Beach Camping With Your RV

Heading to the beach, whether you’re simply visiting the Great Salt Lake, Lake Tahoe, or going all the way to the Pacific Coast, is a great way to relax and spend time with friends and family. Your RV gives you the means to get there and also provides you with comfortable accommodations for your stay so you can focus on enjoying the water and the natural beauty of your surroundings. There are some things you should do to prepare for a beach trip in your RV, though, and we’ve outlined those steps below.

1. Book Your Campsite ASAP

As soon as you know you want to go to the beach, you need to book your campsite. RV campsites in popular areas like beaches will fill up quickly, particularly during peak months like the summer, so you need to make sure you've got your spot secured before you plan the rest of your trip.

2. Deal With Sand

You’re going to have to contend with a lot of sand at the beach, and everyone knows just how annoying and invasive sand can be. It pretty much finds its way into everything if you’re not careful, so here are some ways to avoid bringing the entire beach back into your RV with you: 

• Pack extra towels so you have some for the beach and some for showering. Keep beach towels hung up outside to avoid bringing in any sand.
• Pack extra swimsuits so you have one to change into if yours is wet and sandy when you want to hit the local pool.
• Bring a clothesline to hang up wet swimsuits, beach towels, and any clothing that’s been out in the sand.
• Rinse yourself off outside with a hose or a bucket of water to reduce the amount of sand you bring into the RV, particularly before using your RV’s shower.
• Cover RV furniture with old blankets or sheets to keep it clean.
• Line your RV’s floor with rugs and mats that you can shake out each night to remove sand.
• Use a broom and dustpan to help sweep up any sand that does make its way inside.

3. Bring Sun Protection

The other major factor at the beach that you’ll need to deal with is sunshine. While it’s lovely to spend time relaxing in the warm sun, it can do serious damage to your skin and eyes if you don’t plan ahead. Sunburns on their own are painful and uncomfortable, but the more sunburns you get, the more likely you are to get skin cancer. To that end: 

• Purchase your sunscreen at home so you don’t have to pay too much at the beach; you’ll want a good-quality high-SPF sunscreen that’s waterproof. Apply sunscreen before going outside and reapply as needed. You should also wear SPF lip balm.
• Bring hats and sunglasses to protect your face and eyes from the sun.
• Pack an umbrella to set up at the beach so you have a little shade if there isn’t one there. For the kids, you can bring a pop-up tent for them to play in.
• Pack long-sleeved shirts and lightweight pants to wear when you’re not in the water to further protect your skin. Light colors and natural fabrics like cotton and linen will be comfortable in the hot sun.

4. Bring Enough Clothing

One common mistake people make when going to the beach is not having sufficient clothing and shoes. If your single pair of shoes get soaked, you’re going to have to wear them everywhere, including in restaurants and on walks, and no one wants that! Bring some beach sandals or slip-on shoes along with socks and normal shoes for walking the boardwalk.

The beach gets cold at night, so everyone should also have some sweaters or light jackets to wear. You may want to bring some extra blankets if you’re going to have a nighttime campfire, too.

Your clothes are liable to get dirty easily at the beach, so pack a few extra outfits for everyone just in case.

When you’re ready to shop for new and used RVs, visit our dealership in Salt Lake City, UT, to take a look at our selection of RVs for sale. We can also provide you with financing options and you can even do a test ride! Airstream of Utah serves our customers in Park City and Provo, UT.