Nothing beats a family beach getaway.
Relaxing in front of a brilliantly blue ocean, seeing the kids completely mesmerized by the wonders of the surf and the sand, building sandcastles, playing games, and soaking up the sun… Just not too much sun!
A beach tent is an essential item to have in your arsenal of sea-side recreation. It not only protects you and your little ones from the harmful effects of the sun’s rays, but it's also easily portable and lightweight.
Why let your vacation be cut short by the unpredictability of nature?
Our list will help you choose the best baby beach tent so you can be prepared for your perfect getaway.
Quick comparison: Best baby beach tent
Beach tent | Features we love | Rating | Buy it now |
|---|---|---|---|
Pacific Breeze Easy Up Beach Tent | - Easiest to set up and take down of all beach tents on the market | ||
Schylling Infant UV Playshade | - 50+ UV protection | ||
Pacific Play Tents Lil Nursery Portable Dome Tent for Infants | - UV treated fabric, SPF 30, | ||
Coleman DayTripper Beach Shade | - UV guard protection for SPF 50+ | ||
iCorer Automatic Pop-Up Portable Beach Tent | - Fabric is specially coated |
Keep reading for the full scoop on the best tents on the market!
Pacific Breeze Easy Up Beach Tent
First up is the Pacific Breeze Easy Up Beach Tent.
This little gem is only four and a half pounds, and while it may not be compact enough to fit inside a suitcase, it is still small enough to easily collapse to the size of a small lawn chair.
For the white-knuckle flyers and road-trip enthusiasts, this is the tent for you. The polyester material makes it water-resistant and durable when facing all sorts of adverse elements. Take it to the beach, the forest, the backyard, anywhere! It will be able to stand up to most weather conditions.
The large windows allow you to stay cool, providing ample ventilation and breathability. Setting it up requires little effort, so you can start enjoying your adventures sooner. Ground stakes are included, as well as sand pockets to keep your new tent grounded.
Not only is it spacious, it is comfortable, making it one of the best beach tents for babies, toddlers and even older children. You’ll have plenty of room to stretch. And when you’re all done, use the carrying case for easy transport.
Pros
- Lightweight design
- Spacious
- Durable
- High SPF protection
- Easy to transport
Cons
- Doesn’t fit inside a suitcase (might not be able to take it on a plane)
- Legs might not be protected from the sun
Our favorite feature
The large windows that allow for maximum comfort makes this one of the best beach tents for baby.
Schylling Infant UV Playshade
Next up is the Schylling UV Playshade, which is one of the best baby tents out there, considering its size. The adults might have to squeeze a bit to fit inside, but for toddlers and infants, it is perfect.
At only two pounds, thirty one inches high and fifty one inches wide, set-up is a breeze, and taking it down requires only a few seconds of your time! No assembly is required. Pop it up or pop it down. It’s that simple.
It boasts one of the highest SPF ratings, sitting at 50+ Ultra-Violet protection. Much like other brands, it folds up easily and is very durable.
While a whole BBQ grill setup might not fit inside, feel free to bring a cooler along or a portable fan.
This Schylling version is great for indoor or outdoor use. It also comes with a carrying bag for when you’re on the go.
The recommended age ranges from one month to ten years old.
Pros
- Easy set-up
- High SPF rating
- Lightweight
- Can use outdoors or indoors
Cons
- A bit smaller than other brands
- Poor ventilation (can get pretty hot)
- No stakes (not good for high winds)
Our favorite feature
The ease of the pop-up design is a very attractive feature for people who don’t want to spend a lot of time on set-up.
Pacific Play Tents Lil Nursery Portable Dome Tent for Infants
Our next beach tent is one of the most spacious on the list, sitting at thirty-six inches high and thirty-six inches wide. It is completely outfitted with two mesh side walls, and a mesh roll-up door for amazing comfort and visibility.
Unlike the previous two brands, you’ll have a choice from a wide assortment of colors, including purple and yellow, green and blue, blue, red, and yellow, and blue and red. There’s even a detachable soft pad changing station for when nature calls.
With a waterproof floor, ample UV protection (SPF 30) and an included carrying bag, you’ll have everything you need to ensure that you and your kids are protected and comfortable.
The Lil Nursery lives up to its name, as you can use it virtually anywhere that isn’t baby-proofed. Inside, outside… no matter where you’re going, this tent will live up to your expectations. If you're looking for one of the best beach tents for baby, look no further than Pacific Play’s quality design.
Pros
- Decent SPF rating
- Various colors
- Quick and easy set-up
- Removable changing station
- Waterproof material
Cons
- Some small parts have a tendency to break
- Poles/stakes are not as sturdy as other brands
Our favorite feature
The removable changing station is not only convenient, but easily accessible.
Coleman DayTripper Beach Shade
This tent should definitely grab your attention since it comes with enough parts to keep it grounded even if a hurricane were to hit.
It boasts two zippered doors for maximum privacy, four different colors to choose from (like lime, blue/white, blue/lime, and pink), six sand pockets to keep it weighed down and extra-long stakes that will ensure stability in the face of the strongest winds.
Keeping up with product standards, it weighs in at only five pounds and is compact when folded, making for easy transportation and storage.
As an added bonus, there are four hanging pockets inside which hold your valuables in a safe place so you can enjoy the beach without worrying about losing them.
UV protection is very high, sitting at 50+ SPF, the included carrying bag stores the tent conveniently and compactly, and you’ll get great bang for your buck. The sun won't be an issue, and neither will the wind or the rain.
The canopy design overhead provides for a durable shelter. It’s so nice that even a bear would (probably) think twice before ripping into it. However, the interior would probably have trouble fitting more than one adult. But for the kids, it will be more than sufficient.
Pros
- Stable grounding with plenty of high-quality stakes and sand pockets
- Lightweight
- Compact
- Interior pockets for storage
- Plenty of privacy
- High SPF protection
- Great value
Cons
- Interior can get cramped
- Set-up is more complex than other brands
- Instructions are ambiguous
Our favorite feature
The interior pockets are an excellent addition for peace of mind when you’re out on the beach or camping and don’t want to worry about losing your phone, wallet, etc.
iCorer Automatic Pop-Up Portable Beach Tent
Finally, we come to the iCorer Automatic Popup Cabana tent, which is one of the easiest tents on this list to set up and take down, as it pops up in literally one second and can be disassembled in about three seconds.
The UV protection is high, at the standards of the best brands, with 50+ SPF and ample shade protection technology. It is very high-quality, complete with a dense interwoven mesh to enhance ventilation, and a more upscale appearance with a comprehensive design to make sure the wind is kept at bay.
Weighing in at just two pounds, you are free to take it almost anywhere that you want to bring it. Sixty-five inches in length, fifty-nine in width, and forty-three and a half inches in height are specs that make some of the others on this list jealous. It will easily fit in to your checked luggage for a flight or in the trunk for a road trip.
People have also reported being able to fit it inside of a backpack. Not only is it spacious when assembled, but it's easy on the eyes, coming in two vibrant and inviting shades of blue—perfect for the beach.
It comes with six metal ground stakes, sand bag pockets on both side panels, and a full-size carrying bag with shoulder strap.
Instructions are included on a panel inside the tent and in regular booklet form, but the ones on the interior appear to be more helpful.
This is a solid bet if you’re looking for ample space, security, and simple setup when shopping for your next best baby beach tent!
Pros
- Email and YouTube video are sent after purchase to help you with setup
- Upscale design/appearance
- Lots of instructions
- Great value for money
- Quick assembly
- Spacious
Cons
- Pop-up design doesn’t always stand up to high wind
- Disassembly can sometimes be difficult
Our favorite feature
The large mesh window provides excellent ventilation on even the hottest of days.
It's clear that you need exactly the right gear when heading to the beach with babies and older kids—from umbrellas and coolers to goggles, snorkels and water shoes. And, of course, a beach tent! We hope this list has helped you decide which of these five tents will be the most appropriate for your adventures.
Whether you’re looking for great protection from the sun, a spacious hideout for relaxing with your family and friends, or just a convenient spot for tending to the needs of your young ones, you cannot go wrong with any of these.
They are all affordable, and setting them up will not prove to be very difficult, even if you decide on one of the options with more stakes than you’ll know what to do with! The upside to those, however, is that you won’t have to worry as much about stability if one of those notorious Pacific winds decides to ruin your vacation.
Either way, any one of these tents are a great gift or purchase for the family who wants their getaway to be a memorable, safe, and ultimately fun experience.
