Can You Visit The Beach At Night?

The beach is one of my favorite places to visit during the day. There’s nothing quite as satisfying as watching the waves roll in and feeling the sun on your skin. I swear I must have been a mermaid in a previous life, I feel that attracted to the sea!

But while the beach is usually seen as a daytime activity, the coastline takes on a whole new personality after dark. So it’s no wonder that so many people want to head down to the shore once the sun sets. But can you visit the beach at night?

In the USA, most beaches are closed at night although this isn’t a cut-and-dry rule and there are some beaches that remain open 24 hours a day.

Before heading to the beach at night, it’s best to check with the local authority as to whether access is still permitted.

Are public beaches open night or not — Are beaches open night

I’d also recommend putting some safety measures in place because after all, the beach can be a dangerous place and it becomes even riskier in the dark.

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Are Beaches Open At Night?

Most beaches in the USA are open from the time the sun comes up until it sets in the evening.

Outside of these hours, these beaches are closed to the public.

However, there is no hard and fast rule on this and local authorities are at liberty to use their discretion when deciding whether to keep a beach open at night.

In the main, beaches that close at night do so for several reasons.

Things like controlling crowds, limiting how often they need to have lifeguards on duty, and for safety.

In Some Areas – There is a risk of criminal activity on the beach at night since it’s such a secluded and dark spot so keeping them closed is a way of reducing this risk.

If you want to visit the beach at night, perhaps for a spot of stargazing to for an oceanside stroll then you’ll need to make sure that you are aware of the local guidelines.

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While your local beach may have one set of rules, if you’re out of town, you can’t guarantee that the rules will be the same.

One of the best ways to understand how and when you can use the beach is by checking the website.

This will contain pretty much all of the information you need to know.

Visiting public beach at night not safe — Visiting public beach at night

If for some reason you cannot access the website then you’ll usually find information signs in the parking lot or along the shore.

It’s also worth checking out whether the beach is indeed a public one.

Some are privately owned by homes and businesses and you could be asked to leave regardless of whether you visit in the day or at night.

Special Rules For Beaches In The United States And Mexico

The United States is known for many things and its beautiful beaches is just one of them.

USA and Mexico beach rules explained — USA and Mexico beach rules

Some of the most well loved beachside locations in the country may have special rules surrounding its beaches so it’s worth considering these before you travel.

For example:

In Hawaii, a lot of beaches remain open at night. There is a caveat to this which is that the shore must be accessible by walking; if it is, then you can use the beach at any time. That said, there are some beaches that close after dark so it’s still worth checking this out before you set foot on the sand.

In Florida, there are a multitude of gorgeous beaches to choose from. But they don’t all follow the same rules regarding nighttime use. For example, if you head to Boca Raton or Miami Beach then you’ll be allowed on the shore up until 10pm. However, at Clearwater, the beach only remains open until dusk whereas on some days, it may be open until 1am.

Daytona Beach allows visitors onto the shore on foot during the night but the parking lots are closed. So if you’re arriving by car, you’ll need to find somewhere else to park.

On the other side of the country, in California, most beaches don’t ever close. That’s not to say that the parking lots remain open 24/7 but most beaches will allow access no matter the time of day.

You should be mindful that in Malibu, there are a lot of beachside homes and it’s not uncommon for owners to contact the police due to parties on the beach. For this reason, I’d advise being mindful of these properties when visiting quieter areas.

If you’re traveling down to Mexico then this is one of the best places to visit the beach at night because most of them are open 24/7. The one rule you have to follow here, however, is that it’s not usually legal to have a vehicle on the beach. Most beaches in Mexico are open to the public but there are some businesses that have restricted access so it’s worth checking this out beforehand.

The Law And The Beach At Night

Going to the beach should be an enjoyable experience so the last thing you want is to end up in trouble with the law.

Again, how the law works in regard to using the beach at night will vary according to the local area.

Law about going to beach at night — Going to the beach at night

However, there are some instances in which using the beach at night unauthorized could result in a trespassing charge.

That said, in many cases, if the police were to get involved, it would simply be a case of them asking you to move on.

But don’t get complacent because it’s always possible that further action could be taken, especially on private beaches.

Dangers Of Swimming At Night

Going for a dip in the ocean under the moonlight might feel romantic and special but there are dangers lurking under that water that could be fatal.

For example, the sea contains many sharp rocks which may be visible during the day but at night could come out of nowhere and give you a nasty cut to your feet.

Risks swimming night beach — Dangers swimming night beach

If you absolutely have to enter the ocean at night, wear something on your feet.

On top of this, swimming in the ocean comes with a risk of drowning or being swept out to sea because of rip currents.

These are strong currents in the water that even the strongest swimmer doesn’t stand a chance against.

If you ever find yourself in a rip, you shouldn’t try to swim against it but instead swim parallel to the shore.

Rip currents are often invisible but there’s a better chance of seeing on in the daylight, in fact, they pose one of the greatest risks to nighttime swimmers.

And if you’re swimming at night and happen to get yourself into a sticky situation, there’s less help on hand.

During the day, most beaches have lifeguards and plenty of people around to help if you get into trouble.

At Night – There’s a chance you’d be the only one there and that could mean the difference between life and death.

Finally, you have to consider that there are risks from marine life during the night.

Typically, sharks are more active at night so there’s a greater risk of coming face to face with one.

Night beach dangers — Most beaches are closed at night

While they won’t generally attack humans on purpose, most people are bitten when the shark mistakes them for prey.

Around the US coastline, the most dangerous shark is the infamous Great White.

For all of these reasons, I would not recommend swimming in the ocean outside of daylight hours.

Conclusion

Many people find the beach an attractive place and when the sun goes down, the moonlight twinkling on the water and the sound of the waves gently lapping at the shore can be too much to resist.

But can you visit the beach at night?

You can visit the beach at night as long as it is still open to the public.

You’ll need to check with local authorities on the rules and always use your common sense where safety is concerned.