The holidays are approaching, and the beach is calling. The cooler is packed, the sunscreen is in the bag, and the umbrella is wedged in the trunk. That said, the best beach days come down to one more thing you can’t buy: good beach etiquette. A crowded stretch of sand works a lot like a shared living room, and a few simple habits keep it pleasant for everyone, including you and your crew.
Here are the unwritten rules most beachgoers wish everyone followed, from planning your trip to the last towel shake. Heading somewhere warm this winter? Pack a good insulated tumbler like our favorite tortoiseshell travel mugs, and if you’re stocking up on gear, see how to shop Amazon smarter.
Beach etiquette before you go
Check the local beach rules
Every beach sets its own rules, and they change more than you’d think from one town to the next. Before you go, look up whether dogs are allowed (and at what hours), where you can and can’t drive or park, whether glass, alcohol, fires, or tents are banned, and which areas are closed for nesting birds or turtles. A two-minute search on the town or park website can save you a lecture from a lifeguard, or a steep fine.
Pack for the whole day, including the cleanup
Make a quick checklist: towels, snacks, plenty of water, sunscreen, a small first aid kit, and the one most people forget: a trash bag. When you bring everything you need, you won’t have to borrow from the family next to you or leave wrappers behind. A beach wagon makes it all one trip from the car, which is easier on you and on everyone you’d otherwise squeeze past three times.
On the sand: how to be a good beach neighbor
Give everyone room
Claim your spot without claiming the whole beach. Set up your chairs, towels, and umbrella in a tidy footprint, and leave space in front of, behind, and beside other groups. If you have to choose between squeezing between two families or walking a few more yards to an open patch, take the open patch. Everyone, you included, will be more relaxed with a little breathing room.
Don’t block the view or the path
Tall umbrellas and tents belong in the back, not right in front of people who got there first. Leave the walkways to the water open, and when you do walk to the shoreline, go around other people’s towels instead of cutting across them.
Keep the music to yourself
Sound carries on the open sand, and the wind can push it a long way. Keep your speaker low enough that only your group can hear it, or bring earbuds. The same goes for phone calls and videos: many people go to the beach for some quiet.
Anchor everything
One gust is all it takes to send an umbrella tumbling down the beach. Screw your umbrella in deep or use a sand anchor, stake down tents and blankets, and keep light things like towels, bags, and trash weighted down or packed away.
Natalia Blauth via Unsplash
Keep an eye on kids and pets
Keep children where you can see them, both for their safety and so their flying balls and kicked-up sand don’t land on the next blanket. If dogs are allowed, keep yours close and on a leash where required, and clean up after it. Not everyone wants a wet dog visit, and some dogs get nervous when strangers walk up to pet them, so ask before you let your kids reach for someone else’s pup.
When it’s time to pack up
Leave it better than you found it
Fill in any holes your kids dug (they’re a real tripping hazard, and a danger to nesting sea turtles), knock down the sandcastles, and pick up every bit of trash, even the bits that aren’t yours. Take your toys and chairs home, too. A broken chair left by the bin is still litter.
Shake out downwind and away from people
Shaking out towels next to someone’s picnic is the fastest way to make enemies. Check which way the wind is blowing, walk a few steps away from other groups, and shake low to the ground so the sand lands on the beach, not on your neighbors.
Good beach etiquette really comes down to one idea: share the shore the way you’d want others to share it with you. Do that, and everyone gets a better day in the sun.
Our Amazon beach picks
Three things that make the rules above easier to follow: one trip from the car, an umbrella that stays put, and a blanket that drops the sand where it belongs.
Check price at AmazonA wagon that does it in one trip
The Mac Sports Heavy Duty Collapsible Beach Wagon rolls on extra-large wheels made for sand, holds up to 150 pounds, and folds down to under 10 inches thick with its own carry case. Two mesh cup holders keep drinks upright on the way down to the water.
Check price at AmazonA sand anchor for your umbrella
The AMMSUN Beach Umbrella Sand Anchor twists into the sand with a five-spiral screw and a T-handle, then holds umbrella poles up to 1.5 inches wide. It’s made of sturdy ABS plastic, so it won’t rust from salt water.
Check price at AmazonA blanket that lets go of the sand
The WEKAPO Sandproof Beach Blanket is a 7-by-7 foot ripstop nylon mat that fits one to three adults and shakes clean in one go. It comes with five metal stakes and four corner pockets you can fill with sand on windy days, then packs into a small pouch.
Sources and further reading
- 6 Unwritten Beach Rules Everyone Wishes You'd Follow, Southern Living, beach etiquette advice from etiquette expert Diane Gottsman
- Mac Sports Heavy Duty Collapsible Folding All Terrain Utility Beach Wagon Cart, Blue/Black, Amazon, size, folded size, weight capacity, wheels, cup holders
- AMMSUN Beach Umbrella Sand Anchor Heavy Duty Outdoor Umbrellas Auger Base, Amazon, material, spiral design, pole size
- WEKAPO Beach Blanket Sandproof Waterproof, Extra Large Beach Mat, Amazon, size, material, stakes, corner pockets
Changelog
- Written.
What we could not test
- We haven’t tested these products.
Questions
How much space should I leave between my spot and other beachgoers?
There’s no set rule, but leave enough room that people can walk between groups without stepping on towels, and never set up directly in front of someone who got there first.
Is it OK to play music at the beach?
Check the local rules first, since some beaches ban speakers. Where it’s allowed, keep the volume low enough that only your group can hear it, or use earbuds.
Why should I fill in holes at the beach?
Deep holes can trip or injure people walking at night, and they can trap nesting sea turtles and hatchlings. Fill them in before you leave.
How do I keep my beach umbrella from blowing away?
Screw the pole deep into the sand at a slight angle into the wind, or use a sand anchor, and close the umbrella if the wind picks up.