Ultimate Family Beach Vacation Packing List (+ Free Printable Checklist)

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Whether you are heading on a road trip up the coast, or a destination abroad, what you pack can often make or break your family beach vacation.

Which is why I’ve put together my list of essentials we think you’ll need (based on our years of travel experience), into a family beach vacation packing list, to help get your holiday off to a relaxing start.

Because, let’s be honest, travelling with kids requires a little more prep, and a whole lot more patience than that trip you took around Europe or Thailand in your 20’s.

Growing up on an island, and living on the coast most of my adult life, I’ve had plenty of time to perfect the whole what to pack for a family beach vacation.

We will take you through everything we pack for a family beach trip. To help you more easily prepare for your trips. From clothing, entertainment & electronics to documents and beach house essentials.

So put on your sandals and let’s get your sun, sand and surf adventure started.

ULTIMATE FAMILY BEACH PACKING LIST

Beach vacations with family in the sun and surf can be fun for so many reasons. We find it’s a great opportunity to connect with our family, play games together, go for walks and build a sandcastle or two.

I use our printable beach vacation checklist and check it off before each trip. As it makes things much easier, and I’m less likely to forget those important things. While you might not need everything for every beach trip, it will help you not forget the most important items.

Feel free to adapt to your length and type of trip.

Family Beach Vacation Checklist – Clothing Essentials

While it’s easy to remember to pack shorts, beach themed t-shirts, tank tops and summery dresses for warm weather, there are a few other clothing essentials not to miss.

Make sure to pack at least 3 sets of clothing per person, plus 2 swimsuits, at least a weeks worth of undies and a nice outfit for dinners or special occasions.

That way you don’t have to do laundry everyday.

Beach clothing essentials to pack:

• 2 swimsuits each
• 1-2 Rashguards
• 1 Swim Cover up
• 1 – 2 Sun Hats
• T-Shirts
• Long sleeve shirt / Button Down
• Shorts
• Skirt / Sundress
• Jeans / Capris / Yoga pants / Light pants
• Belt
• Socks
• Underwear / Bras
• Dress-up Dinner Outfits
• Pjamas
• Sunglasses
• Light Sweater / Light Jacket
• Sandals / Flip Flops / Water Shoes
• Exercise clothes / Gear / Shoes
• Rain Gear

Ideas for what to wear for a resort beach vacation.

PRO TIP: Wear loose fitting linen or in hot weather.

Here are a few of our favorite clothing must haves for family beach vacation that we’ve used and loved.

SUN HATS

Hats. Could there be a more contentious item of clothing for kids then a hat?

While the struggle is real to get a hat to stay on the head of kids both young and old, sun hats with UPF protection are another must, for a family beach trip packing list.

Preferably pack at least two, in case one goes missing, or the tag itches their head, or any of the many surprising things we’ve found that can happen with hats.

PRO BEACH TIP: Bring at least two sun hats per child, one for the water and one for on land.

Before our Cuba trip I found Wallaroo Hats. So many fun styles for adults and kids with UPF protection. As a bonus, many are designed to be packable.

I loved the Scrunchie Hat and the Naomi Hat I bought for myself. Stylish, easy to pack, and reshaped nicely once unpacked. Miss Ten wore her rainbow striped Petite Nantucket hat and Mermaid Water hat non-stop.

Whether you are headed for a summer or spring vacation, the beach is a wonderful place to be.

RASHGUARDS

Rashguards are an ideal choice, for when you want to reduce the amount of sunscreen you have to apply to your kids.

Choose one with a higher SPF rating for more sun protection and throw it over top of a swimsuit, or wear on it’s own. I prefer the long sleeve version, however they come in a variety of long/short sleeves, and one piece outfits for babies and toddlers.

• KIDS: For Miss S we pack her Kanu Surf Rashguards for all beach days.

• WOMEN: The looser Women’s Solid Long-Sleeve style works well for me for beach lounging, sandcastle building and swimming. It’s perfect for throwing it over a bathing suit. They have different styles of rashguards and bathing suits for the whole family.

• BABIES: If your children are still in diapers, a reusable swim diaper is a good eco-friendly option.

PRO BEACH TIP: If going for more than a day trip, bring at least two swimsuits / rashguards per adult and child to avoid having to pack and wear a cold, wet suit at the beach.

RAINGEAR

I like to think of raingear as preventative packing. If I bring rain gear, it won’t rain, right?!

Unfortunately weather isn’t always predictable, so it’s best to be prepared.

• Rain ponchos – Are a light weight versatile choice. As ponchos are roomier, they fit over top of you, keeping your clothing, backpack and electronics protected from rain. They also can be used as a tarp, or a ground cover.

• Toddlers to 5 Yr olds – The Tuffo Muddy Buddy all in one rainsuit was a favourite for our daughter from 12 months, until she outgrew the largest size (5T). The rainsuit is light, waterproof, and easy to pack.

• Rain jacket – Would be a better choice if you are expecting strong winds and heavy rains. We’ve found Columbia to be a good brand, that balances price with reliability, and quality that usually long outlasts our growing kids.

Beach Day Gear & Essentials To Pack

We’ve highlighted some important beach day essentials to bring if you have the room.

If flying, you likely won’t be bringing big heavy items, or everything on the list.

We like to focus on one or two age appropriate beach toys / activities we think our kids will enjoy for a day at the beach. Plus the essentials like towels, sunscreen, hats, and life vests.

Half the time our kids abandon what we’ve brought and run amok with new found friends, and use their beach stuff anyway.

Plus beach house rentals will often provide toys and other beach gear for you to use, so you don’t need to bring too much. Or you can rent equipment and buy a set of beach toys there. Just factor that into your budget.

PRO BEACH TIP: Bring a compact Travel Clothesline to hang up wet items at the end of the day. Do you really want to keep throwing your family’s wet stuff over the chairs, couches, tvs at your rental?

REUSABLE WATER BOTTLES

Hot sun and beach fun lead to thirsty beach goers.

We’ve found that taking a refillable water bottle is good tip for any type of vacation. Not only does it avoid throwing away tons of plastic, the water just tastes better, and less chance of leaks.

If water quality is an issue, choose a waterbottle with a filter. Don’t forget a sippy cup if your kids are little.

Find out tips for bringing a water bottle on a plane.

PRO BEACH TIP: Freeze water in your waterbottle overnight. This keeps your water colder, longer for a day at the beach with your family.

Extra Beach Supplies To Pack For Babies & Toddlers

I like to be pretty minimalist when I pack for the beach. As I like to encourage my daughter to play with whatever natural objects she can find.

Although now that she is older, and sees the other kids with beach toys, floaties, snorkels & other kids beach activities our packing list has grown.

Thes are some of the items we’ve found helpful to have on hand at the beach to make things easier, when heading out with our kids as babies and toddlers. Some of these may only be suitable if you are renting a car, or driving your own.

Fewer items, also means less for the adults to carry.

Let’s face it, it’s not usually the kids who have to carry the bulk of the supplies. A win-win in my books. Now only if there was a fool proof way to avoid bringing home sand.

Toiletries To Pack

I tend to bring my own natural soaps and laundry products, as I can’t use anything with chemical / perfume smells. If anyone in your family has sensitivities, it’s best to bring your favorite products from home.

• Medicines / Prescriptions
• Birth Control
• Vitamins
• Toothpaste / Toothbrushes / Floss
• Soap
• Hand & Face Lotion
• Lip Balm
• Deodorant
• Shampoo / Conditioner
• Hair Products
• Hair Brushes
• Hair Elastics
• Make up / Make up Remover / Make up Case
• Menstrual Products
• Razors
• Shaving cream / After Shave
• Nail Clippers
• Glasses
• Contacts / Contact Solution
• Small Mirror
• Toiletry Bag

🏖️ Grab more Family Beach Trip Tips for a successful & fun family vacation

Beach House Essentials To Pack

Many Beach houses and rentals will have most of the beach & kitchen essentials you’ll need. Double check with the owner ahead of time to confirm what they provide.

Beach House supplies to bring:

• Tin Foil
• Plastic Tupperwear for food leftovers
• Paper Towels
• Extra Toilet Paper
• Toddler Dishes & Portable High Chair
• Trash Bags
• Ziploc Bags or Resuable Ziplocs
• Dish Soap
• Stain Stick
• Portable Hamper / Laundry Bag
• Laundry Soap
• Card Games
• Board Games
• Activity Books
• Art & Drawing Supplies
• Stand Up Paddleboard

PRO BEACH TIP: Have basic groceries delivered to your beach house with local grocery delivery or instacart. That way you don’t have to rush out right away to get food & supplies.

Health & Safety Items To Pack

Safety First!

That’s my motto.

With a family, I’ve found it’s always a good idea to bring a basic first aid kit on any vacation, that covers all the usual suspects like band-aids, antiseptic wipes and cream, guaze, and tweezers. Bites, slivers, scrapes, and stings happen.

PRO SAFETY TIP: Write out the local emergency & hospital numbers and keep a copy in your first aid kit, as well as add them to your phone contacts. Same with your travel health insurance #’s. You don’t want to be scrambling to find these numbers in an emergency situation

If you are traveling somewhere where malaria, or the zika or west nile virus is present, you will also want bring and use an EPA-registered insect repellent as recommended by the CDC. Check with a travel doctor first who can give give you their recommendations for the best products to use.

It’s also a good idea to discuss water safety with your kids, before your trip. Red Cross has some great videos & tips.

SUN SAFE TIPS: Most people think of sunscreen as the first line of defense. In fact this should be one of the last. There are many other things you can do to avoid too many uv rays, before even applying the sunscreen. These include:

• Wear protective clothing (long sleeve shirt & pants, hat, rashguards)
• Find or make your own shade
• Avoid going out mid day when the sun is the hottest (10am-3pm)
• Check the UV index

BRING LIFE JACKETS

Life jackets are a good idea for kids, especially if your family is planning on participating in watersports. Even on calm days, the ocean can be dangerous.

Bringing your own is essential if you’re planning on taking boat or on the water tours. As toddler & kid sized lifejackets can be hard to come by.

When choosing a kids life jacket make sure it has the following:

• Must be Coast Guard-approved. Check the label.
• A collar big enough to support your child’s head, with a grab strap on the collar.
• A safety strap between the legs, to prevent the jacket from slipping up over your child’s head.
• Reflective material.

Essential Travel Documents to Bring

• Travel Wallet / Cash
• Drivers License / Passports
• Bank & Credit Cards
• Anti-Theft Bag
• Hard Copy of Reservations (Tours, Hotels, Flights etc.)
• House & Pet Sitter Contacts
• Health Insurance Documents
• Roadside Assistance Cards / Info
• Auto Insurance Papers / Info
• Car Rental Papers & Contact Info

Entertainment & Electronics To Pack For The Beach

Perhaps bringing entertainment on a beach vacation seems like a fanciful dream for those with young babies / toddlers / kids.

We found when our our kids were younger, they were often worn out from all the sun and fun, which gave us a few quiet moments at the end of the day, to sit on the porch and read a book, or enjoy the view.

Essential electronic items to pack for your family:

• Books or Kindle
• Tablet, Kindle Kids edition, or Kindle Fire Kids Tablet
• Portable Charger / Solar Powered Charger
• Bagsmart electronic organizer It’s a life saver (or at least an electronic cord saver).
• Waterproof cell phone dry bag – keep the sand, water & dirt out of your phone
• Charging Cords
• Headphones
• Tablets / Laptops
• Waterproof Speaker
• Travel Adapter

INDOOR ACTIVITIES

It’s also a good idea to have a back up plan for rainy days, or for times when your children want to hang around the hotel or beach rental.

We’ve had this happen a few times, and found it much easier to deal with cooped up kidlets when we had a few activities ready to pull out.

Some of our favourite travel friendly entertainment essentials include:

• Card Games – Taco vs Burrito, Sushi Go, Deck of Cards
• Blank Notebook and pencil crayons or pens
• Mess Free Art (Melissa and Doug or Crayola)
• Kids Activity Books
• Journal
• Craft supplies (stickers, beads & cord, small craft kits)

PRO TIP: Use a soft pencil case with a see through mesh or plastic front, to keep activities such as the craft supplies organized and easily accessible.

Grab your Beach Checklist for Family Here:

FINAL THOUGHTS: WHAT TO PACK FOR A FAMILY BEACH TRIP

Our Family Beach Vacation Packing List has you covered for a fun, stress-free seaside escape. With this handy guide, you can rest easy knowing you’ve packed all the essentials and a few clever extras for your perfect family beach getaway.

While this is a list of items we feel are essential for beach vacations, you don’t have to bring everything if it doesn’t work for your family.

Now, grab your sunscreen, shades, and loved ones—it’s time to create those unforgettable memories and enjoy the sun, surf, and sand. Happy vacationing!

Related family vacation articles:

• Thailand: What you need to know to have a safe family vacation
• One Day Havana, Cuba Itinerary
• Easy ways to save money for your next family vacation

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