Sandbeach Campground - Sand Lake Recreation Area

Went to camp, ride quads, relax, walk on the beach...........SUCCESS!!

First let me say that we love staying at this campground! We have a side by side and bring it down here several times each summer. Here are the pros: 1) We love that we can just drive right out of the campground and right up to the ATV beach driving area without having to load our side by side onto the trailer and drive down the road somewhere. 2) The secluded beach access out the opposite side of the campground for a non-vehicle allowed area. It’s almost like a little lake where the ocean water comes in, but we don’t have to be right up on the beach with crashing waves. We have two little kids and thanks to the calm in this spot it is a great place where the kids can swim and build some sand castles while Mom relaxes to a good book. 3) There is a general store just 5 minutes down the road. While it isn’t a full blown grocery store, it is a great place to go grab a new bag of ice or a new little propane tank. 4) Most of the spots have pretty good space and we love the double parking pad at each campsite. We’ve gone down there for several years now and have a list of our favorite sites that we try to book based on a few factors that are important to us, but there are very few “bad spots” in the whole place. Both our truck and trailer fit with room to spare to let our youngest ride his scooter and draw with chalk in the sites driveway. Here are the few cons: 1) I wish it had it’s own playground. The playground is across the road and is right by where the ATV beach entrance is. It’s scary with little kids play 10 feet from those vehicles driving by. 2) Make sure to bring your own hand soap; they don’t keep any in the bathrooms at this location. 3) Sometimes there is a good camp host that keeps the sites and bathrooms clean, but sometimes there is not so be prepared for either. 4) BEWARE OF THE SQUIRRELS! They will eat ANYTHING (yes that includes paper towels and garbage bags) and aren’t afraid of anything.

*READ THE DESCRIPTION AND REVIEWS BEFORE BOOKING. DON’T MAKE OUR MISTAKE.* We needed a cheap place to stay after an event on the coast and this was the only place with availability that wasn’t an expensive hotel during peak season. Didn’t read the reviews or description, which is my bad. What can I say? We were desperate. We quickly discovered why this was the only place with availability. This is NOT the place to stay if you’re a fan of such frivolous things as sleep, peace & quiet, being able to hear yourself think, etc. This is, basically, the ATV capital of the universe. It was just an endless parade all around our campsite of people whose daddies didn’t ever tell them “I love you” blocking out their sadness with the revving of engines and screaming at people in other campsites as they passed. Until they finally passed out in a pile of childhood regrets and adult overcompensation at around 2AM. Which, man, we all got issues, you gotta do what you gotta do to cope, and if that’s what makes you happy, great. Personally, I am just glad alcohol and earplugs exist, without which I wouldn’t have gotten any sleep.

Also, our campsite had some garbage and the bathrooms were in need of some maintenance; the hand dryer in the women’s room was fully busted, no soap in the men’s room.

We went to the day use fishing area once we packed up and it felt like going home after a concert. It was a surprisingly peaceful and beautiful spot, though our ears were still ringing from the endless roar of engines, reduced to just a distant, dull hum in this area. You definitely will NOT find peace and quiet at your campsite, but the silver lining is that you won’t have to go far to find it.

I didn’t have a bad time altogether, honestly. Definitely not a place I’d book again, but if you are planning on going camping specifically to have a party or don’t mind the noise, this is your spot! And the sandy campsites were pretty big and comfy.

really love it have been going there for years ....kids always like it there wish where some hook ups

Lots of noise

Very simply put, the bathrooms are not hardly being maintained anymore, but campground hosts are no longer placing reservation placards on the site, the entire facility has no first come first serve. The groundskeepers are not trimming the trees back enough, and have caused damage to not only mine, but my friends trailers. There is absolutely no places to dump gray and black tanks before you leave. We pay a lot of money every year in vehicle fees, and camping fees there should be some sort of facility to be able to accommodate the dump.

Being in Sand Lake is always a pleasure

A dump station would be nice.

We came on the Sunday after the Friday July 4th holiday. While the campground was pretty full, the dunes and parking lot camping were packed and crazy. The volunteer camp hosts for Sandbeach were excellent, very nice and polite even after the very hectic couple of days. The campground was clean and the spots are spaced well apart and offered plenty of shade where we were. One of my favorite campgrounds to visit.

~Pros:
Great site size .
Next to day use beach.
Close to trash and water. Trash not to close so it won’t smell.
Bathroom is close enough.
Shade under trees to place tents. Enough room for 4-5 tents in shade.
~Cons: lots and lots of ants. Compared to other sites I’ve stayed at 12 sites. But you’re outside so it’s expected.
**No privacy at this site your out in the open. We had 2 canopies so had privacy.

Over all had a great time and this site was good.