While most beaches don’t allow camping, if you know where to look, you’llfind quiet places to pitch a tent right on the sand.The best partsofbeach campingarethe sounds of crashing waves lulling you to sleep and morning strolls along the shorelineat low tide. As state and national park campgrounds start to reopen, here’s where to go to find empty campsites with ocean views.
Best for Camper Vans
East Beach, Rhode Island
Three miles of pristine coastline make up , a barrier beach with tidal sand flats located outside the town of Charlestown, Rhode Island. The 20 rustic campsites ($28;)are designated for RVs, campers, and vans only—there’sno tent camping here—and offeraccess toNinigret Pond, which has excellent fishingon one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. There’slimited parking for day visitors, so East Beachsees fewer crowds than other spotsin the area. Before you go,.
Best for Paddlers
Hammocks Beach State Park, North Carolina
The highlight of is Bear Island, a four-mile-long undeveloped barrier island that you can only reach via ferry from the central North Carolina town of Swansboro or by paddling a canoe or kayak about2.5 miles through the marsh along one ofa few designated canoe trails. The island comes with 14 oceanfront campsites ($35;) scattered between the dunes. rents kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards and leads guided tours of the area’s loggerhead turtle nesting grounds. Before you go,.
Best for Backpackers
False Cape State Park, Virginia
The reason, south ofVirginia Beach, doesn’t see a ton of traffic is because it’s not exactly easy to get there. Located smack between the Atlantic and , reaching this park requires hiking or biking a few miles, boating,or riding a beach transporter called the . Once you get there, you’ll find 12 primitive tent-camping sites ($20;call 800-933-7275to reserve), sixmiles of undeveloped coastline, and hiking and biking trails. Before you go,.
Best for Bikepackers
Coast Campground, California
Newbie bikepackers will appreciate the ease of pedaling to the , located within Point Reyes National Seashore in Marin County, an hour north of San Francisco. Ride a paved road out to the , then it’s threemiles of dirt on the bike-friendly Coast Trail to reach camp. (Hikers can come in from the hostel via a 1.8-mile trail or a longer 5.5-mile route.) There’s no driving to camp,which keeps the massesaway. The14 sites ($20;) are nestled in a grassy meadow, mostly protected from the ocean breezes, and spaced far enough apart to give you a sense of seclusion. The beach and tide pools are about 200 yards away. In a normal summer, these sites fill up all season long. Before you go,.
Best for Families
Cobscook Bay State Park, Maine
Many of the 106 campsites ($30;) at, a few miles south of the town of Dennysville, Maine,linethe water in the calm inlet of Whiting Bay. It’s a perfect, mellow beach for families. Plus, your kids will love digging for soft-shell clams at low tide and hiking the roughly twomiles of trails in the 888-acre state park. Part of the protected , this area is home to many animal species, including bald eagles, bears, and Atlantic salmon. Campingis open to residents of Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire, as well as those who have abided by a 14-day quarantine or recently tested negative for the coronavirus; .
Best for Glampers
Sunset Bay State Park, Oregon
This destinationis well named: the sunsets from , just south of Coos Bay and the small town of Charleston, Oregon,are well worth the trip out. Also spectacular: thesurroundingsandstone sea cliffs, which provideprotectionfrom the wind and a quiet vibe. Trails connect to neighboring , and tide pools dot the small bay. The park’s campground—just a short walk from the beach—has RV sites, tent sites, and eight well-stocked yurts (tents from $19 a night,yurts from $43; ), as well as kayaks and paddleboards for rent. Before you go,.