Last Updated on December 9, 2022 by Ariana Svenson
Whether you’re heading to the beach for the day or taking a longer vacation, a beach packing list for family excursions and holidays can be really useful, ensuring you leave no essentials behind. Having already covered Toddler Beach Essentials and Beach Gear for Babies, we thought it might also be helpful to create a general family beach packing list.
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A beach vacation packing list for family travel is pretty similar to a beach checklist for day trips, as you tend to need the same sort of items. While a longer vacation will involve a more comprehensive family beach trip packing list, most of this will consist of extra supplies of essentials like clothing and toiletries. For the day, you may also want to add food and drinks when packing for the beach.
As a family, we spend a lot of time at the beach, both on day trips and when on vacation. These packing lists for the beach are therefore based on our experience of days at the beach near where we live in Western Australia. Plus, we use them for longer trips to Asia, South, and Central America, or other destinations.
This post includes both a family packing list for a beach vacation and a family beach trip checklist for day trips. If you’re heading to the coast on holiday, or plan to spend some days there over the summer, then check out these beach packing lists to make sure you take everything you should!
A Beach Packing List for Family Days Out
So what should be on your packing list for a beach trip when you’re not staying overnight? These are the must-have times that we always include on a beach day packing list. Don’t forget to add a change of clothes and a cover-up for kids too.
Beach Bags
Firstly, what are you going to use to transport everything to the beach? Towels are absolutely essential when you’re packing for a day at the seaside, and can easily take up an entire bag just by themselves.
Waterproof Beach Bag
A large washable, waterproof beach bag like this one by Shylero is ideal. It’s spacious, bright, and even features a nautical theme, with rope handles and blue and white stripes.
Mesh Beach Bag
We find that an oversized, lightweight mesh beach bag is perfect for carrying toys. The perforations in the fabric even allow the sand to fall off as you walk back home or to the hotel or car.
Wet and Dry Bags
Wet and dry bags are great for keeping wet swimwear – or even soiled nappies – separate from your dry items. There are plenty of styles and sizes available. Don’t forget to add swim diapers or nappies if you do have young kids!
Waterproof Phone Case
You can keep some cash or payment cards as well as your cell phone dry in one of these. Some smartphones and mobile phones are now waterproof. However, if yours isn’t, it’s well worth buying a waterproof phone pouch to add to your beach pack list.
Swimwear
Even if you’re not planning to enter the water, everyone will need to include swimwear on any beach packing list for kids and adults.
There are plenty of adult swimsuits and children’s bathing suits to choose from if you need new ones this year. Women can choose between sporty and stylish ladies’ swimwear, while men’s swimsuits include both loose and tighter-fitting shorts.
Sun and Sea Protection
There are a number of items for comfort and safety that belong on any beach list for packing, such as sun protection, rash guards, beach shoes, and more.
Sunscreen
Sunscreen is absolutely essential for everyone. We highly recommend using a marine-friendly formula, which is gentle on sensitive skin as well as the environment.
Sun Hat
A sun hat is ideal for added protection when the sun is shining. We always pick out hats with ties for the younger kids, especially as it can get windy by the sea!
Sunglasses
Sunglasses are a given for grown-ups, but may also be a good idea for kids to wear. It does give added protection for the delicate eye area, as well as blocking out those annoying super-bright rays of sunshine.
Rashguard
We always take rash guards – aka rashies – to the beach with us. You can buy a short or long-sleeved rash guard, and picking the former gives added protection from the sun. If you want to read more our postBest Thermal Rashie: Comparing Thermal Swim Top Options is a great resource.
Life Vest
Adding a life vest to your packing for the beach list can give added peace of mind when you’re taking kids to the beach. However, always stay within reach as it will not save their life if they fall face-first into the water.
Baby Swim Wrap/ Water Baby Carrier
If you have a baby, having a way to enjoy the water with the baby hands-free is necessary. Especially if you are also responsible for other children that are enjoying the water as well. Not only do these baby swim wraps come in handy for enjoying a day at the beach or pool, but they are also amazing for taking showers with your baby. Luckily we have a lot of experience using a swim baby wrap. You can see our full list of recommendations inBest Swim Baby Wrap | Why you Need a Water Baby Carrier.
Wetsuits
If the water will be cold or you plan on doing any water sports, then you might well need to take wetsuits with you. You can buy summer wetsuits with short sleeves for both adults and kids, or wetsuits with longer arms and legs for colder weather. Find out more in our The Best Kids’ Wetsuit – Finding the Ideal Wetsuit for Your Kids, which also explains the pros and cons of each type.
Beach Shoes
Beach shoes for adults and kids are usually inexpensive. They are imported because they protect big and little feet from sharp or hard objects as well as hazards such as jellyfish or weaver fish. They can certainly make wading into the sea much more comfortable when you’re at a stony or pebbly beach!
Beach Tent
A beach tent is good to take, especially if you are driving to the beach. It provides shelter as well as storage and is easy to spot from across the sands – ideal if the kids tend to go off and do their own thing.
Beach Towels
Any packing list for a family beach vacation or day out would not be complete without beach towels. We love to take sand-free ones or sarongs, plus beach robes or hooded towels for young kids.
Sand Free Beach Towels
We’ve discovered sand-free beach towels, and my how we love them! It’s fair to say that I’m not sand’s biggest fan, so using a sand-free towel has been a game-changer. They’re well worth every cent.
You can read a review about one such towel in our postA Tesalate Towels Review: A Sand Free Beach Towel.
Beach Sarong
A beach sarong is ideal to include on a beach packing list for a teenage girl, as it can be used as a cover-up as well as for sitting on or drying off. While they’re not as absorbent as towels, beach sarongs are very lightweight and quick-drying – and double up as a dress, skirt, or robe too.
Hooded Towels
A hooded towel is ideal for a baby or small child. They can wear it hands-free or wrap it around them for extra warmth. This can really help when you’re trying to dry a few kids off at once!
Beach Robes
A beach robe can be a good alternative to a hooded towel, as they can tie this up too. During warmer weather, this may be more or less enough to dry them off – with very little effort required from you or them.
Beach Footwear
What sort of footwear will be best to include in your day trip or beach vacation checklist for the family depends on the terrain. It also depends on what you will all be doing. Thongs or flip flops are great for soft sand while hiking sandals are tougher when you may walk on stones or rocks.
Flip Flops or Thongs
Surely there is no wider range of flip flops than those offered by Havaianas, who offer a number of cool styles for women, men, and children. Whether you and they prefer glitter, plain colors, or patterns, there are so many to pick from.
Hiking Sandals
We love Teva sandals and always recommend them for kids and adults. Children’s Tevas come in so many sizes and colors, and Teva sandals for grown-ups do too. Some are even smart enough for evening wear, which makes them the ideal inclusion on any packing list for a beach vacation with kids.
Crocs or Clogs
If you’re not keen on sandals, you could pack a pair of clogs instead. They’re waterproof and easy to slip on, so they make ideal beach footwear. Again there is so much choice in terms of both adults’ Crocs and kids’ Crocs.
Beach Entertainment
So what is everyone going to do all day at the beach? Including something to do on your checklist for the beach is vital. Options range from sand toys to SUP boards, snorkels, and boogie boards. If you have one, a GoPro waterproof action camera can also keep kids occupied for hours at a time, and they can take turns capturing whatever they find in picture or video form. Tech-wise, a Kindle is another great idea – for adults, teens, and older kids in particular.
Bucket and Spade
No family beach vacation checklist or day trip would surely be complete without a bucket and spade! Some sets also come with other items like sifters and forks or contain more than one set. Ideal if you have two or more children. You can even buy collapsible buckets that are great when you’re planning your beach vacation packing list for the family and space will be tight.
Sand Toys
For young kids, sand toys can provide hours of entertainment. There are lots of great sand toy sets available, including items like containers, tools, and molds as well as a bucket and spade. They usually include a number of items, so are great value for money. Plus it doesn’t matter so much if one or two pieces get left behind. For other beach toy ideas, see our post onToddler Beach Essentials and Beach Gear for Babies.
Snorkel Sets
Don’t miss out on a snorkel set if you’re heading to a beach that’s good for snorkeling. Seeing all the underwater creatures can be fascinating and keeps kids happy for hours. If you haven’t bought one yet, don’t miss our complete guide inDiving In: The Best Snorkeling Sets for Kids.
Boogie Boards
Getting the hang of surfing a wave while lying down can be so much fun for all the family – kids in particular! Again, bodyboards are not very expensive, so it’s something you can easily try out without spending a lot of money on equipment. We have a post listing the top boogie boards calledWhich Is The Best Kids’ Body Board? The Top 6 Boogie Boards For Kids.
SUP Boards
We’re just getting started with our own SUP boards, and they’re a great way to pass the time when you’re at the local beach for the day. If you want to invest in one, make sure you read our in-depth kids’ SUP boards guide first.
A GoPro
We do love a good GoPro – and boy are they good. While I appreciate that they’re not cheap, they are such a good way of recording family memories of days out by the sea or holidays on the coast. Guess what – we have written a guide to GoPros too!
A Kindle
Hardback or paperback books can be a bit of a nightmare at the beach, but wouldn’t a Kindle also be damaged if it gets wet? With waterproof versions now available, worrying about your tech getting splashed is a thing of the past. Nor do you need to worry about running out of reading material. You can even read magazines on a Kindle.
Beach Chairs
It’s not strictly entertainment, but a beach chair could make you much more comfortable when reading that Kindle. Especially if you’re staying all day, or have any back or joint issues.
Food and Drinks
I’m not going to tell you which food items to pack, and I’m sure you know to take plenty of water with you! It can be useful, though, to think about how you will transport fresh food or keep drinks cold.
Water Bottle
A reusable water bottle is a no-brainer for us – it’s much cheaper and far kinder to the environment. Plus you don’t have to find a shop for supplies as soon as you hit the beach.
Cool Bag or Box
There are so many styles of cool bags or ice-chest out there, in all sizes. You can choose one like a backpack for hands-free carrying, or opt for a tote that’s easy to grab. If you opt for a box, you could also use that at home when you’re hosting a party or barbecue.
Picnic Blanket
A cozy picnic blanket also gives you a sand-free surface to spread lunch out on – or is lovely to lie on while sunbathing or reading.
Covid-19 Safety
Whether it’s a day at the coast or a longer vacation, at the time of writing Covid-19 is having a huge impact on travel and how we all live. Here is a list of Covid safety items you may well want to include on your day out or beach vacation packing list.
Face Masks
At the risk of sounding ‘preachy’, reusable face masks are much better for the environment. They also tend to come in a bigger range of styles and colors. You may be required to wear one in any public place, so don’t forget to take a supply.
Hand Sanitiser
Packing a travel hand sanitizer is a good idea in any case, so you can clean any fingers that may have touched something less than pleasant!
Disinfecting Wipes
You could take travel disinfectant wipes instead of hand sanitizer, or decide to pack both. These are handy for cleaning surfaces like picnic tables, or tabletops in hotel rooms or apartments.
A Family Beach Vacation Packing List
So how does a beach vacation packing list for a family trip differ? As mentioned in the introduction, it mainly involves taking more items like toiletries and clothes as you’ll be staying overnight. Perhaps for a week, fortnight, or even longer.
You also need to think more about what your beach vacation essentials really are. Especially if you’re flying, as you may be subject to strict (and maybe small) baggage allowances. Even if you’re driving to your destination, do you want to fill the car with more than you actually need?
A packing list for a vacation at the beach will thus include more lightweight and portable items, and will also exclude bulkier and heavier things. You may be able to take a large item like a SUP board, for instance, but do check with your airline. How will you protect it? If you’re traveling by car, how will you fix and secure it to the roof, for example?
Here are some of the additional items you may need for a beach vacation pack list, as well as those things that you would take for a day trip – as detailed above.
Clothing
Shorts, t-shirts, and sundresses make ideal holiday wear for all the family. We’ve already covered beach footwear above. For an overnight stay, don’t forget that everyone will require underwear and nightwear too. As well as sweaters and jackets or coats. Any items that are quick-drying and lightweight are ideal. If the weather may vary, convertible pants can be a great idea.
Zip-off Pants
Convertible pants differ from regular garments because the legs can be zipped off to create a pair of shorts. This is ideal for unpredictable climates as well as cooler evenings. Outdoor brand Columbia makes some great ones for girls and boys as well as men and women.
Toiletries
You will of course need to pack all the daily essentials such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash, shaving gel, razors, deodorant, cleanser, moisturizer, body lotion, and hand cream. Sunscreen will also be required. A set of specially designed travel toiletries containers can also be great. You can use these to take smaller quantities to the beach or onto the plane.
Travel toiletries containers
A set of plastic containers for toiletries is a great investment for family travel. They come as a travel toiletries container set containing various quantities and sizes and may include tubes, pots, tubs, and even sprays as well as small bottles.
Safety
A travel first aid kit is a great item to add to your holiday packing list for the beach.
First Aid Kit
A travel first aid kit contains all the essentials you should need – all in one compact and affordable little package that’s easy to carry onto the plane and during excursions.
Luggage
Packing for any vacation can be a challenge, and to make the most of the space you have I really recommend using packing cubes. As they can also help you to stay more organized, they’re a must for any holiday packing list of mine!
Packing cubes
Many frequent flyers and travel bloggers and journalists are in love with packing cubes, and indeed they do make life much easier. Find out more about why we rate packing cubes so highly here in our The Best Travel Packing Cubes.
Final Tips When Packing for a Beach Vacation
Whether you need a 7-day beach vacation packing list or one for a long weekend, fortnight, or month, I hope this post has provided some inspiration for your day trip or travel packing list. Check out the following list of valuable and vital items too – wherever you’re headed.
Other Travel List Essentials
Don’t forget these items when you go anywhere!
- Passport – for ID as well as flying
- Driver’s license – especially if you’re renting a car
- Tickets – in printed or electronic form, for travel and accommodation
- Travel insurance documents – make sure you keep a copy at home too
- Payment card/s – take at least two different types if you can in case one isn’t accepted
- Cash – a small supply of cash should start you off OK, which you may need for tips as soon as you arrive
- Medication – any prescribed meds could literally be a lifesaver
- Phone and other chargers – for tablets, laptops, and other portable devices
- Night light – the kids may not sleep without this
Helpful Tips
- If there’s any chance that you’ll buy clothing or souvenirs while you’re away, make sure you leave some space for these. If using packing cubes, you could take an empty one for that purpose.
- Wear what you can on the plane. Now is the time to layer up and don your heaviest items of clothing, which you can always take off and store in the overhead lockers.
- Don’t pack too much. Especially if the final tip below applies…
And Finally – My Top Tip
My own top tip is to find out if there is a washing machine where you’re going. If there is, it means you don’t have to pack as much, because clothing can be washed and reused.
If you need a packing list for a beach vacation with a toddler, don’t miss our dedicated post! You may also like the travel checklist I always use about a week before departure.
The Verdict – The Ultimate Beach Packing List For Family Days and Holidays
We think we have provided a comprehensive beach packing list for family days and holidays. As a Western Australian family who spends many, many days at the beach we certainly have narrowed down what is necessary and needed. Our family beach packing list is well thought out after our own families’ much trial and error. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below what your family beach packing list must-haves are.
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