Beach vacation packing list for families

Sun care, with the math

Sunscreen is the item families most often run out of, because almost everyone uses too little and underestimates how much they'll need.

How much sunscreen to pack

The American Academy of Dermatology says most adults need about 1 ounce of sunscreen, roughly a shot glass, to cover exposed skin, and should reapply every two hours and right after swimming or sweating (AAD).

Do the math for a family of four on a full beach day with two or three applications each, and you get something like 8 to 12 ounces a day. That's an estimate, not a rule (kids need less per application, and you might be in the shade at lunch), but it explains why a single 3-ounce tube doesn't last. For a week of heavy beach time, plan on buying more once you arrive.

Flying carry-on only? Sunscreen counts as a liquid, so containers must be 3.4 oz or less under TSA's 3-1-1 rule. Bring one small tube for day one and buy the rest there.

Sunscreen rules in Hawaii (and Maui especially)

• Hawaii (statewide): since January 1, 2021, the state has banned the sale and distribution of sunscreens containing oxybenzone or octinoxate without a prescription (Hawaii Revised Statutes §342D-21).
• Maui County (Maui, Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi): stricter. Since October 1, 2022, it has banned the sale, distribution and use of non-mineral sunscreen without a prescription. Only sunscreens whose active ingredients are zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide are allowed (Maui County).

Simplest move for any Hawaii trip: pack mineral sunscreen with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the only active ingredients. Other destinations have their own reef-protection rules, so check yours before you buy.

Babies under 6 months

The AAP recommends keeping babies under 6 months out of direct sun, in the shade, with lightweight long sleeves, pants and a wide-brimmed hat. Sunscreen generally isn't recommended this young, but if shade and clothing aren't available, a small amount on small areas such as the face is OK (HealthyChildren.org, FDA). Ask your pediatrician.

Everything else for the sun

• SPF lip balm for everyone.
• Hats with a brim, and sunglasses, one each.
• Rash guards for kids. They cut down on sunscreen and fights about sunscreen.
• Aloe or after-sun. You'll want it the first evening.

Swim

• Two swimsuits each, so one can dry while you wear the other.
• Swim diapers: about two per swim day for each child in diapers. Regular diapers swell up in water. Reusable swim diapers cut the count: two or three can cover a trip if you rinse them between swims, plus a wet bag.
• Water shoes for hot sand, rocks and shells.
• Cover-ups for beachside restaurants and the walk back.
• A US Coast Guard-approved life jacket sized for your child's weight, if they'll be in or near open water. Pool floaties and inflatable toys aren't safety devices.
• Goggles for kids who will actually put their faces in.

Shade

• A pop-up beach tent or umbrella. For babies and toddlers it doubles as the nap spot, changing room and snack bar.
• A small inflatable pool in the shade keeps a toddler happy without heading to the waves every five minutes. Stay within arm's reach the whole time, and empty it when you're done.
• A beach blanket or sand-free mat.
• Plan shorter beach sessions for little ones, and head back before they're overtired. The hours around midday are when the sun is strongest.

The beach bag

• A mesh beach bag, so sand falls right through.
• A waterproof phone pouch.
• Zip bags, about two per beach day, for wet swimsuits, snacks and leaks.
• Refillable water bottles, one per person, and more water than you think.
• Snacks that survive heat: crackers, fruit pouches, pretzels.
• Simple sand toys: a bucket, a shovel and a sieve are plenty. A mesh bag of toys rinses easily.
• A small towel per person if your rental or resort doesn't provide beach towels (check before you pack bulky ones).
• Cornstarch powder to rub sand off older kids' and adults' skin. Don't use powder on babies or near anyone's face, since breathing it in can hurt their lungs. A damp cloth works for little ones.

Clothes: less than you think

Swimsuits and cover-ups do most of the work on a beach trip. Plan:

• Days: swimsuit plus cover-up, plus shorts and a top for the evening.
• Dinners out: about one nicer outfit for every two or three nights, with bottoms re-worn.
• Kids under 5: a spare outfit every day.
• A light layer for breezy evenings.
• Sandals and one pair of walking shoes.
• Have a washer in your rental? You can pack even less.

Small things people forget

• Small bills for tips, beach chair rentals and the shave-ice stand.
• Basic stomach medicine and a small first-aid kit with bandages and antiseptic for shell cuts.
• Chargers and wall bricks.
• Plug adapters for an international beach trip. See our international travel checklist.
• Bug spray for evenings.

Age-by-age

Baby (under 12 months)

Shade first: a tent with UPF fabric, a canopy for the stroller, and lightweight long-sleeved clothing and a wide-brimmed hat. Swim diapers, a wet bag, a portable fan, and plenty of feeds, since heat makes babies thirsty. Ask your pediatrician about sunscreen and hydration for babies under 6 months.

Toddler (1 to 3)

Rash guard, sun hat with a chin strap, water shoes, swim diapers or a potty plan, a small shaded pool, and simple sand toys. Pack their diapers by our diaper guide, and the comfort item for beach naps.

Kid (4 to 8)

Goggles, a boogie board or bucket of their choice, a life jacket for open water, water shoes, and their own water bottle.

Tween (9 to 12)

Their own sunscreen and the responsibility to reapply it, a waterproof phone pouch, snorkel gear if you'll snorkel, and a cover-up for restaurants.

What parents forget

What parents forget: after-sun. Nobody plans to burn. Pack aloe anyway.

What parents forget: the Maui rule. Non-mineral sunscreen isn't just banned from sale in Maui County, it's banned from use.

What parents forget: swim diapers. Regular diapers swell up in the water and don't work.

What parents forget: the second swimsuit. Nobody wants to put on a damp suit in the morning.

Before you head home

Shake the sand out of everything before it goes back in the bag, keep a zip bag aside for still-damp swimsuits, and do a sweep of the room: bathroom hooks, the shower, the room safe and every outlet. The comfort item and the charger brick are the classics.

Get this list built for your beach trip

Tag your beach days in Packworthy and every traveler gets their own section of one shared family list, with a swim diaper added for each baby on every beach day (bump it to the 2-per-swim-day count above if they'll swim more than once) and age-based items for the little ones. It also checks the weather where you're going, so the rain jacket makes the list when it should.

FAQ

How much sunscreen do I need for a beach vacation? The AAD suggests about 1 ounce per adult application, reapplied every two hours and after swimming. For a family of four on a full beach day, that can add up to around 8 to 12 ounces, so plan to buy more there.

Can babies wear sunscreen? For babies under 6 months, the AAP recommends shade and protective clothing first. If those aren't possible, a small amount of sunscreen on small areas is OK. Ask your pediatrician.

Is sunscreen banned in Hawaii? Hawaii bans the sale of sunscreens with oxybenzone or octinoxate. Maui County goes further and bans the sale and use of any non-mineral sunscreen. Pack sunscreen with only zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.

How many swimsuits should I pack for a beach vacation? Two per person, so one can dry while you wear the other.

What do I need for a baby at the beach? Shade (a tent or umbrella), long-sleeved sun clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, swim diapers, a wet bag, a fan and plenty of feeds.

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• Carry-on only packing list