Camping on the beach is a blast, but you must be extra careful to ensure your tent doesn’t blow away in the wind. Tent stakes might not be enough, so you’ll need to use some other methods to secure it. It can be tricky to anchor a tent in the sand.
One way is to bury the stakes and place some large rocks around the perimeter of your tent.
Start with finding a suitable location.
One of the most critical aspects of placing your glamping tent is choosing the correct location. While you won’t be able to get away from the sand, you can try to find a spot that meets a few critical criteria.
You’ll want to find a level spot far enough away from the water to avoid high tide. You don’t want to be woken up in the middle of the night by a wave crashing into your tent!
Make sure also to give yourself plenty of space to set up your tent and campfire. There’s no point in camping if you’re going to be cramped up the whole time and unable to get a campfire going.
Once you’ve found the perfect spot, it’s time to get your tent set up and start anchoring.
Dig a hole in the sand for each tent stake.
You might be inclined to start staking down your tent only to find that the stakes won’t stay in place. We’re going to go in a different direction with this.
Start digging a hole twice as wide and twice as deep as the stake. So if your stake is 6″, you’ll want to make sure your hole is at least 12″ deep and 12″ wide.
This will ensure that your stake has plenty of room to grip the sand and won’t blow away easily. There’s also less chance of the stake breaking since it won’t be under as much tension.
Fill the hole with water and let it soak in.
Once your hole is dug, it’s time to fill it with water. This will help the sand to pack around the stake and make it even more secure. Let the water soak in for a few minutes before moving on.
Now attach the tent’s guylines to each stake.
Place your tent stakes in the hole perpendicular to the ground.
Place each stake in the center of each hole perpendicular to the ground and then backfill with sand.
Notice that the stakes are not going traditionally. Instead, they’re more of an underground anchor. Usually, you’d attach the guylines and hammer the stakes in at an angle, but this isn’t going to work as well in sand.
You’re giving them more holding power by attaching the guylines while the stakes are perpendicular to the ground. Then when you backfill with sand, the weight of the sand will help keep the stake in place.
Fill in the holes around the tent stakes.
Using wet sand (add a little more water if necessary), it’s time to pack the sand around the stake. Start by filling it loosely with your hands, and then use a small shovel or trowel to compact it. Make sure to pack it tightly, so there are no gaps.
Repeat this process for each stake until your tent is secure.
You might need to use additional stakes or guylines if you have a particularly large or windy campsite. Which, let’s be serious, beaches are often both.
Consider gathering large rocks or logs to help anchor the tent in the sand further.
Beach camping can be a blast, but it’s essential to take the necessary precautions to ensure your trip is enjoyable. By anchoring your tent properly, you’ll be able to sleep soundly, knowing that your tent isn’t going anywhere.
Test to make sure your tent is still stable by tugging on it.
It’s best to test your tent before bed to ensure everything is still secure. You can give the tent a good shake and tug on the guylines. If everything seems sturdy, then you’re good to go!
However, if you notice that the guylines are starting to come loose or that the stakes are no longer securely in place, it’s best to make some adjustments before bed.
Tighten the guylines and add more sand to the holes around the stakes if necessary. You can even dig deeper holes if required. Most importantly, your tent is secure and will stay in place all night long.
Now enjoy a good night’s sleep knowing your tent is firmly anchored in the sand.
