What to Pack for a Beach Vacation: The Ultimate Family Beach Packing List
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Packing for a beach vacation sounds pretty simple.
Swimsuits. Sunscreen. Flip-flops. Done.
Except somehow beach trips come with an amazing amount of stuff.
There’s everything you need for the actual vacation, plus everything you need to haul down to the beach each day. And if you’re traveling with kids, forgetting something like goggles, a water bottle, or the one pair of water shoes they actually like can become much more important than it probably should be.
The good news is you really don’t need to bring everything.
Here’s what I would pack for a family beach vacation, along with the things that make our beach days easier and a few things you can probably leave at home.
Want to see my beach favorites in one place? Shop my Amazon Beach List here.
Start With the Basics
These are the obvious things, but they are also the things I check first because replacing four swimsuits on vacation is not how I want to start a trip.
For each person, pack:
Swimsuits
Cover-up
Flip-flops or sandals
Sunglasses
Hat
Lightweight clothes for after the beach
Pajamas
Undergarments
A sweatshirt or light layer for cooler evenings
Comfortable shoes for anything you’ll be doing away from the beach
How Many Swimsuits Do You Need?
I like having at least two swimsuits per person.
There is nothing worse than putting on a cold, wet swimsuit from the day before, and depending on the humidity, they don’t always dry overnight.
For longer trips, I’d bring two or three and rotate them.
Rash guards are also worth packing, especially for kids who will spend hours in the water. They give you a little more sun coverage without having to continually chase everyone around with sunscreen.
You can find some of the rash guards and swim items I like on my Amazon Beach List.
Sun Protection
This is one category I would rather overpack than under pack.
Bring:
Plenty of sunscreen
Face sunscreen
Lip balm with SPF
Hats
Sunglasses
Rash guards or sun shirts
Aloe or after-sun lotion
If you're flying, sunscreen is also one of those things to think about ahead of time. A family can go through a surprising amount during a week at the beach, so either make room for it in checked luggage or plan to buy it when you arrive.
And don't forget to actually reapply it.
I know. Nobody wants to stop what they're doing, dry off a sandy child, and apply sunscreen again. But a bad sunburn on day two can change the rest of the vacation pretty quickly.
What to Put in Your Beach Bag
Your beach bag does not need to contain supplies for every emergency that could possibly happen.
But it does need to be big enough to hold the things everyone is going to hand you five minutes after you get to the beach.
I’d bring:
Sunscreen
Sunglasses
Hats
Water bottles
Snacks
Goggles
Waterproof phone pouch or dry bag
Small first-aid items
Wet wipes
A plastic or wet bag for damp swimsuits
Hair ties
Lip balm
A book or Kindle
A small amount of cash if your beach has rentals, food stands, or parking
A beach bag that can handle sand and water is much more useful than a cute bag that you are afraid to set down.
Mesh bags can also be great because you can shake half the beach back out before you take everything inside.
Here are my favorite beach bags: Waterproof Beach Tote and Extra Large Mesh Beach Bag
This one has a cooler attached: Mesh Beach Bag with Cooler
Beach Towels
Before packing four giant beach towels into a suitcase, check where you’re staying.
Many resorts and vacation rentals provide pool or beach towels. If they do, use them and save the suitcase space.
If they don’t, quick-dry or Turkish-style towels take up much less room than traditional beach towels and dry faster.
This is one of those things that is absolutely worth checking before you leave instead of automatically packing them.
Water Shoes and Beach Shoes
Whether you need water shoes really depends on the beach.
For a soft, sandy beach, everyone may be perfectly happy barefoot or in flip-flops.
For rocky beaches, tide pools, hot sand, coral, or areas where you're getting in and out of the water over rough ground, water shoes are completely worth it.
I also prefer shoes that are easy to rinse off. Beach sand somehow manages to follow you for the rest of your vacation, so anything that makes it easier to leave some of it behind is a win.
I've added some easy beach shoe options to my Amazon Beach List.
Goggles, Snorkels and Water Gear
This depends a lot on your family.
If your kids love swimming, bring the goggles you already know fit them. Vacation is not the ideal time to discover that the new pair leaks every thirty seconds.
If snorkeling is part of your trip, you can either bring your own gear or check whether it is easy to rent at your destination.
I like bringing our own when we know we will use it several times because:
You know it fits
You don't have to wait in a rental line
You can use it whenever you want
Kids are usually more comfortable with gear they've already tried
But if you're only snorkeling once, renting may make a lot more sense than taking up suitcase space with fins and masks.
Beach Toys
If you have younger kids, you do not need a suitcase full of beach toys.
A bucket and shovel can entertain kids for a ridiculously long time.
If you're flying, I would either bring a small collapsible set or buy an inexpensive set once you arrive and pass it along to another family before you leave.
For older kids and teens, you may get more use out of:
A football
Frisbee
Paddle ball
Snorkel gear
Goggles
Waterproof playing cards
A beach ball
Bring things your family actually likes doing. Don't pack six beach activities because Pinterest convinced you that everyone needs organized beach entertainment.
The ocean is already pretty entertaining.
Snacks and Drinks
Beach hunger is a different kind of hunger.
Even if you just ate breakfast, someone will need a snack approximately twelve minutes after you sit down.
Bring more water than you think you need and choose snacks that won't turn into a melted disaster sitting in a beach bag.
Some easy options:
Granola or protein bars
Crackers
Pretzels
Nuts
Fruit
Applesauce pouches
Sandwiches
Individual snack bags
If you'll be at the beach for several hours, a small cooler is worth having.
And if you're staying somewhere within walking distance of the beach, being able to go back for lunch instead of packing an entire day's worth of food is a huge bonus.
Don't Forget Something for Wet Clothes
This is such a small thing, but it's incredibly useful.
Bring a wet bag, plastic bag, or even a few large zip-top bags for wet swimsuits.
They are useful on beach days, but they become even more important on travel day if everyone decides they need one last swim before you leave.
Nobody wants a wet swimsuit loose in a suitcase.
What About Beach Chairs and Umbrellas?
I would almost never fly somewhere with beach chairs or a beach umbrella unless there were very unusual circumstances.
Check first to see if your hotel or vacation rental provides them.
If not, look for beach rental companies at your destination. Some places will actually set up chairs and umbrellas for you each morning, which may be money very well spent if you're staying for several days.
For a driving trip, it's different. If you already own chairs you love and have room in the car, bring them.
This is one of those categories where how you're getting there matters just as much as where you're going.
Things I Wouldn't Overpack
Beach vacations are casual.
You probably don't need as many outfits as you think you do.
Most days are going to involve some combination of swimsuit, cover-up, shorts, casual dress, sandals, and something comfortable for dinner.
Before packing a different outfit for every possible scenario, look at what you actually have planned.
If your rental has a washer and dryer, even better. I'd rather do one load of laundry halfway through the trip than haul an extra suitcase through the airport.
I also wouldn't bring:
Multiple pairs of dressy shoes
Full-size toiletries you can easily buy there
Huge amounts of beach toys
Beach equipment your hotel already provides
Too many "just in case" outfits
Anything you'd be devastated to lose or damage at the beach
The Things People Tend to Forget
Before you zip the suitcase, check for these:
Sunglasses
Hat
Goggles
Water shoes
Chargers
Hair ties
Lip balm with SPF
Aloe
Reusable water bottles
Wet bag
Waterproof phone pouch
Medications
Kids' favorite swim gear
I would also check your sunscreen supply. One half-empty bottle left over from last summer is probably not getting your family through a week at the beach.
A Simple Family Beach Packing List
If you just want something to check off, start here:
Clothes
Swimsuits
Rash guards
Cover-ups
Shorts
T-shirts/tank tops
Casual dresses or dinner outfits
Pajamas
Undergarments
Sweatshirt/light layer
Shoes
Flip-flops
Water shoes
Comfortable walking shoes
Beach
Beach bag
Towels, if needed
Sunscreen
Hats
Sunglasses
Goggles
Snorkel gear
Beach toys
Waterproof phone pouch
Wet bag
Cooler
Reusable water bottles
Toiletries & Extras
Aloe
Lip balm with SPF
Hair products
Hair ties
Medications
First-aid basics
Chargers
For Kids
Favorite goggles
Swim diapers, if needed
Flotation gear, if appropriate and permitted at your destination
Snacks
A few beach toys
Something to do during downtime
One Last Tip Before You Pack
Don't just think about what you'll need on vacation. Think about what your beach setup will actually look like each day.
Are you walking two minutes from your hotel room to the beach?
You can keep things pretty simple.
Are you loading everyone into a rental car, finding parking, and setting up for six hours?
You're going to want the cooler, plenty of water, shade, snacks, and a more organized beach bag.
That one detail can completely change what is worth packing.
And before buying a bunch of new beach gear, check what your hotel, resort, or vacation rental already provides. Towels, chairs, umbrellas, coolers, toys, and even snorkel equipment may already be waiting for you.
The goal isn't to bring everything.
It's to have what your family actually needs so you can get to the beach, drop your stuff, and enjoy being there.
I've put my favorite beach finds together in one place if you're still getting ready for your trip: Shop My Amazon Beach List →
And if you're planning the rest of your trip too, start with How to Plan a Family Beach Vacation (Step-by-Step) or read 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Planning a Family Beach Vacation next.