17 amazing beach camping tips to plan your next Trip with a Checklist of necessary equipment

Summer is here, the perfect time for travelling and hiking. At this time of the year, it’s a great time to relax on the shores of the bustling sea with beautiful views and golden sand, or in the mountains with beautiful lakes and rivers.

Some people prefer beach camping to boring hotel accommodation. What a better way to escape the stuffy city and live in nature – wake up to birdsong, watch the sunrise and sunset, sit by the fire with friends…

But for those who love camping romance, such a holiday can seem like a real challenge. It’s not clear how to wash, the phone is dead, there is no Internet, but there are plenty of mosquitoes and flies… But don’t panic to those who like the benefits of civilization!

Today it is possible to organize the rest in tenting with amazing comfort. The main thing is to choose correctly your tenting equipment and beach camping essentials, and then you can finally feel at home in nature.

So if you want to relax with your family in nature, without sacrificing the usual comfort, take note of this article and remember beach camping tips.

Important beach camping tips for first-time campers

1. Keep an eye on the tides

For your safety, you should keep an eye on the high tide line. Be careful as the tide can reach quite far. Try to assess the situation f.e. with a high tide mark left on the sand by seaweed. Be aware of the high tide during a full moon, so draw or place a tide marker on the shore. If you set up camp at low tide, stay far away from the water’s edge to be sure the next high tide won’t reach you. Each high tide can vary.

2. Don’t Camp on Sand Dunes

Sand dunes on the beach are more than piles of sand – they are a special habitat for protected vegetation. Most beaches don’t allow camping on sand dunes so please don’t do it.

Also, only use established trails for crossing the beach sand dunes. I know it’s tempting to want to sit on top of one and stair out on the ocean. But remember, the beach dunes are actually fragile, special places on which certain plants and animals depend.

3. Smooth out the sand before equipping the bed

The simplest but the most effective tip. Whether you are pitching a tent or just sleeping in a sleeping bag remember to level the beach sand. A smooth area will give you a comfortable sleep.

4. Fortify your shelter

The beach is often exposed to strong sea winds, especially during unexpected storms. Fortify your canopy with standard tent stakes or if none are available, sandbags, and sand stakes that will prevent the wind from blowing everything in its path.

5. A bucket of water

Put a bucket of water, even seawater, next to the entrance of your shelter. Stay hydrated territory so it doesn’t get sand inside and cause discomfort.

6. Use a Fit Sheet

Stretch a tarp over the sand and secure it with rocks or sand stakes. A great sand-free area for beach sit-ups and for a children’s area. Keeping sand free beach mat in front of your tent will give your more comfort.

7. A fire pit

Because of the strong winds at the beach, your campfire may not be stable and a fire pit will protect it. When you’re done with your camping trip, be sure to put it out with water before burying it in the sand.

Also, make sure the ashes are well buried. Get your own firewood in advance.

8. Avoid dehydration

Many tourists do not realise how much water they lose on the beach. Due to the intense heat and constant beach activities, your body requires more water than usual. Take enough drinking water with you.

9. High SPF sunscreen

Sunscreen with a high SPF is incredibly important. Even though you’ve put up plenty of tents, a beach umbrella and a wide-brimmed hat to protect you from the sun – it’s not a total guarantee because you’re outdoors all day. If you overheat too much, you may get sunburns and allergies.

You can also take some lip balm to protect your lips from the dry sun.

10. Ice extra cooler

Ice melts much faster in the heat, so we suggest getting a separate ice cooler, which is great for preserving it. For professionals: freeze the water in several iron jugs overnight.

11. Plastic sleds for the transportation

You can transport your belongings in the sand using special sleds. As all the equipment is very heavy and you might find it hard to carry it all on your own shoulders, get a sled. You can load large water barrels, tents and various heavy items here.

12. Put things away before you go to bed.

Because of the high humidity, a lot of dew will fall in the morning and can spoil your things. There may also be a sandstorm overnight, so put your belongings under a refuge and cover them with a tarp.

13. Small broom with dust pan.

Get a small broom and a dust pan to sweep away the sand. It’s very handy to sweep up everything and especially the sand from the seating area. A broom will also help you clean your gear before you go home. You’ll also be a lot happier keeping as much sand as possible out of your stuff!

14. Beach activities

Bring lots of different play and leisure equipment: tennis rackets, balls, fishing rods and more. You’ll probably be in the same place for more than one day and you’ll be thinking about what to do, and different games are a great solution.

15. Information

Make sure you write down emergency cell service numbers, even if you are going to an organised campsite. Especially if you are in another country – the beach is a dangerous place and you have to be careful.

16. Choose the right beach camping trip site

The most important and challenging part of beach camping is choosing the right location for your tent. Since you can plan your trip in two ways: go to a designated campground or wild beach camping away from civilization. The camping sites on the beaches are picturesque and popular, so it’s a good idea to book in advance for your next trip.

For your first beach camping with your family, it’s best to choose one of the established campsites close to home. A family holiday for 2-3 days outdoors will give you an insight into how well you’ve prepared for it and what you might have missed. But the most important thing is that you can take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city, spend time with your family and enjoy the beauty of nature.

When you go on beach camping you have to find the right spot. The aim of tenting is to provide a comfortable camping on the beach experience with a well-organised way of life. In this sense, camping is even possible with a tent and sleeping bag with sleeping pads.

5 Beach camping tips for choosing a camping site

• Choose a large clearing or clearing without old sprawling trees.
• If you have a big hill – flip your awning on the west slope.
• The tent site should be flat and free of rocks and knots.
• It’s a good place to pitch in the shade in hot weather and in the sun in cooler weather.
• A dry knoll is ideal.

17. Keep away from sand

Sand is your enemy when it comes to gear. It’s much easier to remove sand from your tent and sleeping bag than it is to get it out when you get home. Even a single grain of sand can damage your gear, especially if zips are involved. Be prepared to wipe yourself and your clothes before entering your awning.

We recommend buying special cosmetic bags where you can put all your valuables so that they don’t get damaged by moisture and sand, such as your phone, watch, etc.

Create a special sand-free area in front of the entrance: wet a towel and sand around it. Do not enter with your shoes on.

Beach camping tips for necessary equipment for the beach camping trip

1. Choosing a tent for beach camping

Perhaps the most important piece of camping gear is an excellent, high-quality oversized tent that’s not much different from a real house. You can enter it with your head down, it has a separate sleeping room and sometimes more than one.

A good thing about a beach camping trip is that you don’t have to camp every day and you don’t have to carry the awning with you. Therefore, when choosing a camping tent – your cozy tenting lodge for the rest time – you should not look that much at its weight and size, but at the comfort it can provide.

Consequently, the Tent should be:

a) moisture- and wind-resistant, i.e. durable and good protection from bad weather;

b) compact (similarly);

c) lightweight (the lighter the weight, the better). But as I already said, the weight is not essential.

The beach trip tent schould have a goal to have a good rest in a beautiful place. And everything you need for a tenting holiday is usually brought by car, while the camp is set up permanently for some time. But even if it is regularly assembled and moved to another place (as in case of autotourism or water camping), things are not carried in any case (or just a little). And in this case, it is possible to settle in for a holiday with all the comforts of home!

But consider to check following options:

• Height.
• Size and volume. Pick the right size. While campers usually only sleep in their camps (or wait out bad weather), the spacious tents are fully equipped for living. You can comfortably accommodate an entire group in your camp without crowding each other.
• The layout. f.e. it can be multi-roomed! And if the one-room model is more convenient for a couple, then, say, for a family with children it is better to choose a two-room house.
• Ample vestibule canopies. Spacious vestibules and pitches for storing goods or camp kitchen, if necessary, are an integral part of a awning.
• Properly organised interior space. It is great to have plenty of mesh pockets for small items, shelves and loops for hanging gear. All of this makes life much easier and helps keep things tidy. Нou can join with a fitted sheet.
• Well-thought-out ventilation. The large number of entrances, ventilation windows, vents, and even in some models – a mesh ceiling are designed to ensure efficient ventilation, even in the hottest times. From rain you can use the rain fly.
• Mosquito nets

2. Sleeping bag

A comfortable sleeping area, or everything you need for a good night’s rest.

The choice of bag shape is a matter of personal taste. “Blanket” is a straight sleeping bag with the same width on the legs and shoulders. It is roomy and big enough for two people or a child. If you open the zip completely, the sleeping bag turns into a normal blanket. The second form is a cocoon, which follows the contours of the body. This sleeping bag is less comfortable, but it is warmer, lighter and smaller when folded.

When buying a sleeping bag, it is important to consider the climate and temperature of the place you are going to stay. Near the sea or lake, for example, the humidity is higher and so the air feels cooler. If you are going to relax in nature, make sure you get a good night’s sleep. Soft self-inflating mats and sleeping pads are the first places to go to ensure it.

3. Hamrock

But the most delightful summer thing is a hammock! I might say the hammock is a symbol of summer and carefree relaxation. And the kids will love it! If you have a big family, don’t compete to see who gets it first, take a couple – they’re not too much!

If you want to know, how to Hang a Hammock Indoors go to Diletta Design.

4. Backpack

A Beach camping trip is not a passive vacation on the beach. You’re likely to walk several kilometres away from your campsite every day. You’ll need warm clothes, a thermos, a snack, a camera, insect repellent, a map, a compass and lots of other little things to make your walk comfortable. All of this stuff needs to be stowed away somewhere. A backpack volume of 20-30 litres is good for that. It should have a good anatomic back with a rigid frame, with a belt and chest strap and the possibility of adjustment to fit the backpack to your body.

5. Lantern and lamp

If there’s no question about the need for a torch, a lantern seems like a rather strange purchase. But think about what you’ll be doing on long southern nights. If you bring a book, board games, crafts, a light will make your evenings more comfortable.

There are so-called tenting lanterns. They’re handy because they’re easy to place on a flat surface and they shine just as brightly as a normal lamp. I recommend taking spare batteries and rechargeable batteries: they always run out at the most inopportune moment.

6. Burner or cooker

If it’s raining and you’re hungry or thirsty for hot tea, you can’t do without a gas burner. There are several types of burner: oil, gas or multi-fuel. However, you should opt for a gas burner with a remote hose and piezo ignition. Only use brand-name gas bottles and do not recharge used gas bottles. Campfires are not ideal for cooking, even for the more experienced campers. And if you are going with children, then you will need either a gas cooker or a gas burner. I recommend looking for a medium-sized burner that is about the diameter of the bottom of your crockery.

Portable cookers cost a little more, but they’re also more convenient. In both cases, you will need gas bottles. It’s best to stock up so that you don’t have to drive around the nearest village in search of supermarkets in a few days’ time.

 7. Cookware

Many people think one pot will be enough, but if you want to have tea or coffee and still make soup or porridge, you need at least two pots. A frying pan and ladle are also useful. Do not use disposable kitchenware. Disposable kitchenware hardly ever degrades and we should care for nature. Reusable kits, which include cups, plates, ladles, cutlery and a carrying bag, much better value for money.

You’ve probably thought about getting a thermal bag or a thermal fridge. However, they don’t freeze the food, they only cool it down slightly or keep it warm. An insulated bag is good for keeping food fresh, but not for storing it for more than 12 hours. In other cases, it is better to buy a vehicle refrigerator that can be recharged.

8. Don’t forget the resting blankets

In the beginning, it will be fun to lie on the soft sand, but later it will be all over the place. So it is advisable to buy a blanket or bedding for lounging on the sand.

9. Food and hygiene products

Food is calculated on the basis of the number of holidaymakers and the number of days on holiday. Be sure to check the expiry date! It is best to bring cereals, potatoes and vegetables (cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, onions). Greens can be kept for up to two days.

Of the meat products, stewed pork, beef, chicken; uncooked sausages etc., canned fish; dried fish will keep well. If you like fishing – bring some flour. As for sweets, the fruit will do: apples, grated currants or raspberries with sugar, as well as condensed milk, honey, nuts, melted chocolate in jars and more. You can have dried fruit.

Don’t forget the tea, coffee, sugar, salt, and sunflower oil.

Bring plenty of water. If there is no fresh water near your place of rest, it is better to take it with you in 5-10-litre plastic cylinders. On average, 15 litres of water per person per day, including first courses, porridges, etc.

Everyone chooses personal things individually. Stick to common sense. The most comfortable clothing for outdoor activities is sportswear. Shorts, tracksuit, T-shirts, flip-flops. Some people wear the usual jeans. You must additionally take a set of dry clothes in case of bad weather, rain protection, hats, and of course a swimming costume.

Don’t forget toothbrushes, toothpaste, sunscreen + sunscreen, and for your loved one, a razor and shaving foam.

10. Leave it at home

We advise against taking expensive technology with you because it can also be damaged by the elements. It is doubtful that you will use it, and the chance of losing or damaging an expensive item in nature is much greater than in the city.

Jewellery and other valuables. You are unlikely to need them during your holiday at the sea.

Pets (especially dogs). It’s not clear how your pet will behave or if they will cause discomfort for the others at the campsite. Also, they may be allergic to dogs. It is best to get a pet if you are traveling with it on a regular basis and it is used to the environment.

Remember that the rule of thumb for any camper is to take what you may need for any emergency, not what you just want.

Especially if it’s beach camping – you will carry everything on your shoulders. Or you follow one of our beach camping tips above and take a sled with you.

Conclusion

There are twice as many pros of beach camping as there are factors that can mar a holiday like this in the countryside. So it’s up to each family to decide whether it’s a good idea or not. Be sure to think through your holiday in nature, the beach, down to the last detail.

So make a beach camping checklist for your camping gear and use the camping tips we gave you in the article. Consider the various “force majeure” and pack everything you need. If you are planning to stay in holiday homes or on beach campgrounds, be sure to check availability and conditions.

We hope our best beach camping tips have been helpful to you. Now you are a professional beach camper! Have a great holiday and discover new and beautiful locations for yourself!

In case you want to know, how to keep food cold during your next trip, read my other Article.