I love to travel, and with more airlines restricting carry-on luggage and charging more for checked bags, I hate ending up with things I don’t need or not having the things I want. This beach vacation packing list ensures I remember what I need without overpacking.
Beach Vacation Packing List Printable
Click the image to download the packing checklist.
What’s On The Checklist
- Clothing and swimwear, plus your “necessaries”
- Shoes, the ones you’ll need and the ones you wear on the plane
- Beach gear, from the tote to the drink floats
- Toiletries and sunscreen in TSA-approved sizes
- Documents and items for international travel
- Electronics and items you’ll need throughout the day
- The extras most packing lists skip
Print it, check things off as you pack, and you’ll thank me at the airport.
In addition to the free printable beach vacation packing list, I have a few packing tips. There are also some items you may not think to pack that can make your vacation even better.
When I travel, I pack some items that many others don’t know about or think to bring. Each one either makes my life easier when I travel or makes me happier, so be sure to read the explanation.
And isn’t vacation all about happiness? Use this beach vacation packing list to make life easier, and enjoy your next vacation even more!
Need more travel tips? Check out other favorite travel tips and hacks at the end of this article.
Some links in this article are affiliate links that may earn me a commission if you purchase through them.
What to Pack for a 7-Day Beach Vacation
A week sounds like a lot of clothes. It isn’t – or at least you can avoid that trap.
When you’re heading out on a beach vacation, your goal is usually comfort, not high fashion. Read up on the dress code for wherever you plan to stay, then think about how you plan to spend your days.
Here’s what I actually bring on a seven-day trip: three swimsuits, a rashguard, two cover-ups, two T-shirts, one pair of shorts, and three sundresses. That’s it, and I’ve never once run out of clothes to wear.
On this type of vacation, I pretty much live in my swimsuits during the day. Real clothes only come out for dinner, so three sundresses rotating across seven nights is plenty.
Shoes are where most people tend to overpack. I wear tennis shoes on the plane, then I bring flip-flops and one or two pairs of comfortably dressy sandals that will go with every evening outfit.
Yes, you can wear the same shorts twice. No one notices. Nobody cares.
Another Tip? Check out where you plan to stay and what you plan to do there to decide whether to pack water shoes. Some beach destinations or excursions require them while others don’t.
Also, check what amenities the hotel provides. Do they have quality shampoo and conditioner so you can leave yours at home? Awesome!
Do they have a hairdryer that will work for your needs? Do they provide beach towels even if you go off-resort? You’re all set there.
Be sure to bring plenty of reef-safe sunscreen for your beach trips. And since those generally come in larger bottles, did you know you can transfer them to TSA-approved travel bottles so you don’t have to check a bag?
Use the free printable packing list for beach vacations, and don’t forget about the “extras” and why you need them!
Beach Vacation Packing Checklist
What to Add to Your Beach Vacation Packing List
Beyond your standard items, there are several that I bring that make my life so much easier. Depending on where you’re going, you may want to add these, too.
Blue or Black Pen
Was your first reaction “why?” I don’t blame you. So often people don’t travel with a pen, and if they do, it isn’t always blue or black.
But… if you travel internationally, you need to fill out a customs form. They hand the forms out on the plane, which is when you want to complete them.
Don’t get stuck at the end of the line. Bring a pen with blue or black ink, and save yourself the headache.
The Perfect Sun Hat
Whenever you spend time in the sun, you should wear a hat and protect your face and ears. I found my absolute favorite sun hat ever. I’ve been using it since 2014, and it’s still going strong in 2026.
I can pack this hat without worrying about crushing it. When it gets wet, it doesn’t lose its shape. And it comes in all sorts of colors.
And my favorite feature? It rolls up when I’m not wearing it, so it doesn’t take up a ton of room in my beach bag or my suitcase.
I usually pack a ball cap, too, for outings where I want my hair out of my face but am not as concerned about the sun, but I never travel without this hat.
Insulated Water Bottle
I love using an insulated water bottle on a cruise ship or at a resort to stay hydrated while I’m out and about, and I use it when I travel, too. Leave your bottle empty, then fill it at a drinking fountain as soon as you pass through airport security.
Forget having to wait for a flight attendant to come through with the drink cart – you’re all set. This is one item I know often gets left off a beach vacation packing list, but you want it!
Pro tip: I use a wide-mouth bottle so I can pour a drink into it at the bar and take it to the pool or ocean without worrying about it spilling, and it does not EVER leak. But no matter what, this keeps things hot. Or cold.
Travel Straws with Silicone Tips
Have you been on a beach vacation yet where they have no straws or – almost worse – paper straws? Let’s just say that makes enjoying a frozen drink difficult.
My travel agent sent me a set of reusable travel straws that collapse for easy storage and have silicone tips so they feel good in your mouth.
I. Fell. In. Love.
On my last trip, I bought a set for everyone I traveled with so they’d have extras for their family when they got home. They loved them just as much.
Each one has its own case, and they come with brush cleaners so you can give them a good clean in your resort bathroom. Some bartenders will also wash them out for you.
Water Resistant Beach Tote
I carry a beach bag with me that’s generally a canvas bag with a zipper. That holds my day-to-day items – sunscreen, books, sunglasses, etc.
When I’ll be around water or sand, however, I like to have a water-resistant tote that carries my towels and protects everything from splashes, etc. The last thing anyone wants is to have anything ruined.
Bonus? I love this one from SeaBags, made with actual sails and featuring the most beautiful designs. Plus, this waterproof beach tote rolls up in my suitcase so it doesn’t take up much room, and when I suddenly need extra luggage on my trip back, it acts as an extra carry-on.
Don’t tell me I’m the only one who’s shopped and OOPS needs more space.
The other similar item I pack if I plan to be on a boat for any reason is a dry bag. This one is completely waterproof and floats if it falls overboard for whatever reason.
Just make sure you seal it properly, as an open bag doesn’t keep out water or float for long! I use the 20-liter size, which holds beach towels, cameras, and all the gear I need for a day on the water.
TSA Approved Liquid Travel Containers
We all know the TSA 311 rule, right? Liquids in your carry-on have to be 3.4 ounces or less in a single quart-size zip-top bag, and only one bag per passenger.
Even if you check your bags, make sure you have the critical items in your carry-on – a change of clothes, travel documents, medicine, etc. That means my hair products, sunscreen, and the like, too.
Wellll some of those bottles are huge, so I found the perfect liquid travel containers. I love these for so many reasons (including that they hook onto the strap of my beach bag), and I’ve travel-tested these, so I know they work.
Multiple colors, BPA-free silicone, and no leaks? Sign me up. I have used mine for years, and they remain in great shape trip after trip.
Drink Floaties
This is one of those fun things I absolutely love and want to add to my beach vacation packing list just because I can. If I’m in water anywhere, these just make me smile.
This set comes with 12 different floats, so you can share them with friends or swap them out every day. They’re super cute patterns – though I did finally decide the mermaid is my favorite.
The pump comes with the inflatable drink floats, so that makes it even easier. It’s fast to pump them up, and they squish down to their original size when you’re done to use again later.
Kids adore these, and they’re fun for adults, too.
Pop your cup into the floatie in the pool and enjoy your time to relax. And yup, there are 12 of these, plus the air pump, for well under $15. How can you not add that fun to your next trip?
What would you add to a beach vacation packing list?
More great travel tips:
- How to stay in touch for free when traveling internationally
- Why you need TSA precheck
- How to get passports for your kids
- What to know about Beaches Resorts
- How to make customs fast and easy in Jamaica
- Or check out all my travel advice and destination recommendations
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Great tips! I love the printable packing list—it makes organizing so much easier. I always struggle with packing light, so these strategies will definitely come in handy. Can’t wait for my beach trip!
Thanks – I’m glad this is helpful for you. Enjoy your trip!