Thinking about taking a beach camping trip? Here are some Beach Camping Tips You Need To Know Before You Go. Some may be ones you already know, but others may be ones you did not think about.
Beach Camping Tips You Need To Know Before You Go
The best camping trips are the ones that you are prepared for. If you have never been beach camping before, you will want to be sure to read over these beach camping tips you need to know before you go.
Even if you are someone that visits the beach often, you may not have thought about a few of these when it comes to camping. So you still may find them helpful.
Watch The Tides:
Depending on what type of beach camping you are doing, you will need to pay close attention to the tides. Not so much if you are on a campsite near the beach but more so if camping right on the beach.
You will want to make sure you place your camp will above the high tide line. You don’t want you to have your camp wash away when the tide comes in.
However, it is a good idea to build campfires below the high tide line. That way you know the fire is fully put out when the tide comes in. That is if you will not be using your fire during high tide.
Winds:
If you have never been to the beach, you may not know that it can get pretty windy. It does not even have to be a storm coming for the winds to be strong either.
There are a few things you need to do to be ready for the winds. First is to make sure things are staked down well. With the ground being so sandy, you may be better off to use sandbag weights in place of tent stakes.
Make sure you also tie down things like trash cans or anything that could blow away in the wind.
Another great idea is to make a wind shield wall. If you are somewhere with a few trees, you can tie up a tarp to make a wall. This will help to break a little of the wind from your campsite.
No one goes to the beach without having to hang out wet towels or swimsuits. But if you put them on a line to dry, they can very easily blow off. One hack to get around this when beach camping is to have a line that is removable at least one end.
That what when it comes time to hang things up, you can unattach it, run the line through the suite or whatever you need to hang up and then reattach the line. I like to use carabiner clips attached to the end of a clothesline to do this.
To hang the towels it can be a little tricky. You can try clothespins or sew a few loops to the end of the towel before you go.
Mist/Spray:
If you are camping close to the water, be ready for some mist and spray. When it is windy, it can carry the spray into the camp.
Best way to be ready for this is to make sure anything that will be damaged if it gets wet is inside a dry bag or plastic Ziploc bag. Those waterproof phone cases work well for keeping phones dry and sand free.
You will also want to make sure you treat your tent before camping with a water repellent. That way the moister does not seep into your tent making your bedding damp.
Sand Everywhere:
When visiting the beach, you can expect to have sand everywhere. There are a few things you can do to help control the sand.
One tip is to place a small pan of water just outside the tent door. That way you can rinse off your feet before going into the tent. That will help to keep some of the sand out of the tent and beds.
You will also want to bring a small broom and dustpan to sweep up the sand that does make it into the tent. No matter how hard you try, there will always be some that makes it in.
A great tip for relaxing on the beach is to use a fitted sheet. You can lay it down and then place heavy things in the corners like your cooler and beach bags. That way it will help keep some of the sand off your laying area.
Permits If Not On A Campsite:
Your first thought may be to set up camp on the first pretty spot you find on a beach. However, not everywhere allows you to do beach camping right on the beach.
For most of the places that do allow it, you will need to have a permit to do so. So be sure you check with the place you are going to see what is required.
Normally getting permits can be avoided when staying on a campground site that is near the beach. If headed to Virginia Beach, be sure to check out my post on Best Virginia Beach Camping Sites (Tent, RV & Cabins).
Mosquitoes In Abundance:
I would have thought with as windy as it normally is at the beach, mosquitoes would not be something you have to worry about. However, that is not the case. Mosquitoes are in an abundance in and around beaches.
Make sure you pack lots of things to repel them. Such as bug body sprays, mosquito coils, candles and so one. They also have some new ones out there like the Portable Mosquito Repeller that I have heard good things about.
You may have heard that if you wear light color clothing or don’t wear things like lotions and perfumes that the mosquitoes will not bother you. That is simply not true. They will eat you up even in light clothing and non-scented anything.
Sun, Sun & More Sun:
When at the beach there is normally a lot of sun and little shade. So make sure you are prepared for it. You will want to make sure you drink lots of water.
You will also want to make sure you are wearing sunscreen and pack some after sun aloe too just in case. You will also want to pack things that will allow you to have shaded time. Such as a beach or sport umbrella.
Winter:
Did you know you can even make a beach trip in the winter? You don’t have to get in the water to have a great time. There are still tons of things to do, check out these ideas on what to do on the beach in the winter.
Looking for more camping tips? Here are a few posts you may find helpful.
- Comfortable Camping Sleeping Hacks
- Tips For Camping With Dogs
- 5+ Ways How To Go Camping For Free
- Camp Cooking Hacks On Over The Fire Cooking
- How to Survive Camping In The Heat
- How to Survive Camping In The Rain
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