Best Beach Packing List
The sun is shining, the water is clear, and you are getting ready to pack up your beach bag. You want to make sure that you have everything you need for a day of fun in the sun! In this blog post we will go over 31 beach essentials – from sunscreen to flip-flops. Hopefully this will make your beach packing list a little more thorough.
39 Beach Bag Essentials
Sunscreen
Sunburns are the worst, and it doesn’t even have to be hot outside for you to get one. You should always make sure that your sunscreen has a high SPF so you cover all of your bases from UVA/UVB rays. I recommend Australian Gold cream sunscreen. because not only does it offer broad spectrum protection but also contains hydrating agents like aloe vera leaf juice and antioxidants like vitamin E – these help prevent skin aging while providing superior hydration as well!
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Flip-flops
Flip flop season is coming up soon which means there will be more people walking around in them on the sand or in water. Flip flops will always be more comfortable than wearing heels or wedges when walking on the sand.
A sarong
A sarong will come in handy for many things – from a beach cover-up to wiping your feet off before entering someone’s house. I recommend bringing one just in case!
These sarongs go with any style suit and are long enough to protect your legs from more sun.
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Sunscreen wipes
Sunscreen wipes are great because they make applying sunscreen so much easier and faster by simply removing the need to slather up with lotion all over. You can also throw them into your bag and use them as a touch-up during lunchtime, which means you don’t have to sit next to people who haven’t reapplied their sunscreen yet.
I love them if we are traveling overseas because they take up very little room in a carry on bag.
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Beach Bag
A good beach bag is essential for a day at the beach. I recommend one with an inner lining that’s water-resistant so you don’t have to worry about putting wet beach toys and suits in it before going home.
If you have a zipper pocket you can use it to safely store your wallet, phone and keys.
This is a great bag that has a large wet compartment to fit wet suits.
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A personal fan
Handheld or battery operated fans are great because they can be used anywhere on both wet and dry surfaces to keep you cool.
These personal fans sit around the neck and cool you down enormously! They are so cool.
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Water Bottle
Bring a waterfall full of ice and water to keep hydrated while having fun in the sun.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses are a must because they protect your eyes from UV rays, and also help shield you against intense sun glare. I like these Costa Del Mar which come in lots of different colors so there’s something for everyone! They are high quality sunglasses that will last a decade as they are scratch resistant and polarized.
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Beach Blanket
I have an entire post dedicated to Beach Blankets. They are an absolute must especially if you are traveling with kids.
I love this Beach Mat because it can be used to sit on the sand, it is very lightweight, it doesn’t get sand stuck on it and you can keep in flat with the included plastic stakes.
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Kite
A kite is fun for adults and kids alike! It’s great exercise in getting airborne wind current. We always bring really cool kites on beach vacations and the kids love it! Check before you go to see if your beach allows Kites as some do not
Beach ball
A beach ball will make an awesome addition to your summer beach day. The kids can throw it around, roll it and use it to play with in the water.
Towels
Towels are a staple for any beach trip. If space is tight you will love Turkish beach towels as they fold up small but keep you dry and sand free. This oversized Turkish Beach towel is so soft you will want them for your whole family.
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Trash can
You’ll be glad you brought one of these on your next beach day when you see how much trash gets left behind at the water line. It will keep your area cleaner and help to make carry out easy.
Beach chair
If you are over the age of 20, you will want to have a beach chair that is lightweight and easy to carry. This is our family’s all time favorite chair.
You can carry it in with the attached backpack straps, store things in the zipper pockets and recline in this lightweight chair.
(I have had mine for over 10 years and it looks as good as new!)
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You’ll need a place for your refreshments while at the beach or on the boat! Bigger isn’t always better; you want something that can be carried easily and one that will keep the cool in.
This one can be wheeled and carried!
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Beach Umbrella
Be prepared for the sun with a lightweight beach umbrella. This one is great because it tilts to keep you in the shade without having to reposition it.
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Beach tent
If you have young kids who need a little more sun protection or need a nap, a beach tent is a great option.
This pop- up one folds down super small and goes up without any work at all!
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Beach wagon
This is a great way to transport all your beach items. If you have a good hauling wagon already, you don’t need a separate wagon just for the beach. That way you can use it for outdoor concerts, festivals and the beach.
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Sport-brella
A beach umbrella hybrid that allows you to open it for a little bit of sun and have perfect shade with an easy zipper.
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Sand toys
The kids will want to play with sand toys on the beach or at the pool. These are our favorites because they don’t break easily like most do.
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Inflatable lounge
This is the perfect place to relax on sunny days. They are so easy to fill as you just use the air around you instead of blowing it up.
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Good Books
The secluded areas around the water are an amazing way to enjoy a good book while listening to the waves crashing in on shore. Here are some recommend books for this summer.
Portable speaker
The beach is the perfect place to enjoy listening to your favorite songs. This speaker has amazing sound and it’s not too big so you can keep it with you wherever you go!
This portable speaker has sound that rivals much more expensive speakers. Plus it’s waterproof so its a great speaker for the beach.
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World Landmark sand toys
If you are going to build sandcastles you might as well build ones in the shape of World Landmarks. My kids got such a kick out of making the Leaning Tower of Pisa and having it stand up!
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Hide your valuables
Hide your valuables in this pretend water bottle so that you can enjoy your day without worry.
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Visor or a Baseball Hat
Your eyes need to be protected, especially if you aren’t wearing sunglasses. Keept them protected from the sun with a nice brimmed hat or visor!
Wide-brimmed Hat
Protect yourself from the damaging effects of sunlight. Wide-brimmed hats offer some protection for your neck and shoulders as well.
This hat is great because it can be adjusted in size and folded up without damaging it.
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Lightweight Scarf
A lightweight scarf can be a great way to cover up parts of your body that are getting too much sun. Plus you can tie it as a sarong if you need.
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Aqua shoes
Shoes are an important part of any beach trip and these shoes will keep your feet from being injured on rocky shores like the ones we have in New England beaches. Aqua shoes have come a long way in the past 10 years and they resemble sneakers instead of weird socks. Plus they have more traction that water shoes of the 1990s.
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Wet Bag
A place to keep your wet clothes separate from the rest of your gear. Each family member can have one and keep their wet suits from getting everything else wet. Plus they are a great size to put into Travel Diaper Bags to keep wet baby clothes separated.
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Lip Balm
Protecting your lips is a very important part of protecting yourself on the beach and this lip balm will keep them moist, healthy and protected all day long!
Baby Powder
Nothing works better to get sand off wet feet than a sprinkle of baby powder. Baby powder quickly dries your feet enabling you to brush away sandy toes before getting in the car. This is a must for any family beach vacation!
Waterproof Camera
Most GoPro cameras have waterproof capability, and many others have cases you can buy to make your camera waterproof. These iPhone cases are great because they work for lots of different sizes.
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Snorkel Gear
So many people are interested in exploring the underwater world, but don’t want to invest in a full set of scuba gear. A snorkel is a great way to see if you like it before investing more money into something that may not be your thing!
If you love to ride the waves a Boogie Board is a great thing to have at the beach. If the beach you are visiting has waves you will have the time of your life.
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Snacks
No beach trip is complete without snacks. Nuts and dried fruit are a great source of energy that you can easily pack in an individual bag to take with you on the go! But your can take anything that you can pack!
Goggles
My kids hate getting salt water in their eyes so we always have to remember to bring goggles. You can choose from snorkel like goggles or plain swimming goggles; but watch out for tinted goggles as the salt water can break down the tint.
Beach Games
Beach games are a great way to spend time with friends and family. There are so many options out there, but here are just a few:
Kan Jam
I love this game because it is so lightweight and it keeps my kids entertained for a good hour.
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Frisbee
Beach frisbee is really fun and a really good workout for your calves! Not all frisbees are equal, we used to use cheap or free frisbees and now we have invested in a few good ones and they are sooooo good.
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Water Gun Fight
Get a pack of water guns and let the kids (or the adults) run wild shooting each other with water.
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Volleyball
Beach Volleyball is a big favorite and tons of beaches have Volleyball nets already set up. All you have to do is bring a ball and some friends and you can have a super beach volleyball game.
Corn Hole
Similar to horse shoes but with bean bags! Corn Hole is very portable and it gets very competitive!
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I hope this list helps you get ready for a great beach vacation or just a day at the beach. There are few things more delightful than a beach day in the summer.
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Last update on 2026-02-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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