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This is the kind of waterfront property we're interested in.
This is the kind of waterfront property we're interested in. (Photo: Asbj酶rn Floden/Flickr)

The Best Waterfront Property Is Your Tent

Nothing more than a zipper and some mesh separate you from the dreamy, maritime air if you set up camp on these seven beaches

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Nothing more than a zipper and some mesh separate you from the dreamy, maritime air if you set up camp here. Read more.
(Photo: Asbj酶rn Floden/Flickr)

New perk: Easily find new routes and hidden gems, upcoming running events, and more near you. Your weekly Local Running Newsletter has everything you need to lace up! .

What鈥檚 just as awesome as聽falling asleep to the acoustics of gently聽crashing waves? Slowly waking up to that聽same surround sound.听But also: easily catching sunrise (perhaps from your聽kayak),聽basking聽in聽buttery sunsets (possibly from your surfboard),聽or just not having to wear shoes and socks聽for days on end.听Before creating your聽dream聽crash pad聽on the sand, check out these seven聽must-do coastal campsites.

Best For: Kayaking聽and Snorkeling

(Jeff Hester/)

Parson鈥檚 Landing
Catalina Island, California
Price: $22 per night per person, plus one-time $20 locker rental

, just 22 miles off the , is a beach loved by hikers doing the 37-mile and kayakers and snorkelers who come to bask in the Caribbean-clear water. The kayak-in or hike-in campground sells out quickly, so you鈥檒l need to make reservations. You鈥檙e also required to purchase at least one locker per site ($20), which includes a bundle of firewood and 2.5 gallons of water. More gear can be rented in nearby and delivered to the campground.听

Best For: Beach Exploring

(andy porter/)

Shi Shi Beach
Olympic National Park, Washington
Price: $5 per night per person, plus $10 Makah Recreation Pass

The scent of driftwood campfire permeates the air at this 聽at聽the foot of northern Washington鈥檚 cliffy coastline. Reachable only聽by a two-mile hike through the temperate rainforest, the entire site looks out onto a string of sea stacks, including ,聽a national natural landmark about a 45-minute hike south. Consulting a聽tide chart is a must, especially if you plan to explore the rugged coast鈥檚 tide聽pools, grottoes, and caves.听

Best For: Photography

(Andrew Langdal/)

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Big Sur, California
Price: $30 per night per person

Imagine falling asleep to the sound of rustling giant redwoods, swaying cypress trees, and crashing waves. Then聽picture waking up to one of the most dramatic parts of the craggy Big Sur coastline. That鈥檚 just the kind of fantastic reality that keeps the two聽hike-in-only campsites at this almost constantly booked. Also driving home the dream: hiking to the 80-foot-tall (which聽pours directly into the Pacific), beachcombing the purple-sand聽shore and granite cliffs, whale watching, and in the park鈥檚 1,680-acre underwater preserve.听

Best For: Snorkeling and Diving

(djblock99/)

Garden Key
Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida
Price: $3 per night per person

Plan now for the excellent on this remote聽11-acre island 70 miles west of Key West. The 10 sandy sites fill up quickly, and while the national park won鈥檛 refuse you a space if you just show up (it鈥檚 a big empty island鈥攖here鈥檚 room), the only access to the site is by聽, which takes no more than 10 campers per day. go on day tours聽but refuse passengers with camping equipment. The stargazing is entrancing, but since 99 percent of this park consists of the (just 1 percent of the park is on land), snorkeling and diving are the real reasons to voyage this far into the Gulf of Mexico.

Best For: Backcountry Kayaking聽

North Manitou Island
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan
Price: $5 per person per night

Native American ruins thousands of years old聽and abandoned industrial-age structures dot this paddler鈥檚聽and backcountry camper鈥檚聽 12 miles off the coast of Leland, Michigan. Once you obtain a , you can bunk up and put in anywhere along the 20 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, though there is a with facilities. The island is accessible by private boat or an infrequent that will transport your canoe or kayak. Once you鈥檝e had your fill of the water, try the 20 miles of hiking trails.听

Best For: Surfing and Fishing

(Colin Urbina/)

Yakutat Beach Campground
Yakutat, Alaska
Price: Free

If coming to Yakutat, you鈥檙e already searching for extremes鈥攏amely, surfing this area鈥檚 legendary 25-foot, subzero swells or fishing for 10-to-22-pound wild steelhead in the Situk River. You can up the ante by sleeping at one of the three聽聽on the coast, where the closest source of clean fresh water is a four-mile walk to town.听Feeling a little less burly? 聽are for rent not far away. With no roads going this far into Alaska鈥檚 Tongass National Forest, you have to .听

Best For: Escaping Cellular Service

(Karl Johnson/)

Kalalau Beach Campground
Kauai, Hawaii
Price: Hawaii residents, $15 per person per night;聽nonresidents, $20 per person per night. Includes permit.

The joy of聽camping at is falling asleep knowing you鈥檙e at the turnaround point for the epic (and pretty dangerous) 22-mile round-trip namesake trail. These Napali Coast sites are spread out just behind the sand, some on old stone-walled agricultural terraces where locals once grew crops. A waterfall at the western end of the beach provides fresh drinking water (you should bring a filter) and a cool spot to mellow out before hiking back. Experienced ocean swimmers can swim to several sea caves, sea arches, and even the elusive 鈥攁 swim-in, swim-out-only cove.听

Plus: 3 Tips for Keeping Mosquitos at Bay

1.听Embrace the breeze. Mosquitoes hate wind (so does your tent), but you should set up camp where there is some moderate airflow.
2. Keep the fire burning. The smoke deters mosquitos聽(but make sure fires are allowed at your campsite).
3. Wear neutral-colored clothing. Mosquitos are attracted to bright, vibrant colors.

Lead Photo: Asbj酶rn Floden/Flickr

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