The Ultimate Beach Vacation Packing List for Family Travel
We just got back from a week at the Cape, and it was the kind of trip that reminded me how important a good beach vacation packing list for family travel really is.
Between the kids, the gear, and all the “just in case” items, we somehow filled two cars just to spend a few days by the water.
That experience inspired me to simplify everything, and this beach vacation packing list for family trips is exactly what we now use to stay organized without overpacking.
Beach Vacation Packing List for Family:
Clothes
- 2 bathing suits per person so one is always dry
- Swim cover-up
- Flip flops
- Water shoes
- Sunglasses
- Hat
- Floaties or life jacket
- Goggles
- Wet bag or plastic bag for wet stuff
- Change of clothes (I keep this inside the wet bag for easy switching)
- Sweatshirt for cooler evenings
- Swim diapers
Gear
- Beach blanket
- Beach chairs
- Umbrella or pop-up shade
- Wagon to haul everything to and from the beach
- Beach towels
- Beach bag (I love Scout bags for this)
- Waterproof phone case so you can take photos in the water
- Small wallet with just cash and essentials
Toiletries
- Clear toiletry bag (makes it easy to find what you need quickly and easily0
- Sunscreen (stick for face, spray for body)
- Bug spray
- Chapstick with SPF
- After sun lotion
- Wipes
- Wet brush
- Hair elastics
- Feminine products
- Deodorant Wipes
- Hand sanitizer
Food
- Cooler with ice packs
- Snacks and drinks
- Napkins, plates, and cutlery
- Plastic bag for trash
Toys/ Games
- Sand toys
- Body board
- Kite
- Frisbee
- Army guys (my boys spend hours building sand army bases)
- Shell bags
- Snorkeling gear
Electronics
- Wireless speaker and charger
- Walkie talkies with extra batteries
- GoPro or waterproof camera
Printable Beach Vacation Packing List for Family
Final Thoughts on Your Beach Vacation Packing List for Family
This beach vacation packing list for family trips helped us cut down on overpacking while still having everything we needed for a relaxing week by the water. Traveling with kids always comes with extra gear, but having a simple and organized plan makes all the difference.
If there is anything you always bring on a beach trip that I missed, I would love to hear about it in the comments.
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