Can you put a tent on the beach?
One of the best ways to connect with nature is camping. When you are fully immersed in the outdoors, you can properly relax and enjoy yourself. One of the coolest places to do so is on the beach.
Believe it or not, you absolutely can pitch a tent on the beach! It all comes down to how you stake the tent down and some tips for making the experience more comfortable. The normal stakes that you are used to using, probably won’t cut it, so we will break down some tips and tricks for pitching a tent on the beach!
Use the right stakes for the job
Obviously, sand and dirt are nowhere near the same thing. When you are in a forest, really basic aluminum stakes will absolutely get the job done. The simple stake will not get it done on the beach.
Sand does not provide much for the stake to grip to, so the 4-inch stakes included with the tent won’t do it. So, you need to use a stake that can grip into the sand and hold the tent in place.
One of the best of which is a corkscrew-type take that is quite long and screws into the sand. These stick in really well and do not pull out easily.
You can also use aluminum stakes that are long enough to get into it. Once you can break through the top layer, it is better for stability. This can be accomplished with 10-12 inch stakes in most cases.
Use sandbags
Obviously, beaches are full of sand. One way to get around the staking issue that comes with camping on the beach is the use of sandbags. It is even lighter to carry bags with you rather than stakes, so this is a very great way to hold a tent down.
It will not cost much to invest in some high-quality bags that can be packed full of sand and tied to the corners of your tent. With this strategy, you will not have to worry about stakes not properly catching the ground, as long as you have some loose sand to put into the bags.
Not every beach is as sandy as you will want it to be for this strategy, so keep your specific area in mind.
Tie up to rocks
Like we just mentioned, not every beach being camped on is the lush, white sand found in Cancun or southern California.
Some beaches, especially on the northwest coast and other areas are quite rocky. In this case, you can fill those same sandbags with rocks if they are small enough to do so. If not, you can tie your tent directly to big rocks in the area. All you need to make this happen is, obviously, the rocks and rope or line to tie it down.
Simply grab some paracord or rope and connect one end to the tent and the other around a big rock. It is important to pick a rock that will not be moved by the weather. Otherwise, the entire purpose is defeated because the tent can still be blown away.
Pack and use a tarp
Obviously, when camping on the beach, your tent is going to be your most important piece of equipment. The competition for second place is stiff, but one of your top things to pack is a tarp. Tarps are super useful in all places in all weather. The beach is no exception.
Tarps can be quite lightweight, so they will not burn a lot of room in your pack. The main purpose of a tarp is to create a protective layer between your tent and the ground. This is most important when there is rain.
Many tents have a semi-waterproof bottom, but water can still seep in. Once the rain starts flowing under your tent, it will pool up. This is where a lot of problems can be created. A tarp can keep the rain from pooling, and if it still does, the tarp is waterproof, so it will not penetrate the tent itself.
Plus, the tarp helps add some cushion. Especially if you have to sleep on the ground, sand really isn’t that soft. So, having that extra layer of fabric will make your life a touch more comfortable.
Use a cot or pad
Speaking of being comfortable, putting a tent on the beach sounds awesome but can be a little rough to sleep in. At the very least, you have to do something to offset the fairly hard sand underneath your body.
One of the better options you can have is a cot. This elevates you off of the ground and provides a very comfortable sleeping surface. If you can afford to bring a cot, great! If not, there are a couple of other options.
Probably the most popular sleeping setup you can have is with a sleeping pad. These are lightweight and easy to pack, unlike cots. They come in a wide range of sizes, prices, and options, so keep that in mind when you do your buying.
One of the most comfortable options is an air mattress, but these take up a ton of room and are not realistic for everyone.
The most comfortable air mattress that we found has to be the Intex Air Mattress that inflates in less than 3 minutes, you can read more about it here, we think you’ll love it.
Recommended sleeping pads for beach camping
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Read the tides
If the beach you are camping on is on the ocean, you need to keep the tides in mind. There is usually a really informative timetable that lays out when the tide goes in and out.
Although you can usually tell where the high tide goes up to, you don’t want to get caught.
The last thing you need is to pitch your tent when it is low tide and be flooded out a few hours later. It seems simple, but keep it in mind.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you now know a little more about putting a tent up on the beach and the various aspects to consider.
Many people think that pitching a tent on the beach is less than ideal, but it can harbor some great times and help you make life-long memories. Happy camping!
