A coastal road trip almost always includes an unplanned beach stop.
You see the water from the highway, find a parking lot and walk down to the sand.
Those stops are some of the best moments of a trip.
They also bring hazards that many inland travelers do not know well.
Strong currents, sudden storms and intense sun can turn a quick swim into an emergency.
This guide explains the main beach hazards and simple habits that keep a stop fun.
It is based on beach safety guidance from the National Weather Service.
It is general safety information for travelers.
Why beaches deserve a plan
The National Weather Service says many people are injured or killed along the nation's beaches every year.
It lists dangerous currents, tsunamis, heat and lightning among the hazards.
It works with its sister agency, the National Ocean Service, to share forecasts for coasts and surf zones.
The surf zone is the water between the shore and the first line of breaking waves.
That is where most swimmers and waders spend their time.
The same agency notes that the Great Lakes have their own set of beach challenges.
A road trip around the lakes needs the same care as one along the ocean.
Check the beach forecast before you go
On its rip current page, the National Weather Service gives a clear first step.
Check water conditions before you go in.
Look at the local beach forecast before you leave for the beach.
Then talk to the lifeguard when you arrive.
On a road trip, you may not know the beach at all.
A lifeguard knows where currents form on that stretch of sand and how the water is behaving today.
Many beaches also post flags or signs near the entrance.
Read them before you set up your towels.
Swim where there are lifeguards
The simplest safety choice is where you swim.
The National Weather Service advises swimming only at a beach with lifeguards.
It cites the United States Lifesaving Association figure of 1 in 18 million for the chance of drowning at a guarded beach.
When you plan a coastal drive, look for public beaches with lifeguards on duty.
Check their hours, since many beaches are guarded only during the day or in summer.
Outside those hours, enjoy the view from the sand instead of the water.
Calm weather does not mean calm water
One message from the National Weather Service surprises many people.
Great weather for the beach does not always mean it is safe to swim.
It is not always safe even to play in the shallows.
The agency notes that rip currents often form on calm, sunny days.
A rip current is a strong, narrow current that flows away from the shore.
It can pull even strong swimmers out past the breaking waves.
Before your trip, read the National Weather Service rip current pages with everyone who will swim.
Children and weak swimmers should stay close to an adult and close to shore.
If you see someone in trouble in the water, alert a lifeguard right away and call 911.
Never turn your back on the ocean
The National Weather Service also warns about dangerous waves.
It advises never turning your back on the ocean.
Large waves can arrive without warning, even on a calm day.
They can knock people off their feet on wet sand, rocks and jetties.
Photo stops on rocks and tide pools are a common risk on scenic coastal drives.
Stay well back from the edge, keep children close and watch the water while you take pictures.
Lightning at the beach is a real risk
Many people think of lightning as a danger for hikers and golfers.
The National Weather Service says beach activities are the second leading cause of lightning deaths.
Its list puts fishing first, beach activities second and camping third.
The agency gives three reasons why beaches are so risky.
- The sound of the surf and people having fun hides the sound of thunder.
- A safe place, usually a car, may be some distance away.
- On the East Coast, people face the ocean to the east, but many storms come from the west.
Its advice is simple.
- Watch the sky in all directions, not just over the water.
- Head to a safe place right away at any sign of a storm.
- Check the forecast and radar on your phone during the day.
- A safe place is a hard-topped vehicle or a large, fully enclosed building.
- A picnic shelter or other open-sided structure is not safe.
When camping on the beach, the agency suggests keeping a hard-topped metal vehicle nearby.
Get into it at the first sign of a thunderstorm.
Our guide to thunderstorms and tornadoes on a road trip covers storms on the drive itself.
Sun on the sand
Beaches add a lot of sun to a road trip day.
The National Weather Service recommends bringing an umbrella and staying in the shade.
It also advises a hat and sunscreen while you are in the sun.
On its beach page, it notes that UV rays are strongest between 10 am and 4 pm.
It suggests reapplying sunscreen every two hours and whenever you get out of the water.
Water and sand reflect the sun's rays, which can raise your chance of sunburn.
The agency also points to the daily UV Index forecast issued with the Environmental Protection Agency.
Our guide to sun protection on a road trip explains the UV Index and the shadow rule.
Heat in the parking lot
A beach stop often ends with a hot car.
Never leave children or pets inside, even for a quick walk to the water.
Bring water for everyone and take breaks in the shade.
Our guide to road trips in hot weather explains how fast a parked car heats up.
Algal blooms and water quality
Not every beach hazard is about waves.
The National Weather Service links to harmful algal bloom forecasts from the National Ocean Service.
Some blooms can affect the water and the air near the shore.
Check local notices and posted signs before swimming.
If a beach is closed or under an advisory, choose another stop.
Great Lakes beaches
The Great Lakes look calm from the shore, but they can produce dangerous currents too.
The National Weather Service keeps a separate Great Lakes beach safety section for that reason.
If your road trip passes Lake Michigan, Lake Superior or the other lakes, use the same habits.
Check the forecast, read the signs and swim near lifeguards.
Plan beach stops into the drive
A few planning choices make coastal road trips smoother.
- Pick guarded public beaches ahead of time, with their hours.
- Check the beach forecast the night before and again in the morning.
- Plan swims for the morning, before afternoon storms build.
- Park where you can reach the car quickly if a storm appears.
- Pack an umbrella, hats, sunscreen and plenty of water.
- Keep a towel and dry clothes in the car so wet travelers can change before the next drive.
Rinsing sand off feet and gear before getting back in the car also keeps the drive more comfortable.
A beach stop checklist
- Local beach forecast checked.
- Lifeguard on duty, and a quick chat about today's conditions.
- Flags and signs read at the entrance.
- Children and weak swimmers close to an adult and to shore.
- Eyes on the sky in all directions, and the car close by.
- Shade, hats and sunscreen reapplied every two hours.
- No kids or pets left in the parked car.
The bottom line
Beach stops are one of the joys of a coastal road trip.
Check the forecast, swim near lifeguards and remember that calm days can still bring rip currents.
Treat thunder at the beach as a signal to head to the car right away.
Add shade, sunscreen and water, and the beach will be a highlight of the drive.
Sources and Further Reading
- National Weather Service: Beach Hazards and Safety — supports the main beach hazards, the surf zone, lightning statistics and reasons, safe shelter advice, beach UV guidance, algal bloom forecasts and the Great Lakes note.
- National Weather Service: How to Avoid Getting Caught in a Rip Current — supports checking the beach forecast, talking to lifeguards, the guarded beach figure, rip currents on calm days and the advice never to turn your back on the ocean.
- Environmental Protection Agency: UV Index Scale — supports reading the UV Index before a beach stop.