What to Pack for a Picnic on the Beach

These beach essentials make packing up a last minute picnic on the beach easy, fun and as sand-free as possible.

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Summer is in full swing, let’s go to the beach!  It’s the perfect time of year to drop everything, pack up a picnic and head out to the beach. Nothing says summer like a picnic at the beach, but the addition of sand, water and wind can make packing for it a bit tricky.

So I’ll leave the basics like sunglasses, sunscreen and bathing suits up to you and offer instead my must-haves for a picnic on the sand. Being properly prepared makes all the difference at the beach and so I’ve picked out for you my essential beach picnic supplies. It’s a streamlined list of basics that will hopefully make packing up a last minute picnic easy, fun and as sand-free as possible.

Beach Tent

Weighing only 4.5 pounds this Portable Beach Tent has a 1 minute set up time, is water resistant and has UPF 50+ sun protection to shield you and your food from the sun’s rays and occasional gust of wind.

Beach Mat

This genius sand-free beach mat allows any stray sand to fall through the fabric without coming back up, which comes in handy for keeping sand far away from your food. The mat also rolls up tight for transporting and has a convenient carrying handle.

Insulated Cooler Bag 

The ice packs are built into the walls of this smart cooler bag so there’s no need for separate ice or gel packs, you just fold it, freeze it and in the morning it will be ready to fill.  The top has a zip closure to lock in the cold and a shoulder strap to make it easy to carry.

Airtight Food Containers

This plastic-free and leak-proof 3-piece nesting food container set made from 18/8 stainless steel topped with silicone lids is perfect for picnics.  Your food will make it to the beach without any spills or leaks and you don't need to worry about the wind blowing sand into open containers while you’re picnicking.

Bamboo Cutlery

Lightweight, strong and made from sustainable materials this Bamboo utensil set come in its own handy pouch for packing so you’ll never need to use plastic forks and knives again.

Insulated Bottle and Shatterproof Glasses 

This sleek bottle keeps beverages cold for over 25 hours. It has a no-leak threaded screw top, stainless steel interior and a non-slip bottom.  If you prefer to drink out of glasses then these triple-insulated stemless glasses work for everything from wine to water and have a spill resistant lid and silicone bottom to prevent sliding.

Cloth Napkins 

Give paper napkins the boot and use Turkish Hand Towels instead.  Larger than a napkin, they cover more of your lap and are more absorbent for wiping up any spills or accidents.  Get a set in some pretty summery colors.  (Bonus, they get softer and more absorbent with every wash.)

Turkish Cotton Beach Towel 

While you’re at it also get a large one to sit on or wrap around your shoulders.  You can never have too many of these kinds of towels, they’re great for the beach because they dry quickly, repel sand and can double as a wrap if it gets chilly.

Hand Wipes

Last but not least a pack of sanitizing hand wipes makes it easy to wash up before eating and wipe up any sticky messes afterwards.

Happy Picnicking!

P.S. If you need some ideas for food to take to the beach, then check out these recipes.