There are many locations that provide beautiful landscapes, scenic vistas, and panoramic views when selecting a camping location. Add brilliant sunrises and romantic sunsets and you’ve added another level to your camping experience by including beaches as your destination. A question to consider is whether or not you can put a tent on the beach.
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Are Tents Allowed To Be Put On The Beach?
The answer is yes, and no. Keep in mind that some locations prohibit pitching any type of tent whether it is a standard or a beach-style tent.
While planning your trip, do research, whether online or by phone, to find out what the rules and regulations are for your chosen beach site in case there are any policies or restrictions you need to be aware of before arriving.
About Pitching A Tent On The Beach
All campers understand the importance of a versatile and durable tent as part of their standard gear. Depending on where you plan to pitch your tent and its environment, such as at a beach, be sure to have a tent that can provide excellent protection from the sun’s ultraviolet rays as well as breezes and light wind, or else you may as well just pitch up a hammock instead!
A standard tent may be sufficient to provide protection. That is a question you may want to ask the manufacturer directly if you aren’t sure. Or you can purchase a tent specifically designed for beach use.
Along with providing protection, a quality tent will also provide ample interior space for beach accessories, and other must have items. Tents usable for the beach are available in may sizes, styles, and models, which gives campers plenty of opportunities to choose one compatible with their camping needs.
The following is a list of some of the top tents and canopies designed for beach use.
- Coleman Beach Shade Shelter
- Coleman Weatherproof Sundome Outdoor Shelter
- Easthills Outdoors Instant Shelter
- Keumer Pop Up Beach Tent
- Neso Tents Portable Beach Canopy
- OILEUS X-Large Beach Tent Sun Shelter
- Outdoor Master Pop Up Beach Tent
- Pacific Breeze Beach Tent
- Sport-Brella X-Large Umbrella
- WolfWise Beach Tent
Pitching and Securing a Tent on the Beach
If you are a seasoned camper, you are well aware of the importance of securing your tent using the stakes or pegs that accompany your tent. Securing the tent helps keep the tent in place especially when there are windy conditions.
When pitching a tent on the beach, most likely along with brilliant sunshine and ocean breezes, weather conditions can change quickly resulting in gusting winds that can blow your tent down the beach or into the water. If it isn’t properly secured, a secure tent is a necessity whether a thunderstorm is brewing and the winds start blowing, or the beach you have chosen is prone to windy conditions all the time.
You have three options for securing a tent when the terrain it is being placed on is soft and loose sand. The first is to use the stakes or pegs included with your tent, although these may not be suitable since sandy ground is not firm, which means there is not a good enough level of resistance to maintain/hold the stakes in the ground. This is a critical step since the guy lines need to be attached to firmly staked anchors.
The second option is to weight the tent down, as best as you can. The problem with this option is you need something to weigh the tent down with. Think about steps taken in flooding situations. Sandbags are filled and used to keep water out. Using sand as a weight to prevent it from blowing away is the same principle. The natural resource is close at hand, which would work as long as you have enough items to fill with sand then place around the base of the tent. For this option, ahead to bring along items that can be used to hold sand.
The third option is to use a combination of tent anchors and weighted items to secure the tent and keep it stable in windy conditions.
Types of Tent Pegs and Accessories for Sand
There is good news for beach campers who want to pitch a tent. There are several stakes and pegs on the market designed for use in the sand. Take a look at the following to give you an idea of what is available that can ensure your beach tent is secure.
Aluminium Tent Stakes
Similar to a standard tent peg, the stakes cupped design allows the stake to dig deeper into the sane, which provides the resistance the guy lines need to secure the tent. The stakes also have multiple points to tie the lines. Since the pegs are made from aluminium, there is no worry about them rusting when subjected to moisture from the salt air or if they get wet. This is a benefit for campers who frequently set up a tent on the beach.
Spiral Ground Anchors
The spiral design and torque bar of these anchors allow for the stake to be pushed deep down into the sand. These work well whether the sand is packed or loose.
When placed into the ground, only the top of the blue peg is visible. The spiral body should be completely inserted. Both the colour of the peg and the way it fits into the ground help reduce the possibility of tripping, which is a common problem with standard pegs. These anchors are also rust-resistant.
Heavy Duty Weight Bags
You can also use weight bags, such as those from ABCanopy, to secure a tent. These are heavy-duty bags that can hold a significant amount of sand up to 25lbs. Each bag is fitted with a loop to use to attach the guy lines.
Instead of dealing with pegs, once the bags are secured to the guy lines, they can be evenly placed around the base of the tent. The bags can also be buried, which increases the resistance for the guy lines.
There is nothing that says you cannot use stakes and weight bags together for a more secure tent. In this case, you may need to purchase additional stakes since the others are being used for the guy lines securing the sandbags.
Tips for Weighing Down a Tent
- When camping in the forest, there are several natural resources that can be used for weighing down a tent. At the beach, those options may be limited to things such as a cooler or other objects in your gear or accessories that are heavy. For this reason, using permanent weights, such as the weight bags, are something you will always have as part of your camping gear plus weight bags are reliable in staying in place.
- Keep the weight distributed evenly. For example, if you have three sandbags on one side, you need three on the other side, as well. This helps maintain the stability of the tent.
- As already mentioned, available objects to weight down the tent may not be available or limited. Regardless, avoid weights that may damage the tent via rips, tears, or holes.
Final Thoughts
While there are specific places that allow beach camping, not all beaches are tent friendly. Whether your camping plans are for destinations at home, or you have international travel plans where camping on the beach is on the itinerary, know before you go if tents are allowed.