10 Incredible Beach Camping Sites in the US
Last Updated on August 23, 2024 by Boatsetter Team
If you want to spend the night at some of the most beautiful shorelines in the US, then consider beach camping for your next adventure. Adding a boat to your camping experience opens up remote spots and brings an extra layer of excitement to your outdoor activities. Here are ten incredible beach camping sites in the US where you can drop an anchor for an unforgettable overnight stay on the water.
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Camping with a boat or boat-in camping?
From fishing excursions to exploring remote islands, adding a boat to your camping plans can unlock a myriad of unique experiences. There are two principle ways to incorporate a boat to your camping plans. Camping with a boat lets you access secluded beaches or islands where you can pitch your tent onshore. Alternatively, boat-in camping means you sleep on your boat. Both ways provide different camping experiences.
Apostle Islands, Wisconsin
Hop this 22-island archipelago in Wisconsin which has several beautiful beaches including Julian Bay Beach is renowned for its “singing sands.” Headover to Sand Island and explore billion-years old sea caves.The Apostle Islands are accessible by boat from Bayfield, Wisconsin. Campsites provide basic amenities, including bear-proof storage and pit toilets.
- Camping with a boat: Yes
- Boat-in camping: Limited
Cape Lookout, North Carolina
A boat ride three-miles offshore brings you to three natural islands off the coast of North Carolina. Beside the Cape Lookout lighthouse, you can expect to see sights of wild horses and stretches of unspoiled beaches and rolling dunes, ideal for a quiet escape. The shallow waters of the sounds are best for smaller boat types and experienced boaters, or captained rentals. Since Cape Lookout is a more primitive destination, we recommend bringing water, food, and any necessary supplies with you.
- Camping with a boat: Yes (small vessels)
- Boat-in camping: Limited
Cataract Canyon, Utah
Cataract Canyon has the best beach camping spot for thrill seekers. The Brown Betty Rapid is the first rapid in the canyon on a remote part of the Colorado River, only accessible by kayak or raft. Here, you’ll camp on a large beach, framed by red rock formations and towering canyon walls.
- Camping with a boat: Yes (raft-in camping)
- Boat-in camping: No
Need help finding a place to stay for your next beach camping adventure? Check out our friends at Outdoorsy:
Gulf Islands National Seashore, Florida & Mississippi
The Gulf Islands stretch from Cat Island in Mississippi to Santa Rosa Island in Florida, boasting white-sand beaches and clear turquoise waters. When you spend a night on these island coasts, you’re bound to spot dolphins and sea turtles. While onshore camping is more common, boat-in camping is allowed at Perdido Key in Florida and at the wilderness areas of Horn and Petit Bois Islands on the Mississippi side.
- Camping with a boat: Yes
- Boat-in camping: Limited (Allowed in some areas)
Glen Canyon, Arizona
Enjoy unforgettable starlit desert nights surrounded by breathtaking red rock canyons when you camp at Glen Canyon on Lake Powell. Boating here reveals hidden coves, secluded beaches, and wildlife like bighorn sheep and bison. The Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is one of few campgrounds that have amenities.
- Camping with a boat: Yes
- Boat-in camping: Yes
Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho
In the shadows of the Selkirk and Cabinet Mountains lies the big and beautiful Lake Pend Oreille. Boaters love how the lake’s vastness makes it easy to escape crowds and find peace and quiet. In addition to typical water activities, Lake Pend Oreille has great fishing spots for Kamloops rainbow trout. Garfield Bay Campground and Whiskey Rock Bay Campground are popular among boaters.
- Camping with a boat: Yes
- Boat-in camping: Yes
North Cascades, Washington
If you’re looking for a stunning mountainous destination, then North Cascades is a must. Most of the lakes in the area are accessible by private boat or paddle craft rentals. North Cascades offers breathtaking mountain vistas, lush forests to explore, and glacier lakes to dive into for water fun. You can enjoy boat-in camping on Ross Lake, Diablo Lake, and Lake Chelan. Given the remoteness of these beach camps, you’ll have to bring all your own supplies.
- Camping with a boat: Yes
- Boat-in camping: Yes
Saranac Islands, New York
Have you ever dreamed about having a beach or island all to yourself? Well, camping at the Saranac Islands is kind of like that. This beach camping site is tucked in New York’s Adirondack Mountains. A series of locks connect its lakes, making it easy, if not preferable, to explore by boat. Between island hopping, boat-access-only campgrounds, and mountain peaks that you can best appreciate from the water, there’s no question that the Saranac Islands are best experienced by boat.
- Camping with a boat: Yes
- Boat-in camping: Limited
Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan
Sprawling blue waters that stretch toward the horizon, sloping sand dunes, and unspoiled island beaches make Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore an iconic beach camping spot on Lake Michigan. The Manitou Islands are only accessible by boat. You can explore historic sites like lighthouses and shipwrecks, enjoy a variety of water activities, and choose from isolated or established camp sites. Pitch your tent on a bed of soft sand and soak up the tranquil seclusion of this special slice of Lake Michigan Shoreline.
- Camping with a boat: Yes
- Boat-in camping: No
Warren Creek/Main Salmon River, Idaho
Warren Creek on the Main Salmon River in Idaho is another exhilarating destination for rafters and kayakers. The river flows through the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness, a rugged backcountry setting perfect for overnight stays off the beaten path. You can set up camp on the beach and take in a picturesque scene of steep canyons and pine forests, and perhaps spot deer, elk, and eagles. The area is primarily accessed via rafting trips, so you’ll have to pack light with a leave no-trace mentality.
- Camping with a boat: Yes (raft-in camping)
- Boat-in camping: No
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