Beach Trip Packing List
A free, editable beach packing checklist. Swimwear, sun protection, beach gear and more - load it into PackParrot and check off as you pack.
Sun, sand and salt water are hard on anything you forget at home. This beach packing list covers everything from swimwear and reef-safe sunscreen to the small things that quietly ruin a beach day - a dry bag for your phone, aloe for the sunburn you swear you won't get, a spare towel.
Load the full list into PackParrot with one tap, then add, remove or rename anything so it fits your trip. Your list saves in your browser, so you can keep checking things off right up to the moment you leave.
The full beach trip checklist
This is the real list you'll load into the tool. Open it in PackParrot to check items off and make it yours.
Clothing
Footwear
Beach Gear
Toiletries
Documents & Money
Electronics
Health & Medicine
Miscellaneous
Camera Gear
Adjust it for how long you're going
A single beach day needs little more than swimwear, a towel, sunscreen and water. For a week by the coast, pack a fresh swimsuit for each two days (nothing dries slower than a damp bikini in a suitcase), plus evening outfits for dinners out. Longer stays are mostly about laundry, not more clothes - a travel detergent sheet beats packing fourteen shirts.
Adjust it for the weather
Check the forecast before you finalise. Consistent heat means more sun protection and a wide-brim hat; patchy weather means a light rain layer and one warm top for breezy evenings by the water. If the sea is cool early in the season, water shoes and a rash vest make swimming far more pleasant. You can also let PackParrot suggest changes from the forecast - enter your destination and dates and it adapts the list for you.
Easy to forget
- Reef-safe or mineral sunscreen (check local rules)
- After-sun or aloe vera gel
- A waterproof phone pouch
- A second towel that stays dry
- Blister plasters for new sandals
- A zip-lock bag for wet swimwear on the trip home
Gear worth packing
A few picks that solve the most common problems on this kind of trip.
Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50
Broad-spectrum, water-resistant and safe for marine life - the one thing you truly cannot improvise on a beach.
Check price on Amazon →Waterproof phone pouch
A floating, touch-through pouch so you can film in the shallows without a knot in your stomach.
Check price on Amazon →Quick-dry beach towel
Packs down small, dries fast and shakes sand off far better than a bath towel.
Check price on Amazon →Frequently asked questions
What should I pack for a beach vacation?
At a minimum: swimwear, a towel, SPF 50 sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat and plenty of water. Add beach gear (a dry bag, water shoes, a cooler), evening clothes, and any medication. Load the full editable checklist above into PackParrot and tailor it to your trip length and destination.
How many swimsuits should I bring?
Roughly one for every two days, so you always have a dry one. Swimwear dries slowly in a packed bag, and a damp suit is the fastest way to a bad beach morning.
Do I really need reef-safe sunscreen?
Some destinations restrict sunscreens containing ingredients such as oxybenzone and octinoxate, so check the current local rules before travelling and consider a mineral sunscreen where required. Even where nothing is mandated, a mineral formula is kinder to the water you're about to swim in.
Can I combine this with another trip type?
Yes. If your trip mixes beach days with hiking or city time, use the Combine feature in PackParrot to merge lists and remove the duplicates automatically.