thought about if you don’t live near the ocean, but tides rise and fall on a schedule. Know that schedule in advance and be aware of the high tide line when picking your camp spot. The last thing you want is to be woken up by waves crashing into your tent.
The tide schedule is also important if you plan to build a fire. Most places ask that you create a fire pit below the tide line where the sand is wet and far away from the dunes. Be sure to check the regulations for the area beforehand to ensure a beach fire is allowed.
WIND
High winds can make or break your experience. Have you ever tried setting up your tent and making camp while everything is being ripped out of your hands? Plan on playing frisbee or volleyball? Good news is, the wind will only ruin your trip if you aren’t expecting it and didn’t plan around it. Work with the wind and not against it by adjusting your camp spot to a location that’s sheltered from the wind. Bring a kite to take advantage of what would’ve otherwise ruined your time.
The beach is windy more often than not so chances are that you will be dealing with it to some extent. Our number one recommendation here is to check the wind patterns and directions. If they’re coming off the water, you’re going to take the brunt of it.
If you’re planning to bring beach blankets, awnings, or umbrellas be sure you have a way to tie them down.
In our experience, the wind was constantly changing directions so we weren’t able to avoid it completely. However, expecting it to be windy before we even arrived helped us avoid some frustrations.
SUNSHINE
Don’t underestimate the power of the sun, even if your trip is during the cooler months. We made this mistake on one of our spring trips to the beach. The temperatures only reached into the low 60s and we never felt hot and forgot to apply sunscreen. Don’t forget to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and even UV blocking clothes. Remember that while camping you will spend far more time exposed to the sun than you realize.
RAIN
Rain at the beach doesn’t make for much fun. Even if the rain isn’t predicted, you should plan for the chance of rain at some point. Be sure you are prepared with the correct gear such as a rain cover for your tent or extra clothes and shoes in case they get wet.
HUMIDITY
Expect humidity to be higher on the water and those cold temperatures to be even colder. Heading to a destination in the Pacific Northwest or the tropics? Don’t expect your clothes or gear to dry out once they’re wet. Have a plan for this and consider bringing a spare, especially if you rely on it for warmth.
RECOMMENDED GEAR
Before you skip over this section thinking you have all of your camping gear in order, think about the differences between camping on the sandy beach and camping in the woods. Although most items will already be on your packing checklist, there may be a few things here you might not even think of.
BEACH BLANKET
If you don’t bring anything else, bring this!
If you’ve spent even a single day on the beach, you’re well aware of just how easily sand can get everywhere! It’s so important to keep sand out of your tent, vehicle, or camper in order to have a comfortable and enjoyable experience.
A quality sand blanket is something we didn’t even think of and almost forgot.
We used the CGear Sand-Free Outdoor Camping Mat and it was an absolute lifesaver.
This mat lays directly on the beach and allows the sand that you track on top of it to go directly through the mesh and not collect and continue to stuck to your feet or shoes. It’s double-sided so while the sand falls directly through, it doesn't easily come back up from the bottom.
The mat comes in 4 different sizes (6x6, 8x8, 10x10, and 12x12). We ordered the second largest size and found this to be just big enough to keep in front of the camper while also having our table and chairs out. We would recommend going no smaller than the 10x10 but a 12x12 is ideal, especially if you have more than two people and/or more than one tent/camper.
BROOM & DUSTPAN, OR A VACUUM
Unless you don’t care to be sleeping on sandy sheets, you’ll find that you are constantly sweeping out the sand. Pack a small broom/dustpan or battery powered vacuum to keep the sand under control. If you don’t have one already, pick up a cheap set and leave it in your vehicle. It’s come in handy for us, even when we aren’t beach camping.
WATER JUGS & WASH BASIN
Depending on the type of camping you are doing, you may not have access to running water. However, showering and/or rinsing off is crucial at the beach. Plan to bring enough water, not just for drinking, but also to wash off after taking a swim, making dinner, or sweating in the sun all day. We carry two of these 7 gallons jugs on our camper trips and they last up to a week each if we only use them for drinking and cooking.
PRIVACY TENT
The beach doesn’t often include the cover or concealment of trees and bushes for your restroom breaks. More than likely you’ll end up finding yourself exposed. Having a pop-up privacy tent handy when you need to use the bathroom or change into your swim suit can be a life saver. We use this enclosure from WolfWise on all of our camping trip to shower outside and have had great luck with it in some of the worst conditions.
INSECT REPELLENT
Keep those pesky bugs off of you! Bring bug spray to enjoy your time outside while camping. This is also a good time to check your tent or camper screens to make sure there isn’t a way for bugs to get in. We prefer a plant-based repellent such as this one!
FIREWOOD
If the area you are camping in allows fires, bring your own wood and plenty of it. Firewood at the beach is hard to come by so don’t rely on collecting it once you get there. Grab a bundle from a nearby gas station!
SUNHAT & UV BLOCKING CLOTHES
Sunscreen and sunglasses should be on everybody’s beach camping list already but a sunhat and UV blocking clothes may not be! Unless you plan to sit in your tent all day, you’re going to want sun protection like a sunhat and cooling, moisture-wicking clothes.
SNACKS
Snacks are always a must! In some instances, beach camping is found only in very secluded areas where a convenience store isn’t easily accessible so be sure to pack plenty of snacks!
COLD WEATHER CLOTHING
It’s easy to correlate the beach with warm weather and this may lead you to only grab your shorts and sandals, but it can get chilly in the evening and you may be presented with unexpected weather. Pack a jacket, pants, and tennis shoes to be prepared for anything.
RAIN JACKET
Even if the forecast is calling for 100% sunshine, grab a rain jacket. Beach weather changes quickly and your rain jacket can can supplement other cold weather gear and double as a wind blocker.
SAND APPROPRIATE FOOTWEAR
You’ll usually find us walking barefoot on the beach, but there are instances where shoes are necessary. The sand may be too hot, the walk too long, or sharp objects in the way. Bring sandals that do well on long walks, and for certain situations, closed toed shoes without the mesh that would allow sand through.
BEACH ACTIVITIES
Like any camping trip, you will find that you have a lot of time to enjoy yourself. Pack the items that are fun for you to do in your free time. Some items that we included on our packing list where: books, football, volleyball, painting kit, cards, and music. Other items to bring might include kites, sand toys, frisbee, and fishing gear!
SETTING UP CAMP
As we said many times already, beach camping isn’t like traditional camping. It’s unlikely that you will have the luxury of finding a nook in the trees to keep you protected from the elements or provide privacy from nearby campers.
Here are our recommendations for setting up camp on the beach.
FIND A SHELTERED SPOT BETWEEN THE DUNES
The keyword there was between, not on top of. Dunes are critical in avoiding erosion and rely on sea grasses to keep them in place. Don’t camp or walk on them.
FACE THE TENT/CAMPER DOOR AWAY FROM THE WATER
We know… It’s tempting to want the ocean view. However, by facing your door to the ocean, you’ll likely be dealing with the winds coming off the water and causing havoc inside. This also provides some added privacy as other people are likely to be walking the beach with an unobstructed view into your tent or camper.
BE MINDFUL OF WHERE YOU COOK
Again with wind. Use what is available to you and set up your cooking station where you will be able to block as much wind as possible. The last thing you want to do while trying to cook is fight with wind while it blows out the flame or sand into your food.
IN SUMMARY
We won’t lie to you. Beach camping can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be!
With the right amount of preparation and thoughtful planning, you can have a great beach camping experience. Here are the key takeaways from this post:
CHECK THE RULES & REGULATIONS
PLAN TO GO DURING PERIODS OF CALM WEATHER
PUT THOUGHT & EFFORT INTO PACKING
SETUP CAMP PROPERLY
HAVE FUN!
We hope this guide was helpful to you while you plan your next beach camping trip!
If there’s anything we missed, let us know in the comments below!
That’s it for now!
Catch ya next time!
Taylor and SethFor more beach camping photos or to read about our specific experience, check out our photo journal Beach Camping on the Outer Banks.
Hi, we’re Seth and Taylor and we love sharing all things related to outdoor adventure!
We love anything that gets us outside — hiking, biking, backpack, road tripping, and so much more! We love sharing our adventures and hope it helps YOU get out to see more.
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