Relaxing on a nice tent on the beach, listening to the soulful sound of waves and reading your favorite book as the warm sun fills you with positive energy…Doesn’t that sound great? If you have been waiting throughout the year to take that swimwear out of the closet, dust your beach slippers, pack your bags and head for an adventurous and fun filled beach day, then the time has arrived.
You have probably bought the best beach tent money can buy and you are really looking forward to a great outdoor experience. However, the one thing that most beach enthusiasts are worried about is – where can I pitch a tent on the beach?
Finding the right location to pitch your tent on the beach is important because this can have a significant impact on your entire day. If you are camping on the beach for the first time, finding a location to pitch your tent can be both challenging and exhausting. Beach tents, in particular, can be difficult to secure on loose sand, which can make them prone to blowing away in unexpected wind.
This can become even more taxing if you have to take down a tent and pitch it all over again because you chose a bad location. Hence, it is wise to do your homework before putting the anchors in place and securing your tent.
Needless to say, the place where you pitch your tent will define your safety and comfort. If you are travelling with newborns or toddlers, it becomes more even important to stay away from places that might make them vulnerable to outside elements.
Things to consider when choosing a location to pitch a tent on loose sand
When camping by the seaside, you need to consider the tide. When there’s a high tide, the waves can rise enormously and cover a large part of the beach. At times, a sea or ocean that looks calm in the morning can suddenly turn violent during the mid-day with high tides.
If you already know the maximum distance the tide can possibly cover, pitch your tent beyond that point. If you are camping on a beach you haven’t visited before, we would suggest that you ask a few locals or look for signs that tell you the safe zone.
Some beach lovers seek privacy and they look for spots that do not have a lot of human traffic. You might need to walk a distance following the stretch to find a spot that’s more secluded or has fewer people.
Your kids can play comfortably without being disturbed by passersby and you will not have people walking past or parking their bikes close to your tent.
If you are hoping to camp on a beach to spend a night, you might want to look for a spot that allows you to anchor a tent more firmly. We would suggest that you choose a spot where the sand ends and you start seeing the grasses. Securely anchor your tent to prevent it from blowing away, and consider using tent stakes for better stability.
Digging out sand and using sand bags/stakes for anchors may be good for the day. However, if you plan to stay overnight, you need a more secure attachment which is possibly only when there’s some soil.
One important tip if you plan to stay overnight on the beach – Please be warned that not all beaches allow you to camp at night. While day camping is allowed in most beaches, you must check the state laws or the beach rules before making plans to spend a night on the beach. State parks, such as Leo Carrillo State Beach, have specific rules and may require reservations for camping.
In some beaches like the Virginia Beach, there are restrictions on the type of tent you can use during the day. The completely enclosed tents are not allowed but you can pitch a canopy-styled or umbrella-styled beach shade.
Many cities have enacted laws to prevent homeless people from hanging out on beaches. There is a risk of being sent away or facing consequences if found sleeping on the beach, particularly in more populated areas.
Conclusion
We cannot emphasize enough the importance of choosing the right location to pitch your beach tent. It can actually make your beach day or turn it sour! Some municipalities have certain specific laws or regulation governing the exact location where you can pitch a tent. They might often dictate a particular size and style of the tent and the amount of time for which you can pitch it on the beach. We would recommend that you do a bit of research and learn about the local laws to ensure that you put up your tent at the right location in a lawful manner to avoid any unpleasantries.
For example, Santa Monica has specific camping regulations and is known to be one of the less accessible and more regulated areas for camping along the coast of California.
Our website author Tom is a devoted outdoor enthusiast and active blogger who has a profound love for the great outdoors, especially camping and kayaking.
This passion for the outdoors combined with studying an MSc. in Product Design, and working as a Product Engineer gives him the perfect combination of experience and expertise to help guide you on the best camping and kayaking gear.
Tom aims to inspire other travellers to appreciate nature’s beauty by sharing their experiences, wisdom, and intriguing stories in engrossing blog articles. He believes in working to promote respect for and preservation of our priceless landscapes out of a dedication to environmental stewardship.
Join Tom on their quest to find undiscovered treasures, exchange helpful advice, and arouse awe for the vast outdoors.
