Heading off for a getaway filled with sand, sun, and surf? Having the right apps on your smartphone can enhance your beach vacation experience. Here are our top picks.

Waterkeeper Swim Guide

While millions of people fall ill each year from polluted beach water, this essential beach app helps locate the cleanest beaches for swimming, surfing, or wading. Utilizing data from over 100 beach monitoring sources, Swim Guide delivers real-time updates on water quality, allowing you to find out if it’s safe to swim. You can either browse the map or search for a beach by name. Comprehensive beach descriptions inform you about available amenities, lifeguards, parking, and other critical details.

TuneIn

Searching for ideal beach entertainment? TuneIn offers access to over 100,000 stations from around the globe, along with streaming concerts, podcasts, and talk shows. From NPR and BBC news to various musical genres and local traffic reports, this radio app delivers what you want, when you want it—whether it’s retro beach classics or contemporary summer hits.

QSun

Determined to keep your family sunburn-free this summer? The QSun app notifies you about how long you can stay outdoors without getting burned depending on your skin type and location. It alerts you when to reapply sunscreen and even indicates the appropriate amount based on various factors, such as the UV index, environmental conditions, skin type, and the sunscreen applied. Available for both iPhone and Android.

Tides Near Me

Experiencing high and low tides can vastly change your beach experience. The Tides Near Me app, available for iPhone and Android, provides current tide conditions along with forecasts of high and low tides, complete with maps. This resource allows you to plan your beach outings better and align with tide schedules.

Audible

Looking forward to enjoying a good story while at the beach? Avoid straining your eyes by allowing Audible to read it to you. This audiobook app, a service from Amazon, offers a free month followed by a subscription model for $14.95 a month. With this plan, you receive one audiobook download each month, along with a discount on additional purchases. Your books are yours to keep, and you can return them if unsatisfied.

Global Shark Tracker

Concerned about shark sightings near your beach? The Global Shark Tracker, developed by OCEARCH, allows you to track large sharks like great whites and tigers tagged since 2007. This free app provides data on shark movements, enhancing your awareness of local shark activity while also promoting shark conservation.

Surfline

If you enjoy surfing, windsurfing, or kiteboarding, the Surfline app allows you to check wave heights, wind conditions, and tides for your favorite beaches. With real-time surf cams installed in hundreds of worldwide locations, you can stay updated on the best surfing conditions.

Red Cross First Aid and Hurricane Tracking Apps

Wondering how to treat a jellyfish sting or recognize the signs of heat stroke? The American Red Cross offers two crucial apps to assist with health and safety. The First Aid app provides detailed guidance for various situations, while the hurricane tracking app is essential for anyone vacationing along the coast during hurricane season, running from June 1 to November 30.

Findery

Want to deepen your connection with your favorite beach town? Findery offers a creative way to experience storytelling by collecting virtual notes left by locals and visitors. This free app, available for iPhone and Android, merges the excitement of geocaching with personal journaling, allowing you to uncover and record hidden gems during your travels.