Beach Packing List

A beach packing list is essential for travel to a tropical destination. There are just extra things you need to take when traveling to a beach destination!

WHY DO I NEED A BEACH PACKING LIST?

You probably have some great vacation packing list and are wondering why you need another packing list just for the beach.

The beach is different from other inland vacation destinations. There are lots of different activities happening on a beach vacation and if you don’t pack correctly you will end up spending a lot of unnecessary money.

You wouldn’t take a France travel guide on a trip to Australia and you wouldn’t want to use a generic vacation packing list for a beach vacation!

If you don’t have what you need at the beach the prices of ordinary items will shock you! Beach destinations are really popular and they hike up the prices because of the large number of tourists.

WHAT DO I NEED TO PACK FOR THE BEACH?

There are certain things you will need to bring to the beach that you would not need on an inland trip. Whether you are going on a week-long trip or a day trip to the beach, many of these items will come in handy.

Here are some items we always take when we are road tripping to the beach:

Flip Flops and/or Water Shoes
Sunglasses
Beach Towels
Beach Chairs—these are great if you don’t want to lay down all the time
Goggles–keep that salt water out of your eyes
Sunscreen
Lip Balm with SPF–don’t forget–lips can burn too!
Snacks and Water Bottles
Cooler
Waterproof Dry Bags for our Phones
Beach Toys
Wet Bag–we change out of our swimwear before heading home
Hats–helps protect our heads from the hot sun
Extra Plastic Bags–great for putting our trash in
Huge Beach Bag–it can never be too big, LOL–get a sand free bag for the best experience
Wet Wipes and Tissues
Floatation Devices/Kickboards/Kneeboards
Insect Repellent—yes there can be bugs at the beach

MY BEST BEACH TIPS

Most people love the beach, but everyone agrees that there are certain things that make a day at the beach more enjoyable.

I have gone to the beach enough times to have some seriously good tips to make your trip better!

Here are some of my favorite beach tips:

Reapply sunscreen a LOT–you can’t overdo sunscreen at the beach and a burn will ruin your trip and is bad for your skin’s health
Stay hydrated! You need to drink a lot of good quality liquids while you are at the beach.
Learn about rip currents and teach your kids!! This could save a life.
Don’t walk around barefoot. You should always wear flip flops or water shoes on the beach AND in the water to protect your feet. There is no way to see what is under the sand and getting cut or stung makes for a bad day at the beach.
Scout out the area and know where bathrooms are located and where the nearest lifeguard tower is located. We like to sit within easy reach of a lifeguard especially if the kids are with us.
Have a family safety plan already set up and make sure everyone understands the rules for the day. One rule we always follow is that no one goes into the ocean alone.
Put leave-in conditioner in your hair before you go to the beach. Salt water and sun are really damaging to hair and the conditioner helps to protect it so you don’t look fried the next day.
An umbrella or pop up tent are really nice especially for younger kids. The sun is HOT and having some shade can make a long day much better.