Beach camping trips give us enormous joy. This one is also a joy for the kids. Because the sound of the seashore makes us nostalgic. Besides, beach camping can be a spectacular way to get outside and enjoy nature. So you are planning your next beach camping trip and wondering about the beach camping packing list.
Plus, when it comes to gear selection for the beach camping checklist, the sheer amount of equipment you need to pack is enough to make anyone’s head spin. In this segment, we’ll discuss the most important beach camping packing list you ought to bring on each trip.
That way, you can make the beach adventure a happy one and be unstressed. One more thing, beach camping is different from enjoying in the woods. However, it would be best if you still had some essentials to have a pleasant day under the sun and over the sea. So, here is our beach camping checklist that has all the information you need.
What to Pack for Camping on the Beach?
It is really important to know which thing is important to take with us when we are thinking about beach camping and enjoying the sun protection. Beach camping is not really as easy as people imagine it to be. Of course, there will be the beach right there in front of you for your enjoyment, but you will also have to battle sand and strong winds. Besides, cooking on an open fire is almost impossible as the wind from the ocean because the wind will mess up with the fire. The products you should bring with you on a beach camping day are different from those you would take on a trip to the woods. So,
Let’s just look at the beach camping packing list that you should bring to stay safe and protected.
Camping Gear
These are the beach camping packing list that one should bring.
- A beach tent with sand stakes: The stakes should anchor securely into the ground so that it provides us with adequate protection. The tent that we need should be big for the air to circulate freely within the tent.
- Sleeping bag: A sleeping bag plays an important role. In serious cases, choosing the right sleeping bag will protect you in very cold conditions and will also protect you from cold-weather injuries.
- Blankets and a pillow: For a sound sleep, blankets and a pillow are a must one thing to take with us.
- A tarp
- A flashlight or a headlamp
- A beach umbrella for keeping the sun away
- Beach chairs for relaxing
- Trash bags for collecting your waste
- A broom to tidy your tent up
Cooking Beach Camping Packing List
Cooking gear is an essential important in beach camping packing list to take with us. Because when you come out of the water, you really feel hungry, and you need some heavy metal. If the beach allows making a beach fire, you can easily cook your meal instead of eating junk food.
Below is the cooking beach camping packing list that you should take with you to make the camp kitchen.
- A propane stove for cooking the meals.
- A lighter and matches for lighting the stove
- Cooking pots for preparing your meals
- Reusable utensils such as plates and bowls
- A multi-tool knife, corkscrew, can opener, and pliers.
You can take a grate and firewood with you. Because cooking on an open fire is almost impossible because of the wind, but you can still light a campfire, place a grate on it and easily cook your food
Food And Water
Food and water are essential elements, especially water supplies in your body are so important as you should hydrate your body in the hot sun. Below are some of the supplies that you will need in this regard.
- A max-food cooler: This one is for keeping your food supplies fresh. However, if you will be moving around a lot, you should get a soft-sided cooler that is easy to carry around.
- A gallon of frozen water: The ice will melt to provide you with clean drinking water to hydrate your body. You can keep your single-pot meals in the fridge that you had prepared to carry with you. You just have to warm such foods whenever you want to eat. The benefit here is that single-pot meals will reduce your cooking requirements when you arrive at camp.
- You can buy fresh supplies like bread and yogurt from closer to your campsite. You must make sure that they are fresh by the time you arrive at camp.
- Teabags and coffee are also helpful to reduce tiredness. So you can carry them with you.
Clothing
Choosing clothes is equally important. Because we can only enjoy the trip when we feel comfortable. So one should also make sure that to have enough clothes when camping on the beach. One must not forget to pack the following beach camping packing list:
Beach Camping Clothing Packing List
- A swimsuit is a must. Because being near a beach, you will be swimming most of the time so it’s better you should carry your swimsuit.
- A hat is also important. It keeps the sun away from your eyes.
- Shorts, shirts, and pants are the basic clothes. You must get the quick-drying type that will dry quickly.
- Some of the T-shirts should be long-sleeved. It will protect you from the cold.
- You should take Water shoes with you because you will need shoes that will protect you from the rocks in the water and sea urchins.
- Sweatshirts and sweatpants are also important. So you should pack these items with you.
Personal Items-Beach Camping Packing List
At any cost, do not forget to carry the personal items if you will be camping for a few days. These items are given below :
- Your toothbrush and toothpaste. The Dr. Bronner’s Travel Toothpaste comes in a 1 oz size and is all-natural, fair trade certified, and the packaging is completely recyclable.
- A towel to dry yourself up after the bath and swim.
- flip flops
- Paper towels
- Bathing soap.
- Sunglasses will protect your eyes from the sunlight.
- A first aid kit and personal medicine.
- Extra batteries
- Lip Balm will provide a moisturizer to your lips. Moreover, your lips are just as vulnerable to sunburn as your face, so SPF is key. Badger SPF 15 Lip Balm has natural, organic ingredients that will keep your lips hydrated and protected
- Quick-Drying Towel: A lightweight quick-dry towel is always handy, whether it’s for drying your hands and face, doing dishes, or going for a swim, or doing some sunbathing. They come in a variety of sizes so you can pack in accordance with your needs.
- Hand Sanitizer: A travel-size hand sanitizer is a must item before eating and after going to the bathroom. Generally, we prefer hand sanitizer to soap because it’s easier to use. If you choose a biodegradable soap, like this one by Dr. Bronners, then be sure to abide by Leave No Trace and rinse 200 feet away from water sources.
- Wet Wipes: For a shorter trip, one might be able to get away without these, especially if he is using the pee rag method and wants to save weight in his pack. However, if anyone wants a little refresh, these Sea to Summit Wilderness wipes are soft and gentle on both skin and the environment. They’re unscented (better for not attracting wildlife). Make sure to pack out in your ziplock trash bag to dispose of properly.
- Bug Repellent
- Water-Resistant bags: Camping on the beach means that you will have to deal with water and sand, and it is obvious that you don’t want that sand or water getting to your mobile phone and other electronic devices as they may damage the device. For this reason, you can use the water-resistant bag and keep your valuable items in it.
- Garbage bags
Rolling Beach Bag Or Cart
There is no need to carry a heavy beach bag on your shoulders as you can make things easier with the rolling beach bag. These bags are made for easier transportation. They have wheels, so you will have to just pull them behind you. They are also appropriate for the kids. The telescoping handle makes the length adjustment too simple.
Wearing A Life Jacket
Bringing a life jacket should be first on the list of beach necessities. It helps to make you more secure. It has bright colors so others can see you easily. This is really important if you are traveling by boat and in case you fall into the water. This one is a dangerous situation as another boat can run you over if it doesn’t see you.
They come in handy if you lose consciousness while being in the water, as the air will make you float on the surface, and your life will be saved.
Gaming Beach Camping Packing List
Though toys are not essential, they will take care of our entertainment and keep us busy, and our minds will also be refreshed.
So we can bring a football ball and other gaming equipment for playing with other campers or with our kids. We can also bring board games that will us engaged when we are within the tent.
Can You Bring A Tent To The Beach?
Some beaches don’t allow bringing tents with you. So, first of all, you should find out if the beach you intend to visit allows them or not. You can contact the local authority or a state park and ask them if they allow camping with a tent or not. If they allow, then nothing to worry about. Just take a tent and go to the beach camp.
What Kind of Tent Do I Need for Beach Camping?
Suppose you want to stay protected under the sun and enjoy the beach activities without any irritation. In that case, you should consider getting a beach tent because this unit has UV protection that will make your adventure safe. These tents are also light weighted and enable optimum airflow.
You can choose between grounded ones and make a good privacy tent and offer shade as their main feature. Whatever model you select, keep in mind that the tent must have many mesh and vents to enable optimum ventilation.
If you have a baby, then a tent is the must one as the baby's skin is very sensitive so you must protect him from the hot sun.
What are the Top 10 Things You Need for Beach Camping Packing List?
There is some basic beach camping packing list which we actually need when we are going for a beach camping trip. Here is the list.
Water bottles
In this beach camping packing list, the very first comes water bottles. As we know, water is really important for us to survive.
So first things first, we should never head to the beach without plenty of water bottles in tow. Whether we’re planning a summer trip to the beaches of Acadia National Park or Olympic National Park, dehydration is always a concern when we hang out by the ocean.
To combat dehydration during our beach adventures, always come prepared with some trusty water bottles. When we're outside, the more water we can drink, the better. So, it's always best to have two or more 1-liter water bottles on hand for each person in your camping group.
Coolers
It is almost impossible to complete a beach camping trip without a cooler in tow. While a cooler is an integral part of any car camping adventure, the hot weather and sunny conditions at the beach make packing a quality cooler more important and comfortable.
Basically, anyone will look forward to a durable cooler with thick insulation so that they can keep their food as cold as possible at the beach. Opting for a model that’s relatively portable is important, too, because carrying heavy objects over long distances in the sand or rocks isn’t that fun, actually.
One more thing, don't forget that you'll need some reliable ice packs, too, to help keep your food and drinks as fresh as possible while you're out and about.
Camp Tarps
The beach is not dry all the time; it can be a wet and windy place sometimes. Therefore, having a sturdy camp tarp on our gear list can make a big difference when the weather just doesn’t want to cooperate.
Anyways do keep in mind, however, that you likely won’t have any trees while beach camping to use as anchors while you pitch your tarp. So, it is better to bring other pieces of gear, like hiking poles, to use as you prop up your tarp. If you also want to pack some extra tent stakes to help anchor your tarp in the sand, then you surely can go for it.
Blankets
Lying down on the beach and getting sand in every little nook and cranny isn’t fun at all. So, if you want to sit back and relax in the sand comfortably during your beach camping adventures, you’ll definitely need a superb set of blankets.
Although everyone’s lounging and blanket taste vary, I generally recommend one blanket per person for beach camping. Doing so will ensure you have a sand-free place to relax at the end of a long day of adventure by the seaside.
Solar panels
Beaches are known for their sunny climates, so one can easily take full advantage of those conditions by packing some solar panels for beach campgrounds. Of course, one could just bring a generator for this adventure.
Especially if you’re camping near your car, the generator is a must. But, a set of solar panels and perhaps even a solar-powered generator can provide more than enough green energy to power your essential devices when you are camping.
One more bonus, you could also bring a set of portable battery packs that you can charge off of your solar panels. Then, when you’re out hiking for the day, you can still have access to a reliable and eco-friendly source of power for your GPS and other electrical devices.
Towels
If there’s one thing one should never head to the beach without, it’s a set of towels.
Whether you’re a fan of boogie boarding, surfing, or simply going for a quick dip in the ocean, there’s no substitute for having a set of towels on hand. Additionally, anyone will want a set of towels for drying off after using a camp shower to rinse off any of the sand and salt that tends to accumulate after a day of lounging around by the seaside.
Camping table
Camping tables are not easily findable when we are camping at the beach.
As a result, it is better to pack your own camping table to ensure that you have a place to cook, eat, and relax while at camp. Depending on your personal camping style, you may also want to consider bringing a set of camping chairs to sit comfortably. Although you could also sit on your blankets and eat during mealtimes.
But having a set of chairs can provide another level of comfort during your trip.
Portable Fire Pit
Having a campfire is one of the most exciting, enjoyable, and memorable parts of camping. However, when camping at the beach, you’ll have to take certain precautions so that nothing wrong can happen. Depending on your location, you may be allowed to have a fire on the beach below the high tide line.
Doing so means that the fire scar left behind in the sand by your fire will be washed away easily by the sea within 24 hours. However, this isn’t always a convenient practice, especially if high tide happens to occur in the evening during prime campfire hours. If it happens then, the solution is a portable camping fire pit.
Bringing a fire pit with you on your beach camping adventures can ensure that you can enjoy your campfire without damaging nature. Of course, you’ll still have to follow local regulations surrounding campfires.
If you do not want to bring a fire pit, please don't forget to pack tinders, lighters, and firestarters, too. By doing that, you can easily enjoy a roaring fire during your adventures.
Camping Toilet
When you are camping at the beach, you will have to be a little creative with your waste disposal options, especially when it comes to using the toilet. In general, if bathroom facilities are provided at your beach campsite, you don’t need to worry at all. But if there aren’t any facilities available, then you’ll likely need to bring your own personal camping toilet.
Although digging a cathole with a shovel is an acceptable human waste disposal strategy in some places. That’s because the lack of microbes in beach sand makes human waste disposal really a slow process. So, it is always better to carry a camping toilet. Using these toilets and packing out your waste is often the best option when no toilet facilities are available.
You better don't forget to pack your own camp toilet and some toilet paper on your beach camping trip.
Lanterns
If you’re searching for a nighttime illumination strategy for your beach campsite, then a set of lanterns might just be what you need. At the same time, string lights might be the ideal choice in a forested environment.
So, packing lanterns in addition to your headlamps and flashlights can provide plenty of nighttime lighting for evenings.
What clothes to pack for three days camping?
Now the question is, how much clothing should be on your backpacking checklist? The absolute minimum is your need and comfort level. It is painful to carry extra weight unnecessarily. You only need one hiking outfit and 1 set of dry, warm clothes to change into when you get to camp and for sleeping. The only thing I bring extra is underwear and socks. Anyway, here is a list that you can follow when you are going for a three-day beach camping trip.
Tip: Avoid cotton, which retains moisture, takes a long time to dry, and tends to harbor smells. Instead, opt for quick-dry materials that wick sweat and resist odors.
- Insulated Jacket: A lightweight, packable, insulated jacket is important because it is quite natural to drop the temperatures in the evenings, whether natural down or synthetic. I prefer something with a hood so I can keep my head warm when it’s windy or extra cold.
- Hiking Pants: I personally like to hike in leggings (if it’s too cool for shorts, that is). It actually depends on you which kinds of pants you prefer.
- Moisture Wicking T-Shirt: It is always better to hike in a non-cotton, quick-dry, moisture-wicking t-shirt, and most often, it’s the Patagonia Cool Capilene T-Shirt. It is wise to select the long-sleeve version because it provides more protection from the sun. This shirt, in particular, is lightweight, so even with the long sleeves, you can easily stay nice and cool.
- Sports Bra: Sports bras are the basic needs for women hikers. So, girls, you better not forget to take this item in your backpack.
- Hiking Socks: One should take two pairs of hiking shoes in their backpack. Socks prevent blisters on our feet.
- A sleeping bag or sleeping pad are essential items.
You also can take a beach umbrella with you. Anyways before you go for a seashore, determine how far you have to hike or paddle with your gear. If offshore, especially in the Ten Thousand Islands, schedule your trip with the tides and know the weather forecast accurately.
Always be mindful that even with a pleasant forecast, storms or blustery winds suddenly appear on any beach. Just be sure about the conditions of the weather and move according to it and be safe, because safety comes first. Anyways before going for beach camping, check out the beach camping packing list again and have a blast on your trip and enjoy the trip fully.
