19 Genius Beach Hacks to Try This Summer (Many are FREE!)
These beach hacks make a day in the sand even better!
Are you one of 60 million people hitting the beach this summer? Try these clever beach hacks for adults and kids to make your trip a breeze!
1. Protect phones from water and sand with this waterproof case with over 50K 5-star reviews.
JOTO Universal Waterproof Phone Pouch – as low as $6.99
Put this universal waterproof phone case at the top of your packing list! Whether you’re planning to take amazing underwater pictures while snorkeling or reading your favorite Kindle beachside. This is one must-have you won’t regret bringing along and it’s under $7!
Hip Tip: Place a paper towel or napkin in your phone case if you’re nervous about your phone getting wet. This helps with leaks when you are using your phone in the water.
2. One of the best beach day hacks is to use baby powder on sandy legs and feet.
Up & Up Baby Powder – $2.99
Baby powder is a powerful force against sand on the skin so it’s perfect for rubbing on your hands, legs, or feet! This is one of the best-known beach hacks if you want to avoid sand in your sandwich or in your car when it’s time to leave. We’re using CVS baby powder in the photo, but you can get the similar Up & Up for over half the price!
Add baby powder to your next Subscribe & Save order on Amazon for under $2!
3. Use an umbrella hook to hang wet towels and bags.
Pole-R Bear Beach Umbrella Hook – $13.95
Avoid sandy towels and beach bags by using an umbrella hook. This beach hack keeps your belongings sand-free, which means less sand is tracked into the car too. 😂
Hip Tip: For faster drying towels, ditch the cotton and use a lightweight microfiber towel instead.
4. Or use an umbrella table tray to keep smaller essentials organized.
AMMSUN Beach Umbrella Table Tray – $17.99 (regularly $25.50)
This innovative table tray securely fits on the rod of your beach umbrella. It has 2 drink holders plus 2 built-in trays for snacks and other beach essentials like sunscreen, snacks, baby powder, and more! 🙌🏼
5. Keep all the sand off your towels with these innovative sandless towels.
Sand Cloud Beach Towels – as low as $44 SHIPPED
There’s nothing worse than a soaked and sandy towel to bring in your car when you’re headed home. We love Sand Cloud beach towels because they’re lightweight, quick drying, and sand won’t stick to them whether wet or dry! Plus, you’ll adore their fun prints and aesthetically pleasing colors.
Even better, if you want a sandless blanket big enough for the whole family, they have that too.
6. Freeze drinks and grapes to keep food colder for longer.
Your food will stay much colder for longer by freezing pouch drinks and water bottles. You can also consider freezing other snacks that freeze well like grapes, watermelon, and popsicles. Packing more frozen foods versus ice packs will free up more space for goodies to bring with you.
Here’s another unique item our Hip reader, Lolly, likes to freeze:
“I also like to bring a soaking wet washcloth in a ziplock bag because somehow I always end up with sunblock in my eyes” – Lolly, Hip reader
Hip Tip: We sourced the best Yeti cooler bag alternatives so you can beach it in style on a budget.
7. Beat the heat with homemade slushies for kids or adults.
You could make a quick and easy slushie for the kids by letting your frozen Capri Suns thaw and drinking them before they melt entirely. Adults looking for a little something special can make an adult version from Dining With Alice. All you’ll need is your favorite juices, liquor (optional), drink pouches, and straws. It’s a fun way to stay cool and hydrated at the beach!
8. Keep drinks, phones, and other snacks sand-free with these handy beach cup holders.
Beach Cup Holders 4-Pack – $12.98 (regularly $12.99)
These handy, stackable cup holders can double as a phone, drink, or sunglasses holder. Plus, it’s a great spot to place snacks for little ones such as grapes, cheese and crackers, and so much more! Note that these are best for smaller cups and bottles.
9. Create a sand-free zone with this genius fitted sheet beach hack.
Fitted Sheets on Amazon – $5.99+
This is one of the oldest beach hacks in the book! All you need is a cheap fitted sheet and your stuff to support each corner – think coolers, bags, shoes, etc. You could even shop at your local thrift store for an even cheaper fitted sheet option and fill plastic bags with sand to make DIY weights.
10. Disguise your valuables in snack containers.
Place small items like keys, money, and jewelry inside a food container so people won’t see them. Just don’t make the snack too tempting. 😉 If you really want to fool people, wrap your small valuables in a diaper and place it under your beach chair. 😆 They’ll definitely leave it alone then.
11. Save space in your beach bag with collapsible items.
Collapsible Beach Bucket – $11.99 (regularly $14.99)
- Or pay just $9.50 each when you buy a 2-pack!
Lugging heavy or bulky items can make your beach trip a hassle and take up precious retail space in your wagon or car. Save space by bringing foldable or collapsible items like these beach buckets.
Hip Tip: Fill one of your buckets with water and use it as a hand-washing station for sandy hands.
12. Easily tote plastic bags for wet clothes and towels with this upcycle beach hack.
Fill an empty wipes container with plastic grocery bags or trash bags. This keeps bags from blowing away. Then, when you leave the beach, fill the bags with your wet clothing and towels to prevent a mess in your car.
Hip Tip: Check out these other genius upcycling ideas we shared.
13. Save at the salon and grab a lemon if you want sun-kissed hair during your trip.
Squeezing lemon juice in your hair before going into the sun will supposedly give you some pretty amazing natural highlights. Consult with an experienced hairstylist beforehand just to be sure.
14. Soak up some shade with a beach tent.
Oileus X-Large Beach Tent – $64.99 (regularly $99.99)
Clip the 10% OFF digital coupon
Final cost $58.43 SHIPPED!
Protect your family from the wind or powerful UV rays with a beach tent. There’s one for up to two people or styles for just a baby. Either way, it’s a great way to stay cooler on the hottest of summer days.
If budget is no object for keeping you and your family cool, check out this unique Shibumi Shade! It weighs only four pounds, can be assembled in just three minutes by one person, and has 50 SPF. Talk about game-changing. 🙌🏼
15. Bringing your own makeshift pool is the best baby beach hack I’ve personally tried.
Monobeach Baby Beach Tent Pop-Up Pool $29.68 (regularly $49.99)
Clip the $5 OFF digital coupon
Final cost $24.68!
Make a hole in the sand, then fill this pop-up pool with ocean water. This handy pop-up pool will keep your little one busy for hours while the big kids play in the ocean. Plus, once they’re ready for a nap, you can empty it and lay down a towel for them to take a snooze under the shade canopy.
Hip Tip: Try doing the same thing with a cheap shower curtain, small tarp, or trash bag if you’re on a tight budget.
16. Use frozen aloe vera cubes to treat your sunburn.
Did you onlinee home with a pretty gnarly sunburn? Squirt some aloe vera in an ice cube tray, freeze it, then rub the cubes on your skin to soothe.
Consider making your own cubes if you have an aloe plant at home to make this beach hack essentially FREE! Follow the full tutorial on vitacost.online.
17. A mesh bag leaves the beach at the beach.
Time and True Mesh Beach Tote – $7.97
Don’t bring the beach home with you. If you carry beach supplies in a mesh bottom bag, the water and most of the sand will fall out as you walk to the car. Plus, you can give it a good shake before heading home. You can use any mesh laundry bag or we love this mesh bag at Walmart for under $8 each!
18. A makeup brush makes sunscreen application easy.
Thinksport Mineral Sunscreen for Kids 50+ SPF – $16.40 (regularly $21.99)
Does your kiddo fight to put sunscreen on their face? One way to make the process fun for them is to use a makeup brush to apply the sunscreen. Not only does it make for a quick and smooth application, but the brush helps blend the sunscreen into the skin for less of a white cast!
19. Remember your trip with a DIY souvenir!
Plaster of Paris 4lb Bucket – $8.51
The kids or grandkids will have a blast making this sandy souvenir! You’ll love having a keepsake handprint or footprint. All you’ll need is some plaster of Paris, a plastic Ziploc bag, water, and sand! Get the full DIY instructions from Crafting a Green World.
