Why a Beach Cleanup Belongs on Your Vacation Itinerary

When I walked the shoreline in St. Croix, USVI with a trash bucket in my hand, I chatted up the other do-gooders beside me. Our conversation led me to quickly realize they weren’t from the islands. As a matter of fact, they weren’t even all from the same place. This group of friends had traveled from a variety of states across the U.S. to catch up and have a beach vacation together. Instead of having a pina colada in their hand, though, they held trash—and they did it with a smile. 

I was there visiting my family, and I consider the island to be my second home. I feel a desire to do my part to give back there, just as I do at my home beaches in Florida. But I was intrigued and inspired to find that these vacationers had included the beach cleanup on their itinerary. They said they had found out about the cleanup and felt like it would be something fun to do together. The friends don’t get to see each other very often, and their time together was precious. They also wanted it to be meaningful—and it was. The hour they spent on the beach made a huge difference, and they were still done in time to do some sightseeing and have some fruity drinks afterward. They are proof that it’s really easy, and rewarding, to add a beach cleanup to your vacation. 

Travelers’ mindsets have shifted. Many people want to immerse themselves in a destination and feel like a local when they visit. For some, that means looking for the local hole-in-the-wall restaurants versus the touristy chains. Others are skipping the popular beaches in a destination and instead going to remote places where the locals typically hang out. But some are taking it a step further. They are finding ways to volunteer and give back to the destinations where they are traveling. They want to leave their mark, in a good way. 

Volunteering while you travel is often called voluntourism. However, that can take various forms. Sometimes those are longer-term volunteer projects that really form the basis of your entire trip, but you can always find short projects, too. One of my favorites that I’ve participated in was making oyster mats to help revive the Indian River Lagoon. That only took two hours of my time and I actually really enjoyed the project. It also felt really good to create something that was going to help filter the water and improve its quality. Another very easy way to give back when traveling is by joining in on a beach cleanup. 

When you’re traveling, you can easily just grab a bucket and pick up trash on your own while you’re walking on the beach. However, it’s always a lot of fun to join in on a group cleanup. Also, local cleanup organizers know the spots that need the most help. There are several beach cleanup movements that are making a real difference, and you can easily check out their efforts in your destination to see if there are any local cleanups happening during your trip. 

If you’re headed to a beach destination in the United States, there’s a good chance Surfrider has a local chapter there. Check out their website and select the appropriate chapter. You can then go to the “Get Involved” tab and search for upcoming events. 

We’re big supporters of clean beaches, and we partner with local organizations to host beach cleanups. Check out our Beach Cleanups page to see local cleanups that may be happening in the area where you’ll be traveling.  

Most destinations have a local destination marketing organization that has a website with information about the area. I find those to be great resources for learning about where I’m traveling. Many, such as Visit New Smyrna Beach, also have an online event calendar where they include local beach cleanups. 

While it’s easy to add a beach cleanup to your itinerary when you’re vacationing in a coastal destination, some visitors are looking for dedicated trips that have a volunteer element built in. This is great for those who may want to pair their volunteer work with local adventures, but don’t want to do the planning themselves. Tour companies such as International Volunteer HQ allow you to search for volunteer opportunities based on your interests and you’ll find a variety of pre-planned trips across the world. They’ve done the work to put together projects in destinations where your assistance is especially impactful.  

These trips include dedicated time for volunteering, but also include additional activities. For example, the Ecological Surf Volunteer Project in Portugal includes time to pick up trash, but also gives you the opportunity to learn to surf in a beautiful destination. These trips are planned for you and often include meals and accommodations. You won’t always be staying in a traditional hotel, though. Sometimes you may share a room with other volunteers, and other times arrangements may be made for you to stay with a local family. All trips are different, so just make sure to ask questions in advance so that you know what to expect when you arrive. 

There are also opportunities to step off of the beach and help clean up the ocean. Divers have the ability to help in a unique way, and can join in cleanups that utilize their skills. This can be especially meaningful in certain beach destinations, such as the Florida Keys. The only living coral barrier reef in the continental United States is there, and it’s critical to make sure underwater debris is removed. Things like old fishing lines and submerged plastics can hurt the local marine ecosystems. Key Dives conducts cleanup dives in Islamorada to help maintain the underwater ecosystem, and you can sign up to be a part of one. 

For the second year, Beach.com partnered with organizations across the United States to help clean up beaches on World Ocean Day. Over 650 volunteers came together across eight states for the 2026 cleanup. Collectively, volunteers removed over 2,700 pounds of trash. 

Some of the places we’ve shown up this year include:

We would love to add your favorite destination to the list. Sign up to become a Cleanup Captain and we’ll supply t-shirts, reimburse you for buckets, and help promote your event. Our coastlines need our help all throughout the year, so reach out and we’ll be happy to assist.