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Ready to feel the ocean breeze on your face and the sand between your toes? First, you’ll have to pack. Ugh. It’s the part of a family beach vacation that everyone hates. But, we’ve made it easier for you. Download our complete packing list first. Then put on some beach tunes, pull out the suitcases and you’ll be listening to the waves crashing in no time!
Everything You Need: Packing List for a 7-Day Beach Vacation
The lure of wide open spaces, endless sunshine and lapping waves calls to us every year. But packing for a week at the beach with a family? It makes us miss the good old days when all we did was throw a bikini in a backpack.
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Alas, we need more stuff now — so much stuff that it’s hard to remember it all. This beach vacation packing list makes it easy. From tank tops and rash guards to electronics and disinfectants, this list is designed to ensure you never again get to the beach only to discover you forgot something you really need.
DOWNLOAD THE PACKING LIST HERE
Personal Items to Pack for the Beach
These personal items may seem like a no-brainer, but are often some of the most forgotten items:
- Drivers Licenses
- Credit Cards or Debit Cards
- Cash
- Health Insurance cards
- Auto insurance cards
- Rental/Hotel Confirmation Information
Pack all of those things in your carryon and keep them close by on the beach with a cell phone case that holds cards. SheBuysTravel contributor Nasreen Stump says with four kids she hates juggling a purse. She swears by Smartish card holder phone cases. They comfortably hold 3 cards and are made by an Austin, Texas company. With price tags on most under $16 it’s a worthwhile buy for beach or every day.
What Clothes to Pack for a Beach Vacation
A trip to the beach requires much more than just swimsuits and flip-flops. Make sure you’re prepared for the activities after you dry the water and shake the sand off with the following items:
- 2 bathing suits each (If swimsuit shopping makes you shudder we’d like to mention Miraclesuit swimsuits. The tummy control on them will have you saying “What is this sorcery!” And here is our favorite collection of kids swimsuits.)
- Swim cover ups or sarong
- Rashguard with SPF sun protection
- Underwear & bras
- Socks
- Belts
- T-Shirts
- Shorts
- Sundresses/skirts
- Jeans/capris
- Dinner outfits
- Light jackets/wrap
- Running/Tennis/Workout Clothes/Workout Bras (Try these yoga pants with a pocket for your phone!)
- Running GPS
- Pajamas
- Robe
- Sanuk Yoga Mat Flip Flops
- Water shoes (We like these from Aleader.)
- Sandals (investing in a good pair of sandals that can be used for a variety of activities is a good idea, we love this pair!)
- Sneakers – Tennis & Running
- Good sun hat (Try this sun hat. It’s simple and super cute!)
And bring along some dryer sheets — they are great for brushing off the sand when you leave the beach. It’s just one of the ingenious uses for dryer sheets on vacation!
Toiletries for Everyone
Save the trip to the local convenience store or hotel concierge by packing your own must-have bathroom essentials:
- Soap
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Toothbrush (these are our favorite travel toothbrushes that we keep on hand for packing)
- Toothpaste
- Floss
- Lotion
- Aloe
- Deodorant
- Razors
- Flat iron
- Hairdryer
- Brushes/Combs
- Hair elastics and clips
- Hair cream
- Gel
- Scarf
- Shower Cap
- Safety Pins
- Contacts & case
- Contact solution
- Glasses
- Makeup bag (Our SheBuysTravels rave about this Lay-n-Go makeup bag. It makes it easy to see all your stuff.)
- Feminine products
- Jewelry/watches
- Perfume/cologne
- Cotton swabs/cotton balls
- Nail polish & remover
- Nail clipper and file
- Vaseline
- Air freshener
DOWNLOAD THE PACKING LIST HERE
This packing list for the beach will ensure that you don’t forget anything for the perfect beach vacation.
Don’t Forget the Medicine
The last thing anyone wants on a vacation is to fall ill or get injured. However, it is always best to be prepared for emergencies by having medication handy:
- Mine
- Husband’s
- The Kids’
- First-Aid Kit – w/Band-Aids, ointment, after-sun burn treatments like aloe vera, etc. (Check out our DIY beach first aid kit.)
- Vitamins
- Motrin
- Benadryl
Anti-Covid-19 Hygiene Items to Pack
Travel has drastically changed since COVID-19 rocked our world. Now more than ever, keeping safe and sanitary is an absolute must, no matter where we go or how we get there. Make sure to have the following items at the top of your luggage:
- Disinfecting wipes
- Hand sanitizer
- Face masks
- CDC approved cleaning supplies (Use these to clean the high-touch areas of beach house such as hard-backed chairs, doorknobs, light switches, phones, tablets, touch screens, remote controls, keyboards, handles, desks, toilets and sinks when you arrive. Bring these from home — you can’t be sure they’ll be in stores at your destination — make your own bleach solution by mixing 1/3 cup bleach per gallon of room temperature water or 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of room temperature water.)
- Disposable plastic gloves (to wear for cleaning, then discard)
- Large Ziploc bags (Put one TV remote inside each bag. The remote still works and no one is touching the germy, hard-to-clean remotes.)
Beach Essentials for that Perfect Beach Day
Now that you’ve packed your suitcase with before- and after-beach clothing, it’s time to prepare for the trip to the beach itself. Don’t forget these essential items:
- Sunscreen (These are our favorite sunscreens for kids and babies.)
- Canopy/tent (If you’re going to the beach with babies and toddlers, you’re going to want one of these.)
- Beach tote
- Beach umbrella
- Cooler with wheels
- Beach blanket (Beach blankets are super handy to have. We use our for far more than just beach vacations.)
- Beach towels
- Smaller portable cooler (We like this collapsible cooler.)
- Beach chairs
- Reusable water bottles for everyone (We love our Simple Modern Water bottle)
- Beach Cart/portable wheels (we NEVER leave behind our beach cart on a beach vacation)
- Beach toys (or buy cheap ones there)
- Swim goggles (our kids each have a snorkeling set, this keeps them busy for hours at the beach)
- Floats
- Dry bag for cell phones
- Smaller beach bag or drawstring bag for kids to carry (everyone needs a pineapple beach bag!)
- Beach blankets
- Drinks
- Food
- Plastic-ware
- Napkins
- Bottle opener
- Garbage bag/plastic bags
- Waterproof sunscreen (check out this post on the best sunscreen for kids and babies)
- Lip balm/protector with SPF
- Insect repellent (we like Sawyer Maxi-Deet bug spray)
- Hairbrush
- Hats
- Sunglasses (don’t forget your sunglasses! We LOVE this pair)
- Hand sanitizer
- Wipes
- Portable Lock Box (this lockbox gives us peace of mind, we can all play in the ocean without worrying about our personal belongings getting stolen)
Beach Trip Packing List: Entertainment & Technology
Whether you want to get creative with your beach photos, play some sports in the sand, or be prepared for a rainy day, you’ll want to come prepared with these items:
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- Waterproof Camera (if you want to get some cool underwater footage, it might be time for a GoPro)
- Waterproof pouch for your cellphone (We like this one that floats!)
- Selfie stick
- Laptop
- iPad
- Extra power packs for keeping everyone charged up
- Portable speakers (this portable waterproof speaker is great for beach vacations)
- Kids’ Kindle Fire HD
- DVDs
- Cords & chargers
- Books
- Magazines
- Frisbee
- Basketball
- Nerf Football
- Tennis Bag
- Playstation 4 & video games (for rainy days)
- Batteries
- Deck of cards
- Board games
- Card games (Our kids LOVE the NEW Uno Flip card game)
- Note pads
- Pens & colored pencils
Beach House Packing List
Some beach house rentals are already supplied with all you need for your vacation. But just in case, have these extra items handy:
- Pillows
- Extra sheets for the pullout couch
- Clorox disinfecting cleaning wipes
- Portable hamper
Things to Bring to the Beach House or Buy There
To keep your beach house feeling fully-stocked and feeling “like home,” add these items to your shopping list:
- Paper towels
- Napkins
- Plastic-ware
- Laundry detergent
- Dryer sheets
- Stain Remover
- Food
- Drinks
- Water
- Beer & Wine
- Flashlight
For the Car Ride
If you’re road tripping to the beach, you should consults our road trip packing list for everything you’ll want. But definitely make sure you have these items handy to keep everyone satisfied and entertained (and to keep your car clean):
- Car chargers
- Snacks & drinks (check out our road trip snacks recipes)
- Garbage/plastic bag
- Portable items from Entertainment List
Home Checklist
Now that everything’s packed and ready to go, make sure you check off these items BEFORE you hit the road:
- House sitter
- Dog sitter
- Dog food
- Empty garbage
- Empty fridge
- Money
- Bills
- Thermostat
- Lock up!
DOWNLOAD THE PACKING LIST HERE
Don’t forget to put a penny in your freezer! Sounds strange? We promise it will ensure your family doesn’t consume unsafe food upon your return.
Most importantly, pack your PATIENCE. It’s not a vacation – or much fun – if you’re stressed. Almost everything on this list can be bought or replaced if forgotten. You can even order it from Amazon for delivery right to your beach house!
More Beach Info You Need
How to Plan the Perfect Beach Vacation
How to Salvage a Rainy Day at the Beach
Best Family Games to Play at the Beach
How to Clean and Pack Seashells from Your Beach Vacation
Which Beach is Best?
Best Beaches on the East Coast for Families
12 Best Beaches in California with Kids
Best Florida Beaches for Families
Jaime says
Is this list printable somewhere
Luisa Perkes says
Love this list!! And I love the links to products. Heading to St. John in 7 days! Can’t wait! Thanks for making me feel more prepared!
Alias Backpack Joe says
This is such a great list! I am super impressed on my next vacation I will go on a beach vacation with my family.
Jennifer says
Wow! I just love how detailed and extensive this list is! This makes planning a beach vacation so much easier! Thanks for sharing!
ampmm says
This is great and should help our family with our first beach trip with our toddler (first kid)! Thank you so much!
Eric says
Specially infographic will help the readers as a check list. I just love that.
Kim Orlando says
Good idea Eric! We will work on that!
Nichole says
Thanks so much for this list. I got surprised with a Christmas vacation and have 6 weeks to plan. This list took alot of my anxiety away!
Sophie - Lifestyle Queensland says
Wow! What an extensive list!! Great if you going to make a big day of it, here in Australia we have a tendency to just throw a towel over our shoulder and sunscreen in the back pocket. Oh and don’t forget the surfboard on top of the head haha
Sarah says
1st time Going to Santa Rosa Beach in July. Can’t wait. Any cool activities for 12 & 15 year old boys, besides beach?
Tom says
Sarah
Hope you and family had a great vacation. Many teen activities nearby in Panama City and Navarre/Pensacola Beach. Beautiful area!
Also, vacations are for relaxing. Especially mom’s! Minimize your responsibility and Delegate! Everyone is responsible for their own items. Dad’s and kids.
I would also add SUNBLOK to the top of every category.
Thanks for your sharing 🙂
Tom
Bill Barron says
There is nothing better than a great beach vacation. Thank you for putting this very extensive beach packing list together, I bet it has been a great help for many people.
Ellen says
Thanks – such a thorough list. I needed one since my regular computer is being repaired and I did not have a copy of my packing lists. This helped so much.
Jo says
Excellent list- it helped me keep my sanity before a last minute trip! ?
Jay says
Thanks for the wonderful comprehensive list!
Bobby says
Don’t forget a hairbrush!
Do you really bring a PlayStation 3 to the beach?
Jennie Dutton says
PlayStation are great because they can be used for Netflux, Hulu, etc. And, like she said, they’re great for rainy days!
Frances Barrett says
This is the best list I’ve EVER seen! Thank you!
Laurie Driskill says
Thank you! What a lifesaver! I get major packing-anxiety too so this is great! I’ll go over this list several times before we leave!
kerra says
this list was very helpful
Denise says
Thank you! This will be very helpful!
Rhonda says
Thank you so much! This was very helpful while getting ready for my beach trip.
AngeLa says
Thank you for publishing this list! Most helpful and took away the initial stress of trying to think of things before the trip has even started!
VIC says
Thanks SO MUCH!!!
Sabrina says
Take the candles off the list. Most rentals prohibit open flame candles.
Maria says
Or you could just… not pack them. I’m sure not everything on this list is applicable to everyone reading it. Most people would just use common sense and skip the things they don’t need.
Eyea says
Wonderful! This list was so thorough it helped me breathe and not panick thinking “did I forget something?! Am I forgetting a common sense item?!” Thank you (: