It can be overwhelming to pack for a day on the beach. After you have the basics like sunscreen, a beach towel, and an insulated cooler, you will need beach gear. A lightweight umbrella to provide shade, a foldable chair to lounge in, and an insulated cool box for drinks and snacks. You can also add extras to your vacation that will make or break it. beach vacationLike a waterproof case for your phone or some after-sun cooling gel.
It can be difficult to remember everything. Everything is better with a little help What you should toss in your already-full beach bag No need to stress: Our ultimate beach vacation packing guide includes everything you need. These essentials include sand games to keep your kids entertained and foldable beach towels large enough to accommodate the entire family.
The Ultimate Beach Vacation Packing List
Beach gear
Beach towels
It’s always better to bring your towels with you, even if the resort you’re going to has them. Airbnb or your own beach house. The ones we’ve featured below from Mark & Graham, Brooklinen, Cozy Earth, and Elite Trend are lightweight, ultra-soft towels you’ll want to lay on all day long.
Read More: The best beach towels for every type of vacation
Beach cooler
These insulated cooler bags will keep water bottles and sandwiches cold. These portable coolers are light enough to take onto the beach, but they can hold a lot more than what you expect. Hydro Flask’s super-soft Carry Out Cooler was the perfect choice for my beach and pool days last summer. I received countless compliments. It is the perfect size to carry drinks and snacks for you and a couple of friends without getting too heavy.
Read More: The best beach coolers
Beach blanket
A beach blanket is a must for room to spread out and lounge—and makes a big difference when you’re having a picnic and don’t want the sand blowing into your snacks. You can roll up the best beach blankets and carry them on your back for hands free carrying.
Read More: The best beach blankets
Beach chairs
What would a beach day be without a comfortable beach chair? They are light enough to be carried down the boardwalk and come with a cupholder. The best part is that they can be folded up easily and thrown in the trunk of your vehicle without any hassle.
Beach umbrella
A beach umbrella provides extra sun protection on a hot day. If you’re spending the whole day at the beach, you’re definitely going to want some shade—especially if you’re traveling with kids. Compact models like the Sport-Brella can be easily clipped onto a chair or cooler. Choose a large shade like L.L.Bean Sunbuster or CoolCabana 5 to cover the entire family.
Read More: The best beach umbrellas
Clothing & shoes
Lightweight Clothing
Less is more when it comes to packing for a beach holiday. You’ll most likely find that you wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing throughout the entire weekend or week at the beach. Pack clothing made from a lightweight material like linenIt is breathable, moisture-wicking fabric.
Read More: Summer clothing essentials for travelers
Bathing suits
It’s a necessity to have a bathing suit on any vacation. But it can be difficult to find the right one. The swimsuits we buy are usually too tight and don’t offer enough support. Miraclesuit, Andie Swim and Miraclesuit are some of the most flattering (and best-fitting) swimsuits we’ve found. Fair Harbor and Bonobos are two brands we recommend for stylish, comfortable and fashionable swim trunks.
Read More: The best women’s bathing suits You can also find out more about the following: the best men’s swim trunks
Cover-ups
You’ll need a light cover-up after a swim. You can wear the sarongs or button-downs that are below to the beach, to lunch, or even to your hotel. The best cover-ups are perfect for those who have spent too much time in direct sunlight. They will protect your skin while keeping you cool. Plus, these all take up very little packing room—roll them up tightly then toss them in your beach tote when you arrive.
Read More: The best beach cover-ups for women
Comfortable sandals
These sandals from OluKai and Reef are a more elevated version of the classic flip-flop that can be easily slipped on and taken off once you reach the sand. These foldable sandals by OluKai or Reef are an elevated version of the classic Flip-Flop and take up a very small amount of space. carry-on. For a touch more support, Rothy’s The Weekend Slide has a slightly thicker sole and crisscross straps to keep your foot secure and supported—even when you’re walking on uneven terrain.
Read More: The most comfortable walking sandals
Water Shoes
Water shoes can be used to navigate rocky beaches. These shoes are also great for exploring tide pools. The traction keeps you grounded and secure, and protects your feet from sharp edges and jagged objects. Seekway shoes are our favorite pair. Reef sandals, which are more stylish but still comfortable for walking in all day, can be worn without worrying about them getting wet.
Accessories
Sun hat
You don’t have to lug a beach umbrella around with you. A good summer hat provides enough shade for your neck and face. These chic straw hats are our favorite, but bucket hats that you can wear around your neck on windy days or boat rides will be perfect.
Read More: The best sun hats for hot summer days
Beach bag
One thing’s for sure—you’ll need a beach tote to carry all of your essentials The sand is the place to be. Whether you’re looking for something coastal chic, like J.Cew or MZ Wallace’s crochet bags, or a spacious, structured Bogg Bag that has enough room for both you and your kids’ things, we have you covered. L.L.Bean Boat and Tote Bag is a classic that works equally well for a beach day as it does for souvenir shopping in a new city.
Read More: The best tote bags You can also find out more about the following: the best beach bags
Swim goggles
Grab a pair of classic Speedo goggles for more comfort and fun underwater. Although they aren’t meant for deep dives, these goggles will be useful in the water and at the shallow end of the ocean.
Sunglasses
A pair of sunglasses is one thing you won’t want forget on a beach day. These chic pairs look great on and won’t break the bank—so you don’t need to worry if you accidental lose them in the water. You can’t go past a pair of classic aviators by Ray-Ban.
Read More: The best sunglasses
Dopp kit
I keep a small Dopp bag in my beachbag that contains sunscreen, lipbalm, leave-in conditioning, and any other essential beauty products I need to carry with me. If you want to save on space, choose something compact and soft that can be pressed down. Dagne dover’s Hunter Toiletry Bag is a great choice. If you are packing for yourself and your family or are throwing it into a suitcase, then you might want to choose something larger and more studier like Calpak’s cosmetic case.
Read More: The best toiletry bags
Waterproof pouches
These waterproof bags or pouches are great for beach days, especially if you have small children with you. You can use them to store your wet swimsuit or protect your phone. They are lightweight and flat when empty. So, bringing one along is not a problem.
Water Bottle
The beach is a great place to use your insulated bottle. Staying hydrated at the shore is more important than ever. These editor-tested bottles from Owala, Hydro Flask, and Yeti will keep water cold for hours—even after sitting in the hot sun. The best thing about these insulated water bottles is that they’re completely leakproof. You can throw them into a beach bag without worrying.
Read more: The best reusable water bottles
Beauty & skincare
Sunscreen
If you’re planning a beach getaway, the first thing to pack is sunscreen. Supergoop’s Play Spray for the body and Sun Bum’s Classic Sunscreen Lotion both offer broad-spectrum SPF 50 protection. If you need enough SPF for the whole family, consider bringing Vacation’s Sun Jug—it has a built-in carrying handle and smells like summer. Supergoop mineral drops are my favorite for face coverage. They have a dewy, easy-to blend finish and don’t leave any white cast.
Click here to read more The best sunscreens for every skin type You can also find out more about the following: our editors’ favorites from Supergoop
After-sun lotion
If you are not as diligent in reapplying SPF as planned, then bring along a cooling aloe or fel lotion to provide some post-beach pampering. These soothing formulas hydrate skin and are gentle enough for sunburn. Pro tip: Pop the aloe gel in the fridge for a few minutes before using it—it’ll provide an extra-cool feeling on burned skin.
Read More: How to treat a sunburn on vacation
Lip balm SPF
One spot only You can also find out more about the following: Lips are the first place you should avoid getting a sunburn. It’s not fun to have cracked, chapped lips after spending a day out in the sun. Two non-sticky and non-tinted lip balms we love are from Supergoop and Aquaphor—they provide sun protection and are ultra-moisturizing.
Bug spray
You may also want to bring bug spray with you, depending on where you are going. In places like Florida You can also find out more about the following: North CarolinaSummers can be a biting time, so you’ll want to make sure you have a spray with you when you dine outside or sit on your porch. These sprays protect your family and you from ticks, mosquitoes and chiggers.
Antibacterial wipes
It’s nice if you wipe your hands with antibacterial wipes before eating lunch or playing in the sand. Travel-friendly hand sanitizers and wipes fit easily in your bag or backpack and are always useful, especially when you have children with you. I always travel with them. They’re great for cleaning your plane seat. tray table in-flight).
You can also enjoy the following:
Portable chargers
You can quickly drain your battery if you play music or take photos while on the beach. Prepare yourself with a portable chargerThe Anker MagGo is a great product for its durability, and we love the Veger’s ultra-compact design.
Read More: The best portable chargers for travel
Portable speaker
Portable speakers allow you to listen to music and enjoy the sun with your friends. Just be considerate of others. These waterproof options from JBL and Ultimate Ears are extremely lightweight and compact—they even fit in a small fanny pack. The sound quality on these speakers is great—without being too loud that you might disturb others near you at the beach.
Read More: The best portable speakers
Kindle
It’s difficult to deny the advantages of e-readers They are great for vacations. The Kindle Paperwhite is a great option for vacations because it takes up less room in your bag and allows you to have more options of books on hand. It can also withstand a splash better than a traditional paperback. Bring it on your next vacation to the beach and you can finally check a few books off your list. reading list.
Waterproof phone cases
It’s impossible to imagine a more frustrating vacation than trying to pull your phone from an ocean (or pool) or sink. Consider investing in a waterproof case if you are worried about getting your phone wet at the beach. You can have peace of mind if you accidentally drop or spill your phone.
Read More: The best waterproof phone cases
Enjoy the Games
When you travel with children, they will be happy to play games when it’s raining, the water is too cold or if they need something new to do. Spikeball is a great option for those who are driving to the beach. It can be played in both the backyard and on the beach. Other portable options are flying rings and Kan Jam.
Beach table
Our beach vacation packing list would not be complete without a portable cupholder table. The table is not essential, but is a nice addition to your beach vacation. These tables are great for keeping your food, drinks and phone out of the sand or water.
The article has been updated since it was first published.
