Whether you are heading to Maui, Punta Cana or your local beach, trying to get out the door is never an easy task when you have a troop like I do. In order to ensure I always have what I need before we leave I have created a simple Lake or Beach Vacation Packing List.
I simply check it off before we go and that way we always have everything we need to be comfortable and safe so we can focus on having more fun! You can print my list + check out the 5 products you probably didn’t know you needed and why below.
Summertime Lake or Beach Vacation Packing List + FREE Printable
This cooler backpack gets the number one spot and it’s so worth every penny. It’s the perfect size to fit snacks and drinks for the whole family, and we can stay at the beach longer when we bring fuel for all of us. YETI is high quality performance and it’s definitely worth the investment. You will get so much use out of this cooler bag all year long from beach trips, to lake to trips, and even bring it to Disney or just to the park for a picnic.
A huge, yet compact beach blanket is a must for our family. It’s nylon and sand proof, so just shake it off when you’re done. Buy one here.
You don’t want to be without shade at the beach. This canopy tent is compact but provides shade for the whole family. It’s super easy to setup, and even works well for windy days. Choose from a few colors here.
How cool is this lounger? It takes up no space at all when to deflated, and to inflate it you simply whisk it into the air and it stays inflated. Perfect for the beach, sitting lakeside, and makes a great camping chair too. Choose from your colors here.
Protect your phone in this dry bag case. You can still take all the pictures and videos through the clear windows, but it stays locked to keep out water and sand.
These sand coasters are such smart invention and have become a must have for us at the beach. Not only do they keep your drinks from sinking or tipping over in the sand, you can also use them as a storage for your cell phone, lip balm, keys, or whatever you want within reach.
Toss these 3D beach balls are one of the most convenient toys to pack for a day at the beach, pool, or lake. Toss them in your bag and inflate when you get there. The designs are so fun, your kids will love tossing them around. Buy your 3-pack here.
Of course we always have to bring sand toys! This convenient pack has everything you need to create amazing sand castles and sculptures. Buckets, watering cans, rakes, sifters, and a variety of molds. This will spark your Kida creativity and keep them busy for hours.
When you want to pack light for the beach or lake, these collapsible silicone sand pails make the perfect toy to fit in your beach bag. They stay open and sturdy until you collapse them, and they’re really light weight and easy for little ones to carry around. If your traveling far, these make the perfect bucket to pack in your suitcase. Get the 3 fun color pack here for a great price.
Ahh..this little misting fan is a slice of heaven on those warm sunny days by the water. It’s packable and convenient, and you will be so happy you packed it. Buy it here.
It can get pretty toasty laying in the sun, these cooling towels are the perfect accessory to cool you down. Simply wet the towel to activate it and it will start to cool down up to 30 degrees. Washable an reusable too. Get a couple for your family here and you can cut them to any size.
I don’t know about you, but I hate getting sand stuck in my shoes. If I make the mistake of wearing the wrong shoes, it seems like I’m forever finding tiny bits of sand between my toes.
These EVA Birkenstocks are the perfect beach sandal to avoid that problem. Easy to slide on and off, and you can just rinse them off afterwards and you’re sand free. Find your size and choose from different colors here.
Even with all the packable and compact beach and lake accessories above, there is still so much to carry if you want to bring everything to fully enjoy your day. This wagon is such a big help and rolls right through the sand.
This actually works! When your done at the beach or lake, use this pouch to wipe off the sand before loading into the car. It’s reusable and refillable. Buy yours here.
The most compact and easy to travel with baby carrier that I’ve found. It’s supportive and gives you more freedom to move around while keeping your baby close. Find the current deals here on it here.
We find it useful to have a more private shade area for little ones to nap and play, and this tent has UV protection UPF 50+ to keep your baby safe from the rays. It has stakes to keep it in place, and it folds up in seconds. It’s also great for camping to keep the bugs out.
These fun prints from Hanna Anderson will brighten your littles ones day while blocking the harmful UVA/UVB rays. Find a variety of prints, and more options for rash guards and protective swimwear and sun hats here.
This sun hat for babies has the highest certified UV protection and will help keep you little one cool. They have 20+ different prints, and it’s under $15 here.
For mom, we love this beach hat. It’s packable, breathable, waterproof, and keeps you protected while still looking cute.
Spikeball is always so much fun to play at the beach and it’s fun for the whole family. We love this set here.
Bringing along small games is always a good idea too, especially if you’re only going for a quick trip. This water football is sure to entertain your big kids and it works great for the pool as well.
Bottle Bash is another really fun game and we recommend this one that’s packable enough to bring along to the beach. The bottles are impact resistant, and for the adults, you can turn this one into a drinking game.
It’s good to Invest in a quality boogie board, it will be coming with you on every beach trip. It’s so much fun to watch the kids crash in the waves and hop on yourself when you need to cool down. This one is super durable and built to last.
This skim board is is great for kids, teenagers, and adults. If you’ve never tried skim boarding, it’s so much fun and actually pretty easy to hop on for beginners. Get this one here.
Paddle Ball is a classic beach game and this set is quality that will last for many seasons. You can even personalize it here.
While most things you need to pack for your lake or beach vacation are simple to remember, like towels and sunscreen, there are a few products that we have found to be incredibly useful over the years. We had to learn the hard way with most of these items but you can save precious vacation time by learning from our mistakes. Trust me when I say you NEED these 5 products in your lake or beach bag.
Shop This Post – Beach Vacation Packing List
The 5 Products you Didn’t Know You Needed on Your Beach Vacation Packing List
Hyland’s Earache Drops
Kids are in the water ALL day when they are at a lake or a beach. After hours and hours of swimming you can bet you are going to hear some complaints about earaches. A simple remedy to help relieve fever, pain, irritability and sleeplessness is a few drops of Hyland’s Earache Drops.
Hyland’s is a brand I have personally trusted for years. It started with their teething tablets when my babies were little and teething. And, then their Nerve Tonic really helped our kids deal with some of the stresses of international travel.
Hyland’s Earache Drops are a natural blend of botanicals and minerals that are homeopathically prepared. And, because they contain no alcohol there is ZERO sting- YAY! Packing Hyland’s Earache Drops can help your little ones feel better fast so you can get back to having fun!
Bug Spray
Bug bites are no fun for anyone. Not only are they uncomfortable but no they can also carry things like the Zika virus. As the CDC states that the “best way to prevent Zika is to protect yourself from mosquito bites” and the best way we have found to protect ourselves is by making sure we apply bug spray before heading out to the lake or the beach with the kids.
Anti-Itch Cream
Of course even though you try your best to protect against harmful bites it is best to travel with an anti-itch cream too just in case someone does get bit.
Our daughter tends to have large reactions to bug bites and foolishly it took us years, and even a trip to the ER in Costa Rica, before realizing how helpful an anti-itch/ analgesic cream is at preventing the bug bite reactions from getting worse.
Baby Powder
To make sure the sand stays at the beach or lake and not all over your car our go-to product is baby powder. You simply rub the powder on sandy legs and feet before you let the kids hop in the car. The baby powder dries up the wet sand making it easy to wipe off.
Bags for Wet Clothes
There is nothing worse than going to grab a warm sweatshirt in the evening only to find it is cold and damp because the kids threw their wet bathing suit right on top of it. To prevent that from happening we pack bags for wet clothes.
My favorite ones are super cute and the bags lay flat so they easily fit inside my other larger bags. And they have a moisture-resistant wipe able interior that keeps the wet stuff from getting on the dry stuff. These also work great for the potty-training days in case you have soiled clothes that you need to store.
Find EVERYTHING you need for your beach vacation packing list with our FREE printable below:
>>PRINTABLE LAKE OR BEACH VACATION PACKING LIST<<
Are there any go-to products that you have found that make your lake or beach vacation smoother and more fun??
If so make sure to share them in the comments below.
Pin for Later- Summertime Lake or Beach Vacation Packing List + FREE Printable
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