Complete Beach Camping Packing List

One of the most important things you need for beach camping is the right tent. Camping on a beach comes with its own challenges and needs. Read my Guide to the Best Tent for Beach Camping for FAQs, detailed reviews and recommendations.

My top pick for the best beach tent is this Coleman family cabin tent.

It’s obviously more difficult to secure a tent in soft sand than in regular soil.

There are two options. Some tents come with built-in bags that you fill with sand to weigh your tent down.

The other option is special stakes that screw into the sand and provide the traction you need.  

To guard against the chill of the sand and moisture, you’ll need a good tarp to put under your tent.

If this is a bit bigger than your tent, it will also help keep the sand out. 

In addition to a ground tarp, you should have a tarp or fly to keep rain, moisture and/ or spray from your tent. 

It’s inevitable when beach camping that you’ll get some sand in your tent, no matter how careful you are.  Having a small whisk broom on your beach camping essentials list so you can sweep the sand out will help keep your tent clean and comfortable.  

If you’re at the beach, chances are you’re not going to need a heavy-duty sleeping bag. However, even in summer, nights can get surprisingly cool at the beach, so I recommend taking a lightweight sleeping bag.

Supplement your sleeping bag with an extra blanket or two. You’ll want to make sure they are waterproof. Water is everywhere at the beach, and you’ll be more comfortable in the event they get a little damp.

If you’re right on the sandy beach, you may think you can get away without a sleeping mattress, but the sand will be cold and will start to feel very hard throughout the night.  A mat or mattress will help insulate you and give you a good’s night sleep. 

I prefer a camping mattress, as they are more comfortable.  Read my Guide to The Best Camping Mattresses for the full low down or get my top pick, the Invoker Ultra Thick Flex Foam mattress. 

I like to take a small inflatable travel pillow, which is comfortable but takes up almost no space when you’re getting there.

String lights are a great way to light up your tent and/ or campsite while also helping to create a more atmospheric environment. They transform a plain campsite into a magical location at night.

Read my Guide to the Best Camping String Lights to see best-in-category lights depending on your fuel source and how fun you want to go.

It can get surprisingly dark at night by the beach. String lights will help, but you will also need a few good lanterns around your campsite so your day doesn’t end when the sun sets.

You’ll also need a flashlight or headlamp to navigate night trips to the restroom area, etc. I prefer using a headlamp, as my hands are then free.

You’ll need a good table not only for cooking and eating, but also throughout the day (for fishing gear, playing cards, etc.), so I think it’s important to have a good one.

>> GET A CAMPING TABLE

You probably won’t be on the beach all day and night – you’ll spend some time at your campsite, so make sure you have comfortable chairs. These Yeti chairs are top of the line – and built to last.

>> PICK UP SOME CAMP CHAIRS HERE

You’ll also want to have chairs for the beach. You may be able to use the same chairs for both, but I recommend having low chairs for the beach and higher chairs for the campsite.

>> GET SOME BEACH CHAIRS

For when you’re actually on the beach, a good beach umbrella is a must. You’ll want one that can screw into the sand so it’s more wind resistant, and one that bends so you can easily adjust it for shade throughout the day.

>> BUY A BEACH UMBRELLA

A beach umbrella works for hanging out on the beach, but you will want to have shade at your campsite too. You can use the same shelter for the beach if you prefer to skip the umbrella and move the shelter around, but it can be more convenient to have one shade shelter at the campsite and then a more portable umbrella for hanging out on the beach.

>> ORDER A SUN SHELTER

This is totally optional, but if your campsite is among trees on the edge of the beach and you know this in advance, a travel hammock can be great for relaxing throughout the day.

>> GET A TRAVEL HAMMOCK HERE

>> BUY FRISBIES

>> BUY A FOOTBALL

>> GET SOME BEACH BALLS

Of course, you’ll also want to have toys you need for fun in the water. If you’re somewhere calm, noodles make it easy to hang out in the water and paddle boarding is a great activity to do. If you’re at a surf beach, you’ll probably want a body board instead. If there are fish and/ or a reef nearby, make sure you have snorkel gear with you.

>> PICK UP SOME BEACH NOODLES

>> BUY A PADDLE BOARD

>> GET SOME SNORKEL GEAR

>> BUY A BODY BOARD

If you like fishing – or would like to learn – the beach is often the perfect place to fish.

If you’re new to fishing, you can get the gear you need before you go.

>> BUY A FISHING GEAR PACK FOR BEGINNERS

This is optional, but if you have radio service, it can be nice to have a radio to play music – and weather updates, etc. (though you can also get that on your phone if you have cell service, of course).

I recommend one that has battery and solar power and is water resistant. This one even has an emergency cell charger:

>> GET A SOLAR/ BATTERY-POWERED RADIO

Solar panels are the most eco-friendly option. They are also silent and, after the initial investment, don’t cost anything to run. And chances are if you’re at the beach, there will be sun (hopefully, anyway).

Read my Guide to the Best Solar Panels for Camping for the full low down.

>> BUY A PORTABLE SOLAR PANEL

If a solar panel won’t generate enough power, you may need – or prefer – to have a portable generator. Check out my Guide to the Best Camping Generator for FAQs, reviews and recommendations.

>> ORDER A GENERATOR FOR CAMPING

If you have a source of fresh water, then you will just need one or two large containers, so that you have water easily accessible at your campsite. If you’re more isolated, you’ll need to make sure you have enough water for your whole trip (or until you can get to a water source).

>> GET SOME COLLAPSIBLE WATER BOTTLES

If you’re able to have a fire (always check about fire safety at the time of your trip), a camping trip wouldn’t be complete without s’mores around the fire at night.

You’ll need the ingredients, plus I recommend having the right equipment too.

>> GET S’MORES EQUIPMENT

>> GET S’MORES INGREDIENTS KIT

An essential item is a good – and large enough – cooler and/ or camping fridge. If you have a longer trip, I’d go with a fridge/ freezer (and generator and/ or solar panel to keep it running), as you then don’t need to worry about ice.

Check out my Guide to the Best Camping Fridge if you are looking to get one.

For shorter trips, a good quality Yeti cooler will do the trick. Check out my Guide to the Best Yeti Coolers to see even more options.

>> GET A COOLER HERE

>> GET A PORTABLE CAMPING FRIDGE/ FREEZER

If you plan to cook, you’ll need some basic pots and pans.

>> GET A COOKING SET FOR CAMPING

It’s best to avoid disposable dishes to reduce trash (and, of course, it’s better of the environment). I like this set of reusable and durable plates and cutlery, which are kept in a easy-to-carry bag.

>> GET A CAMPING PLATES AND CUTLERY SET

Of course, you’ll need to wash your dishes. You’ll want to make sure that the dish soap is biodegradable, so that it doesn’t damage the beach area. Throw in dish cloths, a sponge/ scrubber and a portable tub.

>> GET BIODEGRADABLE DISH SOAP

>> GET SOME CUTE SWEDISH DISHCLOTHS HERE

>> GET A 3-PACK MICROFIBER DISH SPONGE / SCRUBBER

>> GET A COLLAPSIBLE PORTABLE DISH TUB

You can bring regular dish towels from home, but I like these cute camping ones.

>> BUY SOME CAMPING DISH TOWELS

If you cook a lot of one-pot meals (which is much easier), you can get away with one hot plate. If you plan to have more elaborate meals, you’ll probably need a couple of hot plates.

>> BUY A CAMP STOVE

If you have a campfire, I recommend getting a Dutch oven. Nothing is quite as good as food cooked in a Dutch oven over a campfire!

Read my Guide to the Best Dutch Oven for Camping

>> GET A DUTCH OVEN FOR CAMPING

This is optional, but having a portable fire pit can be easier than creating a fire without one.

>> PICK UP A PORTABLE FIRE PIT

This is especially important at the beach when wood can get a little damp from spray, etc.

>> BUY FIRE STARTERS

Make sure your lighter or matches are waterproof so that if they get damp or wet, they still work.

>> GET SOME WATERPROOF MATCHES

>> GET A WATERPROOF LIGHTER

You never know when you’ll need to cut or fix a rope, fix an electronic device, etc. Having a multi-device tool is extremely handy. Hopefully you won’t need it, but if you do, you’ll be glad you have it.

>> GET THIS MULTI-TOOL DEVICE

Another option is a multi-tool knife. You can get both, or just one, depending on what setup you have.

>> GET THIS MULTI-TOOL KNIFE

If you plan to gather driftwood, then I recommend taking a portable camping saw.

>> GET A CAMPING SAW

If you are going to be boating at all, you’ll need a life vest for everyone in the boat.

>> BUY A LIFE VEST

Sun protection is key when you’re going to be spending so much time at the beach. First up is a hat that you can wear whether you’re lying on the beach, playing frisbee or hanging out around the campsite.

>> BUY A BROAD-BRIMMED HAT

I can’t recommend these enough. After getting horribly sunburned after an afternoon at the beach (even after I had put on sunscreen), I now always wear a long-sleeved UV sun shirt!

>> BUY A LONG-SLEEVED UV SUN SHIRT

Of course, you hope it will be sunny the whole time, but beach weather can change, so you should always have a rain jacket. They can also double as a wind jacket for cool evenings when that ocean breeze turns chilly.

>> BUY A MEN’S RAIN JACKET

>> BUY A WOMEN’S RAIN JACKET

These are super handy. They’ll protect your feet if there is coral or driftwood, but also just to walk on hot sand, or if you are camping in an area next to the beach with twigs, etc.

>> GET SOME MEN’S WATER SHOES

>> GET SOME WOMEN’S WATER SHOES

Definitely take a good pair of polarized sunglasses.

>> CHECK OUT THESE MAUI JIM SUNGLASSES

This is my ‘secret sauce’. A sarong takes up almost no space, but can be a beach towel, a wrap, a picnic blanket, a towel, and much more.

>> GET A SARONG HERE

I recommend taking more towels than you think you’ll need. You’ll need beach towels and bath towels (that are kept free of sand if possible), as well as extras in case they get wet and take time to dry.

>> BUY SOME BEACH TOWELS

This is a good idea to keep all of your toiletries together.

>> BUY A TOILETRY BAG

Make sure that you are only using biodegradable soaps and shampoos since chances are that they will be going directly into the environment.

>> BUY BIODEGRADABLE SOAP

Not essential, but these are especially handy of you don’t have access to a faucet and want to ration water a little.

>> BUY SOME BIODEGRADABLE WIPES

Make sure your bug spray is DEET free – it’s better for the environment and for your skin.

>> GET SOME DEET-FREE BUG SPRAY

Since your sunscreen is going into the water, make sure it’s reef-safe. Even if you’re not in a tropical area, this sunscreen is better for the environment.

Because you’ll be in the sun so much, take a lot of sunscreen. Estimate you’ll use about 9 oz a day per person if you reapply every couple of hours, as recommended.

>> BUY SOME REEF-SAFE SUNSCREEN

If you do get sunburned – or even as a way of moisturizing your skin after being in the sun – aloe vera is the best thing.

>> PICK UP SOME ALOE VERA GEL

You may or may not need this. But, if you won’t be near facilities, having a camping toilet is a great way to go!

>> BUY A CAMPING TOILET

As with soap, you want to make sure that anything that might go into the environment is biodegradable (though you should bag it up and take it out with you if possible).

>> BUY SOME BIODEGRADABLE TOILET PAPER

If you don’t have a comfortable camp toilet, but are burying it every time instead, you’ll need a shovel to dig a hole.

>> GET A CAMP SHOVEL

Rope is an absolute must. You can use it to replace a tent line, etc., but it’s really helpful as a clothes line – you’ll have wet swimwear and towels and possibly much more every day.

>> GET SOME HEAVY-DUTY ROPE

These will keep everything on your clothes line on windy days.

>> GET SOME PEGS FOR CAMPING

Absolutely don’t forget a first aid kit with all of the basics you might need.

>> GET A FIRST AID KIT

James Ian is a national park, camping and hiking expert.

He has dedicated his life to travel, visiting more than 80 countries, all 7 continents and most of the national parks in the United States. With over 35 years experience in the travel industry, James has worked on cruise ships, at resorts and hotels, and as a travel planner who’s helped hundreds of people plan successful trips to US national parks.

Based on his experience visiting our national parks multiple times, in-depth research and expertise as a travel planner, James has published detailed itineraries for many of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, and other resources will help you have your own incredible trip to US national parks without stress and hassle.

As a national park expert, James has contributed to many publications, including USA Today, Newsweek, Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.

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