Planning beach trips with kids (and all their gear) is no easy feat—we'd go so far as to say it's a discipline that, when skillfully executed, should be applauded. That’s why we’ve called on the experts—parents who live within minutes of a shoreline and travel-savvy ones who understand packing constraints—to share their best family beach gear recommendations for days by the water. With their collective decades-worth of caretaking and vacationing experience, their perspectives are parenting gold.
Read on for their top family beach packing list picks, useful whether you're hitting the road to spend the summer at a beach house or live within driving distance of the shore year-round. (Planning for a trip with babies in tow? That requires an even more specific packing list—we've got you covered.)
All products featured on Junyuanr are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Fly Apparel Turkish beach towel
All beach towels are not created equal. Courtney Blacher, single mom to 12-year-old Reese and creator of the World In Four Days blog, loves Fly Apparel’s Turkish beach towels; made with 100 percent pure organic Turkish cotton, they're environmentally friendly and super soft, she says. Plus, their sophisticated designs don’t scream beach, allowing them to double as throws for the plane ride. “When Reese and I visited the Bahamas last year, we packed one for each of us in our carry-on,” she says. “They kept us warm on the airplane and stylish on the beach.”
Veer Family Base Camp
For Conz Preti, a Maine-based content creator and mother of three kids under four years old, ease and comfort are of utmost importance. Preti packs the Veer Family Base Camp (one of our top picks for baby beach gear), an open-air tent shelter that literally pops up to open—meaning, no assembly needed. She says it’s simple to set up and break down, even while holding a baby in one arm. “What’s even better is that I can change everyone out of wet clothes and into dry ones without getting covered in sand or exposing myself to half of the beach,” she says. “My twins even took a nap in it [during our last beach trip], shaded from the sun and staying cool, thanks to the side mesh windows.”
SkinCeuticals Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50
Mom of four and founder of the Tampa Mama blog, Marisa Langford is a vet when it comes to protecting her family (which includes an 8-, 11-, 15-, and 16-year-old) from the harsh sunny weather. “SkinCeuticals Physical Fushion UV Defense SPF 50 is the best sunscreen I’ve come across,” Langford says, adding that her kids report it doesn't irritate their skin like other sunscreens. Other huge pros include 100 percent mineral filters for protection against broad spectrum UVA and UVB rays and no white cast.
Ballast beach pillow
As the leader of a family of six, Langford has few moments to relax, but when she does, she takes advantage. “Once you’ve got everyone else settled, get out your book and quickly inflate your Ballast Beach Pillow,” she says. Compact and padded, this beach pillow can be paired with cooling gel packs for extra climate comfort; if you tend to overheat at the beach, slip a pack into your cooler, then into the pillow's sleeve when you need some relief.
Business & Pleasure The Premium beach tent
For the family who also wants a functional, easy-to-use canopy that’s as chic as the family it’s shading, fashion designer Amanda Perna recommends Business & Pleasure’s beach tent, made from eco-friendly materials. “I appreciate a beautiful, timeless design that elevates a functional accessory—like a beach tent—and this one delivers in so many ways,” says the Delray Beach, Florida, mother to four-year-old Stella.
Tommy Bahama folding beach chair
Living in St. Augustine, Florida, with a brood that includes two boys, ages six and nine, Rob Taylor says a lightweight yet sturdy chair is an indispensable beach accessory. The founder of LGBTQ+ family travel blog 2TravelDads and author of The Road Trip Survival Guide, Taylor says, “The aluminum framed Tommy Bahama folding beach chair is the winner in our family.” The best part is that these chairs are lightweight enough that even his kids can tote them from car to sand.
Isle inflatable stand-up paddle board
“This is our family time, so we love to play together while we are soaking up the sun,” Langford says. A few of the Langford family’s must-have toys include the Isle Inflatable Stand-Up Paddle Board, a super-durable board that’s constructed with layers of military-grade PVC; Coop Pipe 33 Bodyboard, sized for kids four feet and shorter; and Coop Battle Bounce, a game for two to four players that’s a cross between volleyball and four square.
FbSport portable badminton net set
“Since we spend long days at the beach, we bring entertainment for the family,” Taylor says. That includes a portable badminton set that sets up within a few minutes. Even better, all parts (a 10-foot net, two steel badminton rackets, and two badminton shuttlecocks) can be stored in the base for easy transportation. “Playing a simple, hilarious sport on the sand is a great break from crashing waves,” he says.
Goture water-tight tackle box
The beach offers endless finds for kids in the forms of shells, coral, and other seaside treasures, but what does a family do with their haul? “Having a small box such as a water-tight tackle box is a clever way to both engage kids in the wonders of nature and help them limit what they bring home,” Taylor says. “Also, what they do bring back from the beach is already organized in a sealed space, so it's not going to spread sand everywhere.”
Hiearcool waterproof phone case
A tiny investment will help protect your smartphone against all the uncertainty that the beach may offer. Alyson Seligman, a Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, single mom to an 7- and 11-year-old and creator of blog The Modern Savvy, says she discovered the benefit of this waterproof phone pouch during a paddleboarding trip and hasn’t looked back since. “It's perfect to keep your phone in while at the beach, kayaking, and other outdoor adventures,” she says.
Dejaroo mesh tote bag
Any parents can visualize the ubiquitous image of families toting multiple bags to the beach. Well, imagine no more, says Seligman, thanks to this mesh tote bag with eight pockets that can separate all your beach needs, from sunglasses and towels to snacks (the ones that don't need to go in the cooler), sunblock, kids toys, and more. “The mesh is genius,” she says. “You don't bring the sandy beach home with you, and all the pockets make the bag extra-functional.”
Mark & Graham x PBK wet/dry bag
All good things must come to an end, including beach days. Packing wet items in a wet/dry bag seals your family’s dirty, wet gear away from items that are clean and dry. “For a quick beach-to-brunch change, put the wet swimsuits in a wet/dry bag, like those from the Pottery Barn collection,” Seligman says. The bags come in various sizes and designs, with optional personalization, too.
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