Paddleboard camping is an experience like no other. With a paddleboard, you can often camps where others can’t. You can even camp on secluded beaches and islands! Your whole family can enjoy an overnight paddleboard trip, you just have to plan for the expected AND unexpected. In this post, we will discuss everything you need to know before your paddleboard camping trip.

For your first trip, I recommend camping in an “easy-to-leave-by-land” location. That way you can quickly bail if something comes up. For instance, you could paddle around a lake and then dock on a campsite near your car and “pretend” you are on a secluded beach. If a big storm rolls in, you forgot an essential item, or your child decides she has had enough of this rustic adventure, you can simply pack up and drive home.

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Planning A Safe Paddleboard Camping Trip

After you have tried the practice camping trip, then you can try something a little more off-the-beaten-path. However, you still want to plan for what to do if you need to bail. The keys to paddleboard camping are:

• Always prepare an exit strategy
• Have a way to signal or contact someone for help
• Find a safe campsite
• Check the weather and paddle route before going
• Pack using a well-thought-out packing list

You should also know about possible wildlife encounters in the campsite area. Determine if it is safe and/or take the appropriate safety precautions in case of a wildlife encounter.

You also need to be aware of any dangerous sections on the route to the campsite. Are there any waterfalls, drops, or rapids along your route? Make sure your paddle route is a safe one.

Choosing a Campsite

One easy option is to rent a campsite. Many state parks even have boat-in camping sites you can rent. These are campsites only accessible by water. In South Carolina, where we live, Devils Fork State Park at Lake Jocassee and Cheraw State Park have boat-in campsites. You can read more about the things to do at Devils Fork State Park here. These rental sites are a great option because you automatically know you are not on restricted or private property.

This brings up an important point. Make sure your campsite is not on restricted or private property and is going to stay dry all night, Tides and dams can drastically affect water levels. Be aware of these conditions before choosing your site.

Packing for Paddleboard Camping

Before you can have a successful Paddleboard Camping trip you must pack all the essentials, and you must find a way to pack all the essentials onto paddleboards. Efficiency is key. Below is the ultimate paddleboard camping packing checklist.

Paddleboard Camping Packing Checklist

Paddleboard Equipment

• The appropriate paddleboard (The best paddleboards for camping are long wide boards that can carry a lot of weight. Having several attachment and storage locations on the board is also important. You can find my favorite boards for camping and touring here).
• Paddleboard Leash (Most isups come with them. Just make sure you have the correct leash. Spiral ones are for calm waters and straight ones are for the ocean.)
• Paddles (If you are paddling alone, bring a spare paddle.)
• A manual pump for your campsite and an electric pump for your car (Although you probably will keep your paddle board inflated, packing a pump is a good ideas, just in case.)
• Paddleboard patching repair kit (This usually comes with your paddleboard. You just need to buy the glue and remember to bring everything with you, just in case)
• Paddleboard fins (This should come with your paddleboard.)
• Different sizes of dry bags (Use these to pack your items.)
• Towing rope (We attach our daughter’s paddleboard to our boards with a towing rope. That way she can paddle when she wants, or she can let us do the work when she gets tired. Rope is also great for attaching the boards together for a little social time. We just anchor one paddleboard and attach the other boards to the anchored board with the rope.)

Safety Equipment for Your Paddleboard Camping Trip

• Life Jackets for your whole party
• First aid kit (This one is waterproof)
• Flash light or head lamp (These are required for paddling after sundown)
• Whistle for signaling for help
• Cell phone and waterproof floating phone case for emergency calls
• Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) or a Satellite Emergency Location Device (Even if you have a cell phone, you need one of these. They use satellite to communicate to rescue services and work in remote locations. The PLB uses extremely long-lasting lithium batteries and can signal for help. The PLB doesn’t require a subscriptions, but can only send out distress signals. The atellite Emergency Locatin Device requires a subscriptions, but can send out different messages. For example, the “SOS” is for life-threatening situations. The “Help” message is for non-life threatening situations.)
• Pocket knife
• Compass that floats
• Duck Tape (it just comes in handy for random things.)

Clothes (In a Medium Dry Bag)

• Spare clothes and layers (Bring fast-drying clothes and layers like a light jacket for when the temperature drops at night. I like to wear my bathing suit and a fast-drying shirt and shorts, and I bring, another shirt and pants to sleep in at night. I also bring another bathing suit and shirt and shorts for the following day and a light-weight rain jacket for nights.)
• Water shoes (I like these from NRS)
• Undergarments
• Sunglasses and floating sunglasses strap

Sleeping Equipment (In Large dry bag)

• Tent or a tent hammock (Make sure it is attached to a secure object or tree with no loose branches).
• Pillows
• Sleeping bags

Cooking, Food, & Drink Items (In A Cooler or Medium Dry bag)

• Ample water and a way to purify water (We like to pack water in camelback bladders. Camelback bladders are compact and easier to store on a paddleboard that a giant jug of water. Yet, camelbacks hold large amounts of water. We like to pack all the water we will need, but it’s a good idea to plan what you will do if you run out or lose your water somehow. Lifestraw makes a variety of filtration products and is a good options for filtering water from rivers and lakes.)
• Compact cooking equipment, fuel, and fire lighter (We like the Pocketrocket Mini Stove Kit and camping fuel canister).
• Plates and utensils (Plates and utensils for two are included in the Pocketrocket Mini Stove Kit mentioned above)
• Food to cook (It may be helpful to package your breakfast, lunch, and dinner items in separate large ziplock bags)
• Prepackaged, no-cooking necessary food items (If for some reason, you are unable to cook, you want to have some quick-filling food items that can sustain you in a pinch. Below is a list of food items I like to bring. I am a dietitian, btw, and like to pack foods that are going to best fuel my paddling)
• High-quality soft cooler with ice packed with a few drinks and perishable food (We like the Ice Mule)
• Nonstick cooking spray
• Paper towels
• Coffee or your must-have caffeine drink and a compact way to make coffee (Aeropress is a popular coffee-making option among paddleboarders and backpack campers.)

Here is a video of our “portable Kitchen.” We love packing this “kitchen” on the paddle board. We like to paddle to a remote beach or island and set up camp complete with a compact “kitchen.”

Toiletry and Misc. Items (Medium Dry Bag)

• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Deodorant
• Any needed prescription medications
• A hair brush, hair ties if applicable
• Razor if applicable
• Shampoo and soap (If you go somewhere secluded, you aren’t going to have access to bathrooms or showers. If you are one of those people who likes to wash your hair everyday, bring shampoo and wash your hair in the water. Since you are paddleboarding, you will be near water.)
• Towels
• Toilet paper
• Sunscreen
• Lipbalm
• Bug repellant

Leisure Items (Small or Medium Dry Bag)

When children are coming along, you might want to pack a few items that help entertain the children. You will want to s bring items that can provide entertainment for a long period of time and take up little space.

• A compact game like a deck of cards
• A shovel, bucket, and snorkels for beach play
• A book for bedtime stories or beach reading (depending on how old your child it)
• Waterproof floating speakers with a D-ring attachment

Optional Items

• A paddleboard achor (We like to letdown the anchor and relax in the water for a while. We sometimes even have a little snack break. It feel like we are eating in an exclusive floating restaruant and the views are amazing!)
• Go-pro
• Compact camping Chairs (You can also use your board as a seat, just be sure to take the fins off)
• Hammocks (We take ours with us every time we paddleboard)
• Paddleboard cup holder or water bottle attachments (Not needed but so fun to have)
• Fishing equipment and fishing license

Paddleboard Camping Food Ideas

*From the list below, pick something for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and pack a few snacks as well)

On-the-Go Food Ideas

• Protein and/or energy bars
• Build your Own Trail Mix
• Tuna or Salmon Pouches and crackers
• Nuts and Seeds
• Free-range turkey jerky or grass-fed beef jerky (I like Country Archer Provisions)
• Oranges
• Apples

Meal Ideas

• Freeze-Dried Meals (So far I have really enjoyed the Mountain House Meals. They have a variety of healthy options as well as hearty classics. I also like the healthy soups from Patagonia Provisions).
• Pre-made sandwiches in a cooler
• Blackbean burgers (pack frozen blackbean burgers, bread, and toppings of your choice in a cooler. Warm the blackbean burgers on the black)
• Liquid eggs and precooked no nitrate bacon
• Bag of pre-made turkey meatballs, already cooked whole wheat pasta, and sauce of your choice. (Combine all in a sealed bag and pack in a cooler. When ready, just warm on the camping cook station)
• Ground turkey tacos (precook the ground turkey with taco seasoning. Pack topping and tortillas in separate bags and place in a cooler with ice. When ready to eat, simply warm the meat and the tortillas and serve).
• No nitrate/nitrite added chicken sausage “hotdogs” (These are a healthier hotdog option. Just warm and serve on whole grains bread with toppings of your choice