This article is a part of CNN Underscored’s Summer Travel Week, a weeklong focus on how to travel smarter and save money during one of the busiest travel seasons of the year.
Going to the beach in the summer is one of life’s simplest pleasures — getting your family beach vacation packing list together is not. If your family is going to the beach this summer, you are going to need a variety of things. From sun hats to towels to games, we’ve got you covered.
In this guide, we’ll explore 32 essential items for your upcoming family beach getaway, so you can focus on making memories under the sun. The right travel gear can make all the difference by creating a stress-free, enjoyable experience for everyone.
So, whether you’re a seasoned beach enthusiast or this is your first seaside adventure, these items will ensure that your vacation is nothing short of amazing.
We can confirm that this beach cart is worth the hefty price tag. The cart’s all-terrain wheels can tackle anything from hilly sand dunes to pothole-filled parking lots, and the roomy interior can hold up to 150 pounds of stuff.
We have it on good authority that this is one of the best beach umbrellas to buy right now. The durable steel pole base is easy to screw into the sand, and two built-in windows let wind travel through the umbrella.
Available in sizes that fit 12 cans, 20 cans, 30 cans or 40 cans, this heavy-duty cooler features multiple carrying options, including a shoulder strap. In fact, we dubbed this the best soft cooler in our testing, thanks to its supreme portability.
Sunscreen is a nonnegotiable item in the summertime. This Hawaiian Tropic sunscreen is a must-have on our list, and this SPF 30 spray from Hawaiian Tropic is our pick for the best sunscreen because it’s oh so easy to apply and super light.
This chair combines unparalleled comfort, portability and practical storage features. It’s an ideal choice for any beach day. Its wide, supportive seat, built-in pillow and multiple reclining positions ensure maximum relaxation, while the sturdy aluminum frame, wooden armrests and various carrying options make it both durable and easy to transport.
This chair offers full support with adjustable positions, including a flat setting and unique padded cutouts for comfortable face-down reading or napping. Despite its impressive size, it remains highly portable, folding down to just 4 inches thick and weighing only 9.8 pounds for easy carrying with its single shoulder strap.
A beach day falls flat without a rocking playlist, and this Sony speaker is your solution. It’s waterproof, dustproof and portable, and it has a strap for hooking to your beach chair. It’s our pick for the best travel speaker, thanks to its slick design and big sound.
Dock & Bay is reinventing the towel game with its quick-drying microfiber towels that come in 38 fun colors and stripes. The towels fold into a matching pouch and are super absorbent. The towels are also sand-free — just shake them off and sand slips away.
Attempting a beach day without a pair of sunglasses would be tragic, and this unisex pair from Maui Jim is a bestseller for good reason. Not only do the rubberized shades stay put on your face but they feature polarized lenses that offer incredibly crisp views.
Not all swimsuit cover-ups are created equal, and we’re here to say this is one of the best. Made from a lightweight performance fabric, this cute shirtdress from Vineyard Vines looks preppy and crisp but still feels breathable and cool.
You can’t call it a beach day if there’s no ball involved, and this one is our new favorite, thanks to all that fun glitter inside. Who’s ready for some volleyball?
There’s no better way to mark your territory on the beach than with a big ol’ blanket. Big enough for up to six adults (it’s 79 inches by 83 inches), this blanket’s chief selling point is its 210T polyester fabric, which is both waterproof and sandproof.
If your beach day includes a before-sunrise wake time, well, then you’re going to need some caffeine. We love this all-season travel mug from Grounds & Hounds that will keep your coffee hot for up to eight hours and cold for 24.
This “Shark Tank” favorite is perfect for beach packing with its lightweight, compact design and slash-resistant materials that provide secure storage for your valuables. You can lock it to most fixed objects to ensure your items are protected from theft.
Enjoy a worry-free dip in the ocean, thanks to this portable safe that will keep all your valuables locked up while you’re out of sight. The safe’s steel cable can attach to your bag, beach chair or cart, giving you peace of mind that your smartphone and wallet are safe and sound.
There are a gazillion beach bags, but this one has six easy-reach exterior pockets, perfect for holding sunscreen, sunglasses and more. The best part, however, is that the waterproof polypropylene fabric is also impervious to sand.
We don’t know about you, but finding a cute, packable beach hat is key to a successful summer (and beach day), and this easy-breezy one from J.Crew fits the bill. Designed to retain its shape no matter how squished it gets in your beach bag, the hat’s natural raffia color will match pretty much anything you’re wearing.
Meet the sunscreen kids won’t complain about! Long days in the sun require complete UVA/UVB ray blockage, especially on the nose and cheeks. Simply apply this fun-colored Zinka nosecoat on top of your kiddos’ sunscreen and remember to reapply often.
Do you know what’s the opposite of refreshing? Sipping a warm beer. More than 15,000 Amazon reviewers agree the BrüMate can cooler is a must-have because it can keep both 12- and 16-ounce cans icy cold for hours, without any condensation.
Invented by a mom and designed with families in mind, this bag is beloved by moms everywhere. Waterproof, tip-proof, easy to clean (just hose ’em down!) and incredibly durable, the bags have a huge fan base and are often sold out. Buy one while you can on Amazon.
We promise that if you forget the beach toys, you’ll live to regret it. While a few shovels and buckets might not seem like a big deal, they are to kids! This 18-piece set will keep your crew busy in the sand for hours so you can get started on your summer reading.
Applying sunscreen to a wiggly baby over and over can be quite the feat, which is why we’re big fans of this sun-protective shirt that comes in sizes 6 months to 4T and in three colors (pink, aqua and white).
The worst part about a beach excursion is surely unpacking when you get home. Save yourself some strife by throwing all the wet bathing suits and towels in this dry bag. Available in five sizes and more than a dozen colors, the bag will be a lifesaver at the end of the day!
Store your smoothie or ice water in this vacuum-insulated stainless steel tumbler that can keep your drinks cold for five hours or hot for four. BPA-free, the cup comes with a reusable straw and a lid with three positions — a straw opening, a wide mouth for chugging and a full-cover top for no spills.
A beach trip isn’t complete without a game. This paddle set is a great addition to all summer activities. It’s easy, fun and engaging for people of all ages. The paddles are also compact and lightweight, making them easy to pack for your vacation.
Face sunscreen is an important and often overlooked step in skin care. Supergoop!’s Unseen Sunscreen is a popular choice for its completely sheer finish and primer-like feel. It’s especially good for oily skin!
Comfortable and waterproof shoes at the beach are a must. These sandals are lightweight, super comfortable and perfect for walking on the sand or in the water. As a bonus, they’re also very easy to clean.
If you prefer to sit in the cool shade at the beach, bringing a tent might be a good idea. One of the breeziest yet most wind-resistant tents we tested, the user-friendly Qipi Beach Cabana is simple to set up, providing a comfortable and sturdy shelter in just a few minutes.
Shield yourself from the sun with this super-versatile hat from Australian brand Solbari. Reversible and packed with UPF 50+ protection, the Holiday Sun Hat has an adjustable interior cord for customizing the fit and an interior wire embedded into the 4-inch brim for tailoring the shape.
Don’t forget to pack after-sun lotion! The After-Sun Gel formula is made to quench thirsty, sun-baked skin. This soothing gel isn’t sticky, smells incredible and is made with clean products.
A portable charger is a good item to have handy if you’re at the beach for the whole day. Long hours in the sun and exposure to water can take a toll on your phone’s battery life, which is why the Iniu portable charger is a perfect, compact solution to this problem.
A must-have travel accessory for those traveling to the beach, these pouches work great to keep phones completely dry in water. They also keep devices protected from sand. Plus, you can continue to use your touchscreen through the transparent covering.