If you're planning a relaxing day on the beach, a great beach blanket is a must-have piece of gear. We've curated a list of highly-rated beach blankets, each selected for its unique features, quality, and durability. From lightweight, compact options to large, family-sized choices, we've got you covered. Dive in as we explore the various materials, designs, and functionalities that make these beach blankets stand out.

We were not provided with free or discounted products to review. These recommendations were not influenced by manufacturers. We did, however, heavily consider customer reviews at retail websites when deciding which products to feature. We like these products, but we took care to make sure other vacationers agree. Some of the product links include affiliate codes. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices listed are updated regularly, but subject to change at any time.

First Up: The Best Beach Blankets

CGEAR The Original Sand-Free Outdoor Camping Mat – Patented Technology, Water-Resistant and Anti-Fade Material, Military-Grade Construction – Multi Use Outdoor Blanket

CGEAR 12x12' Patented Sand-Free Beach Blanket - Best Function, Utility, and Tech

$144.95

*Prices are updated regularly but subject to change

The CGEAR Patented Sand-Free Beach Blanket is a revolutionary beach blanket (yep, really!). This blanket effectively filters sand through its weave, preventing it from accumulating on the surface. This means you can enjoy a sand-free environment while lounging, picnicking, or sunbathing. How cool is that!? With sizes ranging from 6x6' to 12x12', CGEAR offers a blanket to fit your family. The blanket is crafted from durable, lightweight Polyethelene that is water-resistant, quick-drying, and easy to clean. Heavy D-rings are located on each corner, allowing you to stake the blanket into place on the sand.

WEKAPO Beach Blanket Sandproof, Extra Large Beach Mat, Big & Compact Sand Free Mat Quick Drying, Lightweight & Durable with 6 Stakes & 4 Corner Pockets (Blue, 9x7 FT (1～5 person))

WEKAPO Ripstop Nylon Beach Blanket - Best Lightweight & Compact

$35.98

*Prices are updated regularly but subject to change

The WEKAPO Ripstop Nylon Beach Blanket is an expansive 9' x 7', with smaller 7x7 and 9x10 options available. This option is constructed from durable, lightweight, and parachute-grade nylon, which it soft, skin-friendly, lightweight, and exceptionally resistant to water, sand, and wear.

One of the standout features of the WEKAPO Beach Blanket is its sand-proof design. The sand easily shakes off the parachute material, ensuring a clean surface throughout your beach day. It's equipped with anchor stakes, keeping the blanket grounded even in windy conditions. This blanket is incredibly compact when folded, fitting into a small, attached compression sack that makes it easy to carry and store.

Big Blanket Co. Big Beachy Oversize Beach Blanket | Sand Resistant, Giant Beach Blanket | Huge Yet Compact and Portable Picnic Blanket | White Stripes

Big Blanket Co Big Beachy Sand Resistant Beach Blanket 10x10 - Best All Natural

$159.00

*Prices are updated regularly but subject to change

The Big Blanket Co Big Beachy is a game-changer for beach goers seeking ample space and comfort on a natural-material blanket. This massive beach blanket stretches an impressive 10ft x 10ft, making it perfect for accommodating large groups or families, ensuring everyone has plenty of room to relax without crowding. Crafted with cotton and bamboo, the Big Beachy is durable and comfortable.

This 4lb. outdoor blanket is not just about size and functionality; it also emphasizes convenience. It comes with a drawstring bag for easy transportation and storage. Whether for a picnic, a day at the beach, or any outdoor gathering, the Big Blanket Co Big Beachy offers the perfect combination of size, comfort, and practicality.

YETI Lowlands Blanket, Multi-Use Blanket with Travel Bag, Alpine Yellow

YETI Lowlands Blanket - Best Premium

$199.80

*Prices are updated regularly but subject to change

The YETI Lowlands Blanket, measuring 55x78 inches, is a versatile and durable outdoor blanket designed for all your adventure needs. Ideal for beach outings, picnics, or outdoor concerts, this blanket combines functionality with comfort. Its unique design features a waterproof and dirt-resistant bottom layer, ensuring you stay dry and clean, no matter the surface.

The top layer of the blanket is made from a soft material that provides a cozy and comfortable seating or lounging space. This dual-layer construction not only offers protection from the elements but also makes the blanket easy to clean – it's machine washable and easily sheds pet hair for hassle-free maintenance. Compact and portable, the YETI Lowlands Blanket easily folds into its own carrying case, making it convenient to transport and store. The YETI Lowlands blanket is sold in several colors.

The Best Beach Towels

EPHESUS TOWELS Turkish Beach Towel - 38x70 inch Oversized - Sultan Design - Turkish Towel for Beach Pool, Yoga - Prewashed, Lightweight, Quick Dry (Aqua, Pack of 1)

EPHESUS Turkish Cotton 39x71 Beach Towel - Best All Natural

*Prices are updated regularly but subject to change

The EPHESUS TOWELS Turkish Beach Towel is a luxurious and stylish choice for beach lovers. Made from premium Turkish cotton, this towel is not only soft and absorbent but also quick-drying. Measuring an oversized 39x71 inches, it provides ample space for lounging and drying off, ensuring comfort for any size beachgoer. This is a machine-washable towel that also arrives pre-washed for your convenience. It's easy to see why this is a highly-rated top seller!

CGEAR Sand-Free Towel, Super-Soft, Absorbent, and Quick-Dry (Ocean Stripe)

CGEAR Sand-Free Towel 63x31" - Best Sand Free Experience

*Prices are updated regularly but subject to change

The CGEAR Sand-Free Towel is a game-changer for beach enthusiasts. Engineered with innovative dual-layer mesh technology, it cleverly filters sand, ensuring a clean surface during your beach time. This lightweight and compact towel dries quickly and packs away easily, making it ideal for hassle-free travel. The CGEAR towel is 63" x 31" and available in multiple colors and patterns. Perfect for anyone seeking a sand-free, comfortable beach experience.

Bornbay Cotton Oversized Beach Towel - Extra Large 40

Bornbay Cotton 40"X70" XL Plush Beach Towel - Best Oversized

$28.99

*Prices are updated regularly but subject to change

The Bornbay Cotton Oversized Beach Towel offers luxurious comfort and ample space with its extra-large size of 40"x70". Crafted from plush, high-quality cotton, this towel is both soft and highly absorbent, perfect for wrapping up after a swim or lounging on the sand. Its generous dimensions ensure complete coverage and comfort, making it ideal for anyone seeking a bit of extra room and luxury at the beach. Stylish, durable, and machine washable, this towel is a must-have for beach days.

CHARS Camping Towels Microfiber Sand Free Beach Towel (30

CHARS Towels Microfiber Sand Free Beach Towel 63x30 - Best Compact & Quick Drying

$12.23

*Prices are updated regularly but subject to change

The CHARS Microfiber Beach Towel is highly efficient and versatile. Measuring 63"x30", this super absorbent and quick-drying towel is incredibly soft to the touch and gentle on the skin. Despite its large size, it's ultra-compact and lightweight, easily fitting into the provided carrying bag for convenient transport and storage. This towel really does roll up into a compact package, and is great for folks that like traveling light.

Towel Bands (6-Pack), Beach, Pool & Cruise Chairs, Extra Durable, No Snapping, Cruise Ship & Beach Essentials, Great Alternative to Beach Towel Clips

Bonus: Towel Bands - Best Towel Accessory

$12.99

*Prices are updated regularly but subject to change

Towel Bands are a simple yet ingenious solution for keeping your beach or pool towels securely in place. These stretchable bands are designed to wrap around your towel and lounge chair, preventing the towel from slipping, sliding, or blowing away in the wind. Made from durable, weather-resistant materials, Towel Bands are built to withstand the outdoor elements while maintaining their elasticity and grip. They come in a variety of vibrant colors and can easily be stretched to fit most chair sizes. Compact and lightweight, these bands are easy to carry and store, making them a must-have accessory for any beachgoer or pool enthusiast looking for a hassle-free sunbathing experience.

Jolly Roger

Jolly Roger

When you first catch sight of The Jolly Roger, you might be unsure exactly what to think of it. Since its conversion from a gas station/grocery store to a restaurant in 1972, The Jolly Roger has been anything but your ordinary Outer Banks restaurant. It’s been 37 years since Angelos took ownership of Jolly, and over the years she has experienced many changes, including three expansions and a renovation after Hurricane Isabel in 2003. Although the restaurant has gone through several changes over the years, Carol Ann’s style is unaltered. The restaurant decor is an eclectic blend of Christmas, pirate paraphernalia, aquatic murals, handmade boutique-style gifts and old-time movie posters.

 

Almost as diverse as the restaurant itself is the food selection, The Jolly Roger is open year-round for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and they offer something for everyone. Breakfast favorites include the Eggs Benedict, pancakes and home fries—all made in-house from fresh ingredients. For lunch and dinner, the restaurant offers a wide selection of options, from steaks and seafood to pastas and salads. All of the restaurant’s sauces are house-made from scratch, and everything is taste-tested to ensure the absolute best quality food is being served.

Outer Banks Nature Spots

Outer Banks Nature Spots

With 150 miles of pristine coastline, and some of the East Coast's largest swaths of undisturbed maritime forest, the Outer Banks is a popular destination for nature lovers. As an important spot on America's "Flyway," which is the route that migrating birds take on their northern and southern treks across the country, the Outer Banks is the temporary home to hundreds of species of birds. Combine this with the number of deer, foxes, waterfowl, fish, turtles, and even alligators, and it's clear that the Outer Banks is truly a wild vacation destination.

Kitty Hawk Kites

Kitty Hawk Kites

Looking to fly a kite on the beach or atop the spectacular dunes of Jockey’s Ridge State Park? Kitty Hawk Kites offers the largest selection of kites, wind art, flags, games, and toys on the Outer Banks, with experts on staff to get you flying … or playing … in no time! Always dreamed of being a mermaid? Kitty Hawk Kites carries Fin Fun Mermaid Tails and also offers Mermaid Swim Lessons too! Kitty Hawk Kites also produces more than 20 events annually, including several kite festivals on the Outer Banks.

(More Locations)
Ocracoke Island Lighthouse

Ocracoke Island Lighthouse

The Ocracoke Island Lighthouse may not be the most imposing of the Outer Banks lighthouses, but as North Carolina's oldest lighthouse in operation, (and the second oldest in the United States), it is certainly one of the most beloved. At just 65' ft. tall, it is by far the smallest lighthouse on the Outer Banks, but it still towers over the 4 square miles of Ocracoke Village, and its beacon can be spotted up to 14 miles into the Pamlico Sound and the Atlantic Ocean.

Just for the Beach Rentals

Just for the Beach Rentals

Just for the Beach Rentals (not to be confused with the similarly-named "Just for the Beach") offers rentals to accommodate your stay. Equipment includes linens, baby gates, cribs, monitors, seats, joggers, bikes, kayaks, skim boards, surf boards, and SUP. Free delivery is available with a modest rental order, from Corolla to Nags Head (not including 4x4 areas). Just for the Beach offers two convenient locations in Corolla and Kill Devil Hills.

Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station

Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station

The Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station is one of Rodanthe's greatest treasures. This historical lifesaving station has been a popular attraction for Hatteras Island visitors for decades, and stands on the very edge of the small town of Rodanthe. Over the years, this station has been battered by hurricanes, ocean and soundside flooding, and ferocious gusts of winds, and yet it is still standing, and serves as a proud reminder of Hatteras Island and the Outer Banks' rich lifesaving history.

Currituck Banks Reserve

Currituck Banks Reserve

Vacationers adore the Outer Banks for its unspoiled stretches of undeveloped shoreline, and some may not initially realize that this sporadic lack of development is completely intentional, and is the result of decades of careful environmental planning. While tourism flourished on the beaches, for generations, locals and visitors alike made inquiries and partnerships with government branches to ensure that certain areas of the Outer Banks would always remain pristine, unspoiled, and open to everyone.