Buy proper sand stakes and bring extra sandbags.

Stake it down with long, angled sand stakes and add sandbags on each leg. Cheap plastic stakes pop out in a gust. Metal sand stakes that are at least 12 inches and driven deep at a 45-degree angle hold much better.

Most beach tents come with skinny nails that are a joke. Replace them before you go. Also fill the built-in sand pockets on the tent’s base. If your tent doesn’t have those, bring old pillowcases or reusable grocery bags, fill them with sand, and tie them to the leg loops.

The real trick is to point the tent’s narrow end into the wind. If the wind shifts, reposition. Don’t just dig a hole and bury the legs—that’s worse than good stakes because the sand dries out and collapses.

You can also buy dedicated sand anchors (screw-shaped or corkscrew style) that work better than anything. They are cheap and small enough to keep in your car.

One more thing: never leave your tent unattended. Even well-staked ones can lift if the wind picks up hard. Plan to pack up before the afternoon gusts hit.