You’re staring at your suitcase, knowing you’ll soon be beachside relaxing, but right now you’re in your house, stressed. Fret not, because packing for your family beach vacation doesn’t have to be a task to dread. Whether you’re heading to one of the most interesting beaches around the world or just to your local shore point, there are a few key staple pieces you’ll want to pack.
From sun hats to towels to games, there are lots of ideas to make your next beach vacation with the family fun and safe. The right travel gear can make all the difference by creating a stress-free, enjoyable experience for everyone. Your clothes and toiletry bags are up to your personal choices, but we’ve rounded up some other gear for the best time beachside.
Family travel blogger Rob Taylor of 2TravelDads noted this Cotopaxi bag as a go-to for him and his family. He’s a fan of the bag’s compartments and easy-to-clean material, a must when dealing with sand. “Also, known for being ultra colorful, we easily keep track of our duffles, whether in an airport or when we set them down on the sand,” he said.
Taylor also said he often packs this travel backpack for the same reasons of having something colorful, easy to clean and access to lots of storage compartments. Backpacks are a smart idea when traveling with children since they allow you to carry everything hands-free.
“When you’re travelling with kids, you need to have snacks, an iPad, games, etc., on hand at all times. But there’s no need for mom and dad to look like kids themselves,” Kim Davis, travel journalist and TV presenter, said. “Nordace makes an amazing backpack with so many pockets and sections, that you’ll be able to pack for the entire trip in one bag! The Siena Pro is by far the best bag on the market.”
The worst part about a beach excursion is surely unpacking when you get home. Save yourself some strife by throwing all the wet bathing suits and towels in this dry bag. Available in five sizes and more than a dozen colors, the bag will be a lifesaver at the end of the day!
Available in a set of three, these water-repellent packing cubes are great for packing your little one’s suitcase or beach bag. They can easily fit and compress clothes, bathing suits, diapers and more, depending on your needs.
CNN Underscored’s associate writer Jillian Tracy grew up at the beach and loves this bag for its large compartment. The bag easily holds a towel or two, snacks and shoes, all while being comfortable to carry on her shoulder. The material is easy to clean and she notes that the zip top helps keep sand (and seagulls!) out.
Invented by a mom and designed with families in mind, this bag is beloved by moms everywhere. Waterproof, tip-proof, easy to clean (just hose ’em down!) and incredibly durable, the bags make for an excellent sandy day option.
This “Shark Tank” favorite is perfect for beach packing with its lightweight, compact design and slash-resistant materials that provide secure storage for your valuables. You can lock it to most fixed objects to ensure your small items, like your phone, keys or wallet, are protected from theft.
Sunscreen is a nonnegotiable item in the summertime. This Hawaiian Tropic sunscreen is a must-have on our list, and this SPF 30 spray from Hawaiian Tropic is our pick for the best sunscreen because it’s oh so easy to apply and super light.
Face sunscreen is an important and often overlooked step in skin care. Supergoop!’s Unseen Sunscreen is a popular choice for its completely sheer finish and primer-like feel. It’s especially good for oily skin!
Try as you might, sometimes you’re too focused on making sure the kids have sun protection, you forget to reapply yourself. Don’t forget to pack after-sun lotion! The After-Sun Gel formula is made to quench thirsty, sun-baked skin. This soothing gel isn’t sticky, smells incredible and leaves a cooling sensation on the skin to help tone down your burn.
Davis recommends this after-sun serum before you head out for evening activities after a day at the beach. “SPF is critical when you’re spending time out in the sun, but most people forget that after the moon comes out, our skin is still baking from the day,” she said. “That’s where Caia’s After Sun Serum comes in. It hydrates your skin and soothes it with aloe vera so that you can all avoid the burn and maintain a glowing tan.”
Natalie Copeland and Beth Higney, aesthetic nurse practitioners and co-founders of Complexion, designed this sunscreen with families in mind. “It’s 100% mineral, using non-nano zinc oxide for broad-spectrum coverage that’s safe for all skin types — even the most sensitive,” they said. They recommend looking for a broad-spectrum sunscreen and suggest an SPF 30 or higher. “It’s also smart to avoid unnecessary fragrance, essential oils and alcohols — especially for sensitive or acne-prone skin. Bonus points for added skin-beneficial ingredients like antioxidants, ceramides, or hydrating agents.”
“I never leave home without my WaterWipes,” Davis said. “Most people think they are just for babies, but they are so much more. From helping to clean up inevitable messes to being there when there isn’t a square to spare, they are a vital part of any trip. Up until last year, I had to put a bunch in a ziplock bag to take with me, but the company got smart and started making travel-size On the Go WaterWipes, which was super smart.”
“There is nothing worse than being on vacation, being eaten by bugs, and then spending the rest of the trip itching and scratching in agony,” Davis said. “That’s why I never leave home without AfterBite. It instantly soothes and calms the itching so that you can forget about the bites and get back to the fun. Unlike creams and lotions, this stuff works immediately. I like to throw a Band-Aid over the bite just to avoid further irritation.”
“Another travel-size companion that families can’t travel without is Soak delicate laundry detergent,” said Davis. “Doing laundry while on holiday can be costly and eat into your away time. But you can clean your family’s bathing suits, stains and other critical items in the hotel sink with this delicate wash. If you can’t rinse out all of the product, there’s no need to worry, because this detergent is strong enough to do the job, but delicate enough that it won’t irritate your skin.”
Avoid bug bites from the start with the best-tested bug spray. It feels light on the skin and you can snag it in a couple of different ounce sizes, making it an easy choice no matter if you’re packing in a carry-on and need to adhere to airline regulations or you’re road tripping and unrestricted.
Our testing team was a fan of this beach wagon because of its capacity, easy-to-maneuver design and versatility. The wheels can handle a range of terrain (read: the parking lot and the sand) and it’s designed to seat two children, with a weight limit listed as up to 120 pounds. Complete with safety buckles, a canopy, brakes and even a small bench for kids to sit in, it’ll make getting your kids to the sand and back much easier.
Featuring a lightweight frame, padded backstraps, breathable mesh, an adjustable backrest and a cup holder, GCI Outdoor’s backpack chair lets you take a well-deserved breather no matter where your adventure-packed itinerary takes you. If you nab it now, you can score 20% off through July 12.
Keep the whole family shaded with this beach cabana that’s easy to set up, sturdy and then easy to break down. It’ll eliminate the hassle of setting up an umbrella that blows awa, and offers a nice amount of shade from the sun throughout your beach day.
This chair combines unparalleled comfort, portability and practical storage features. It’s an ideal choice for any beach day. Its wide, supportive seat, built-in pillow and multiple reclining positions ensure maximum relaxation, while the sturdy aluminum frame, wooden armrests and various carrying options make it both durable and easy to transport.
This chair offers full support with adjustable positions, including a flat setting and unique padded cutouts for comfortable face-down reading or napping. Despite its impressive size, it remains highly portable, folding down to just 4 inches thick and weighing only 9.8 pounds for easy carrying with its single shoulder strap.
Beach blankets and towels for a family beach vacation
These Amazon Essentials towels aren’t anything fancy, but they’re an easy way to bring down costs as you prep for your beach trip. The towels are more affordable than some others our team tested, but just as comfortable to lie on, fluffy and absorbent for your day spent beachside.
Dock & Bay is reinventing the towel game with its quick-drying microfiber towels that come in 38 fun colors and stripes. The towels fold into a matching pouch and are super absorbent. The towels are also sand-free — just shake them off and sand slips away.
There’s no better way to mark your territory on the beach than with a big ol’ blanket. Big enough for up to five adults (it’s 83 inches by 106 inches), this blanket’s chief selling point is its nylon fabric, which is both quick drying and shakes off sand easily.
Games and toys for a family beach vacation
A beach trip isn’t complete without a game. This paddle set is a great addition to all summer activities. It’s easy, fun and engaging for people of all ages. The paddles are also compact and lightweight, making them easy to pack for your vacation.
Beach days call for some family fun, and this glitter beach ball makes it way more fun to get competitive with the ones you love most. This inflatable option can be stored flat, blown up at the beach and then stored flat again when it’s time to head home. It’s easy to pack and adds just the right amount of sparkle to your day.
We promise that if you forget the beach toys, you’ll live to regret it. While a few shovels and buckets might not seem like a big deal, they are to kids! This 18-piece set will keep your crew busy in the sand for hours so you can get started on your summer reading.
Apparel and accessories for a family beach vacation
These stylist-recommended sunnies are durable enough to withstand wear from kids and adults, if you’re forced to share. The aviator style is timeless, and the lenses are polarized to help protect your eyes from the sun.
Having sleeves on your cover-up will come in handy when you’re looking to keep your shoulders and chest out of the sun. This style even has a hood if you’re looking to keep your neck and scalp covered up, too. The fabric offers UPF 50 protection to help shield your skin.
We don’t know about you, but finding a cute, packable beach hat is key to a successful summer (and beach day), and this easy-breezy one from J.Crew fits the bill. Designed to retain its shape no matter how squished it gets in your beach bag, the hat’s natural raffia color will match pretty much anything you’re wearing.
Comfortable and waterproof shoes at the beach are a must. These sandals are lightweight, super comfortable and perfect for walking on the sand or in the water. As a bonus, they’re also very easy to clean.
Shield yourself from the sun with this super-versatile hat from Australian brand Solbari. Reversible and packed with UPF 50+ protection, the Holiday Sun Hat has an adjustable interior cord for customizing the fit and an interior wire embedded into the 4-inch brim for tailoring the shape.
This is our best-tested water bottle because it’s incredibly durable, dishwasher safe and has a chug cap that makes it easy to drink from. There are lots of color options, so everyone can get their own color. It also comes in a kids’ version so the whole family can enjoy.
Store your smoothie or ice water in this vacuum-insulated stainless steel tumbler that can keep your drinks cold for five hours or hot for four. BPA-free, the cup comes with a reusable straw and a lid with three positions — a straw opening, a wide mouth for chugging and a full-cover top for no spills.
Do you know what the opposite of refreshing is? Sipping a warm beer. More than 15,000 Amazon reviewers agree the BrüMate can cooler is a must-have because it can keep both 12- and 16-ounce cans icy cold for hours, without any condensation.
A portable charger is a good item to have handy if you’re at the beach for the whole day. Long hours in the sun and exposure to water can take a toll on your phone’s battery life, which is why the Iniu portable charger is a perfect, compact solution to this problem.
A beach day falls flat without a rocking playlist, and this Sony speaker is your solution. It’s waterproof, dustproof and portable, and it has a strap for hooking to your beach chair. It’s our pick for the best travel speaker, thanks to its slick design and big sound.
A must-have travel accessory for those traveling to the beach, these pouches work great to keep phones completely dry in water. They also keep devices protected from sand. Plus, you can continue to use your touchscreen through the transparent covering.
The following FAQs have been answered by Rob Taylor, an established travel blogger.
“If you have sensitive skin or allergies, or if you have a favorite reef-safe sunblock, it’s worth getting a travel-sized version before an international beach vacation. While many destinations now have laws around what can be in sunscreen, being prepared with one that is both good for your family AND good for the environment is important,” Taylor said. He also said his family travels with their own snorkel masks and tubes for their own comfort as an alternative to renting. “I have one that’s good for deep freediving and our youngest has one that fits his smaller face, so we know we can always have good beach visits wherever we are, on our own or if we’re doing a guided tour,” he said.
Taylor recommends traveling during transitioning seasons to avoid high-travel times and costs. “I love when we can do late spring or early autumn beach vacations. April and May are wonderful because they fall between most northern hemisphere school breaks and then September and October are great for scoring the shoulder season prices while still getting good weather and warm water,” he said. “Even though the middle of winter is when you want that tropical beach vacation the most, you’ll tend to get better hotel and flight deals in the shoulder seasons (between peak summer and winter vacations).”
The luggage you pack is a personal preference, though if you’re packing a range of gear for the beach, you’ll want to make the most of your packing setup. When it comes to luggage, Taylor highlighted duffles that keep belongings sand-free and are colorful and easy to spot. “We’ve also been known to travel with small to medium-sized soft coolers and use them as carry-on luggage, holding small things until we need to use them at the beach. Yeti has some appropriately sized ones that have been so helpful in our travels,” he said.
For this article, we consulted the following experts to gain their professional insights.
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Natalie Copeland, FNP-C, aesthetic nurse practitioner and co-founder of Complexion
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Kim Davis, travel journalist and TV presenter
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Beth Higney, NP-C, aesthetic nurse practitioner and co-founder of Complexion
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Rob Taylor, founder of 2TravelDads, TheKeysExplored, MyAlohaTrip and other destination websites with a focus on accessible travel for families and travelers
CNN Underscored has a team of skilled writers and editors with many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when applicable to ensure we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item. For this article, updates writer Ellen McAlpine crafted a beach vacation packing list based on expert recommendations and CNN Underscored’s best-tested travel and beach gear.
