What to Bring to the Beach: Family Vacation Packing List
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Trying to figure out what to bring to the beach? Use this complete packing list (plus a free download to take with you!) with additional packing tips to ensure you don’t forget anything.
Our family loves to travel and we especially love taking trips to the beach or tropical locations. Really any place that is warm, sunny, has a pool for relaxing and a beach for playing is our kind of vacation.
But before you get to the vacation, you have to plan the vacation. And once you plan the vacation, you have to pack for the trip! Which if your family is anything like mine, means you are the number one resource for all packing needs. And that responsibility can be anything but relaxing!
As our family continues to grow, and my brain space is taken up by countless other things, I have found that I have to have a packing list to go through as we prepare for trips.
The absolute worst feeling is when you realize you have forgotten something.
Like that one time on our way to Cabo San Lucas where we got to the airport and realized we had forgotten my daughter’s birth certificate that was required since she was under two and was an unticked lap child.
Talk about stress! I am thankful we were able to make friends with the Southwest check-in attendant who let us slide. Otherwise, we would have missed our flight and our vacay would have been off to a rocky start.
Since then, I have created this complete packing list to make certain that I don’t have to entrust my vacation joy to the grace of an airline or convenient Walmart location ever again.
THE COMPLETE FAMILY BEACH VACATION PACKING LIST
Documents and Personal Items
This may be the most crucial part of your trip planning! One time on our way to Cabo San Lucas where we got to the airport and realized we had forgotten my daughter’s birth certificate that was required since she was under two and was an unticketed lap child.
Talk about stress! I am thankful we were able to make friends with the Southwest check-in attendant who let us slide. Otherwise, we would have missed our flight and our vacay would have been off to a rocky start.
Here’s what to bring to the beach document wise, based on the type of trip you are taking.
- Passport
- Birth Certificate or Immunization Records showing birth date (if flying with a child under 2 who will be a lap child)
- Drivers Licences
- Credit/Debit Cards & Cash
- Health Insurance Cards (accidents happen!)
- Hotel and excursion confirmations
Clothes
Clothes are one of those essential items on your what to bring to the beach list because you don’t want to have to make a Walmart run as soon as you get to your destination. That eats up valuable time and adds to the stress.
- At least two swimsuits per family member (these are some of my favorites for moms!)
- Swimsuit cover-ups
- Underwear, bras, sports bras
- Sunhats (important for sun protection for little ones, nice to have for Instagram shots for you)
- Beach/Pool shoes
- Sandals
- Tennis Shoes
- Socks
- Shorts
- Pants/Jeans
- T-shirts
- Blouses and button downs for dinner
- Sundresses/skirts
- Lightweight Jacket
- Workout Attire (for actual working out or just to look like you did – no shame, you are on vacation!)
- Pajamas
- Belts
- Sunglasses
Toiletries
The most important of all toiletries to remember is your moisturizer with SPF. It may be hard to find and replace once you arrive so make sure you pack it for the beach trip.
- Shampoo & Conditioner
- Soap
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste (reminder to pack a kid-friendly toothpaste for the little ones!)
- Floss sticks
- Aloe Vera Lotion
- Deodorant
- Razors
- Fingernail Clippers
- Tweezers
- Dry Shampoo
- Hair Tools (these are a few of my favorites!)
- Hair brushes
- Hair Ties and Elastics
- Contacts & Contact Solution
- Glasses
- Makeup
- Moisturizer with SPF
- Prescription Medicines
- Vitamins
- First Aid Kit
- Tylenol
Tech & Toys
I realize that this section may be counter-intuitive to what you think about doing on a beach vacation. I mean you are going to water, sand and sun which isn’t always ideal for the beach but remember that you will have travel time, down-time and other situations where you will need some tech help.Â
Plus I always take my phone with me to the beach to take pictures. I’m always worried in the back of my mind that it’s going to get damaged so on my next trip I’ll be using a few of these Ingenious Hacks to Protect Your Phone at the Beach from NetNanny.
- Phones
- Phone Chargers
- Watches (and chargers if your wristwear requires one)
- Extra Charger (get one with a long cord like this one)
- Waterproof Phone Case
- Laptop & Charger
- iPad
- Books & Magazines
- Coloring Books (we love the Water Wow coloring books)
- Frisbee
- Kite
- Deck of Cards
- DSLR Camera (if your iPhone just won’t cut it to document the memories)
- Sound Machine (we are addicted to sleeping with ours after having little ones)
- Baby Monitor (if you have adjoining rooms)
- Extra batteries
Beach & Pool Items
This is hands down one of your most important lists for what to bring to the beach because this is what you use to survive your day at the beach.
Be sure that you pick up your waterproof sunscreen, sunglasses and bug repellents from a local store near home because these products are usually significantly over-priced at beach shops.
If you are looking for tips on how to choose & use sunscreen so that you kids have a great time without a bad sunburn check out this article from Kids Health: How to Choose and Use Suncreen.
Call your hotel ahead of time and double-check on their pool requirements for kids who aren’t potty trained. Many public pools have requirements for swim diapers and plastic pullover pants.Â
- Beach Bag
- Beach Towels
- Goggles
- Beach Chairs
- Refillable Water Bottles (get something like the Swell bottles that won’t get sand in them)
- A small cooler or insulated bag for snacks and drinks
- Beach Toys
- Puddle Jumper or Floaties
- Waterproof Sunscreen (pack more than you think you need!)
- Lip Balm with SPF
- Hand Sanitizer
- Hair Brush
- Sea Salt Spray – to refresh your hair after the beach
- Wipes
- Insect Repellant
- Plastic Bags for Wet Swimsuits
- Swim Diaper
Kids Items
No matter where you go with kids you’ll need some basics that keep your seats clean, your kid protected, and help you get around with your child safe and secure. These are important things to add to your list of what to take to the beach that you might not think of.
- Car Seat Protector (for the flight)
- Car Seat
- Stroller
- Sippy Cups/Bottles
- Snack Bowls/Pouches
- Pack N Play + Fitted Sheets
- Blankets or Lovies
- Travel Toys (here is a full list of my travel toy recommendations)
Want to take this list with you? Download a copy of this Family Beach Vacation Packing List to print out and check off as you pack up your suitcases! Fill out the form below to get the FREE download.
