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Home » Summer Picnic Ideas

Tips for the Perfect Beach Picnic Setup

Published: Aug 8, 2020 · Modified: Aug 26, 2023 by Kate O'Malley · This post may contain affiliate links. See end of article for more information · Leave a Comment


There’s nothing better than a day at the beach. Unless, of course, it’s a beach picnic.

Whether it’s a beach picnic BBQ, a romantic picnic at sunset, or a family and friends day at the beach, sun, wind, and sand can make a picnic tricky. These tips will help you create the perfect beach picnic setup.

Friends enjoying a picnic on the beach at sunset.
Jump to:
  • Beach Picnic Essentials

I never like to stray too far from my fundamental picnic tips, where simplicity is key. However, being prepared is also key to a great day at the beach. Don’t let your beach picnic end up a hot, sandy mess.

I have put together some fabulous beach picnic setup ideas and tips to ensure your picnic on the beach is perfect. Sometimes, a few simple accessories can change the way you picnic.

Young couple enjoying a beach picnic with a group of friends.

Beach Picnic Essentials

These fabulous beach picnic accessories combine function with style to keep your salads fresh and sand-free, your wine chilled, and you comfy and cool so you can relax and enjoy the perfect beach picnic.

Don’t let flies ruin your picnic at the beach. See my natural solutions to keeping flies away from your picnic.

Shade & Wind Protection

Sun protection is a given at the beach. While a large floppy hat may suffice on a cloudy day, some decent shade and maybe even wind protection may be required for a relaxing, sand-free picnic.

These shade solutions are lightweight, quick and easy to erect, pack down into a carry bag, and offer complete sun protection. 

They all anchor well into the sand, and depending on how you set them up, the beach tent and canopy can also offer wind protection. 

Beach Umbrella With Sand Screw

Portable Canopy Sunshade with Sand Anchor

Beach Tent Sun Shelter

Tip: I also recommend shade tents as a handy addition for kid’s picnics – on the beach or at the park.

Beach Mat

This Sand-Free Beach Mat has a patented Two-Layer System of polyester layers that allows sand to fall through the fabric without coming back up. It is perfect for a sand-free dining environment. It also rolls up tight with a carry handle for easy transport. 

CGear Large Sand-Free Beach Mat

See more of my favorite sandproof & waterproof picnic blankets that are perfect for a day at the beach.


Napkins and Tablecloth

Napkins

Forget paper napkins at the beach. For sand and wind, you want a cloth napkin up for the task. These cotton Turkish tea towels make a versatile and stylish addition to your beach picnic table. Larger than a normal napkin, they offer extra coverage when balancing a plate on your lap and are very absorbent so are great for clean-ups and spills. Easy to wash, they also look stylishly beachy. 

Set of 6 Turkish Cotton Tea Towels

Table Cloth

While you may have a beach mat, a light and practical Turkish beach towel makes a great tablecloth or picnic rug. 

Lay it on your picnic table or over your beach mat, the towel won’t get loaded with sand like a picnic blanket and is easy to shake out. It’s also handy as a light shawl should the weather cool. A light and handy addition to any picnic set. 

Smyrna Vintage Series Original Turkish Beach Towel


Beach Drink Solutions

Beaches aren’t the best place for glass, and keeping drinks icy cold can be difficult. These gorgeous wine canteens and wine tumblers by Simple Modern Spirit can keep an entire bottle of wine chilled for hours (They will also keep liquids hot). Think of it as double cooling insurance for your drinks.

Simple Modern Spirit Vacuum Insulated Wine Bundle – 2 12oz Wine Tumbler Glasses with Lids & 1 Wine Bottle

This fancy flask with matching stemless insulated tumblers is a sensible beach solution for drinks, whether wine, cocktails, or mocktails.

If it’s bubbles you prefer, try these stylish Insulated Stemless Champagne Flutes.  We love these classy drink solutions so much I included them in my picnic gift ideas edition. 

Insulated Stemless Champagne Flute


Beach Picnic Table

Keep your spread sand-free with this ultra-portable lightweight folding picnic table. Perfect for the beach, it folds down super small into its own bag and is sturdy enough for cutting on.

Need a bigger beach picnic table? I’ve rounded up the best portable folding picnic tables, ranging from tables for 2 to tables fit for a crowd.

Trekology Portable Picnic Table in a Bag


Beach Picnic Chair

Sure, relaxing on the sand and enjoying your portable feast is lovely, but so is kicking back in a comfy chair.

This gorgeous director-style picnic chair by Picnic Time is lightweight and very portable. It boasts a ton of very handy features, such as insulated drink holders, a storage pocket, and a small fold-out table. It also has built-in backpack straps, so it’s super easy to carry once folded.

Folding Beach Chair by Picnic Time


Picnic Set

Keep your picnic compact and stress-free with this beach-friendly picnic set for four. Everything you need, including insulated compartments, is in one bag to keep your picnic food fresh and cold. If you need additional space for food and drinks, the insulated, leak-free collapsible picnic basket is perfect for keeping ice, food, and drinks. 

Both are made with a tough canvas finish, so they are more sand-friendly than a traditional basket.

Throw in some flexible ice packs to keep it even more compact and mess-free.

I have loads more tips on the best ways to keep your picnic food cold for longer. 

If you plan on packing hot food for your beach picnic, you can find all my tips on keeping food hot for a picnic here.

Picnic at Ascot Insulated Picnic Cooler with Service for 4

Set of 2 Flexible Ice Packs for Lunch Bags and Coolers

Picnic at Ascot Insulated Folding Picnic Basket Cooler

You Might Also Like: I’ve rounded up the most beautiful and practical insulated picnic baskets from traditional wicker to modern collapsible picnic baskets. We’ve also taken the guesswork out of picnic baskets for 2 for romantic beach picnics.

Wine and Cheese Beach Picnic Set

Planning a romantic wine and cheese beach picnic or looking for a simple picnic setup? This wine & cheese picnic table works great for cheese platters, mezze platters, or antipasto-style picnics. Best of all, it gives you a secure place for your wine and glasses. So practical.

Tirrinia Foldable Wine & Cheese Picnic Table


Light & Music

Create a gorgeous picnic atmosphere with this all-in-one lantern and Bluetooth speaker. It’s the go-to accessory for beach picnics that go past sundown.

DIKAOU Led flame table lamp & Bluetooth Portable Stereo Speaker


Picnic Food Accessories

These Stackable Bento Food Containers make packing your picnic food a breeze. You can even assign a box to each person to save on extra serving plates. You’ll have no worries with sand blowing in food or plates hurtling down the beach in a gust.

All-in-One Stackable Bento Food Container With Utensil


Words you never want to hear at a picnic: soggy, wilted, or congealed. Sauces and dressing should never be added to picnic food until it’s time to eat. Prevent any soggy sandwich or sad salad incidents at your beach picnic with these tidy little squeezy bottles.

OXO Good Grips On-the-Go Silicone Squeeze Bottles


Last but not least, always have a packet of wet wipes in your picnic pack, especially when sand is involved.

Eco- Friendly Wet Wipes



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About Kate O'Malley

Picnic enthusiast, passionate cook, and the creative force behind Picnic Lifestyle. With a globe-trotting background and a keen eye for local ingredients, she's mastered the art of crafting delectable picnics and portable feasts (especially for long travel days). Kate's passion for al fresco dining comes alive in this guide, curating perfect picnics for every occasion.

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