How to Prepare for a Beach Trip

Co-authored by Eric Martinez

Last Updated: December 4, 2024 Approved

A beach trip can be a ton of fun and very relaxing. A poorly planned trip, though, can become a pain if you forget to pack sunscreen. As fun as going to the beach can be, it takes some planning to have the best trip possible, so take a few days to plan for your next beach trip.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Packing for the Trip

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Once you've selected a beach, consider the price, how far it is, and how much gas it'll take you to get there. Also, decide how long you plan to stay at the beach, and whether it'll be overnight or not.
2
Prepare a date you're planning to leave, and know when you'll reach your destination. Make sure you'll have enough time to get to the beach in order to arrive on the date you have planned. Also, know when you're planning to leave the beach and get home.You HAVE to know when you're going to the beach. Unless you come home from work and say 'Okay, I'm going to the beach.'. It just doesn't work well that way. Plan a day for the beach. Make sure you watch the news to see how the weather's going to be!
- If you're planning to stay overnight, book a room at a hotel or motel ahead of time. This way, you know you'll have a room waiting for you when you get there, and you won't have to search for another place to stay if you find that there are no rooms left upon your arrival.
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3
Pack the right clothes. Make sure you buy a good, sturdy, big beach bag. Pack the swimsuit you've picked out and an extra change of clothes. The extra change of clothes is for the ride home, so you won't be all wet and sandy. ^{[1]
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- Also, make sure you're comfortable enough to spend all day in the clothes you wear down.
- Having a changes of clothes means you can head somewhere else after the beach.
- Don't forget to include good footwear. Take sandals for the beach and water shoes for the ocean so you're ready for anything.
- Pack spare towels, clothes (including a hat and sunglasses and extra change of clothes), and bathing suits. Make sure you put things like cell phones and wallets in a plastic bag so they don't get wet.
- If you have kids, a bucket and shovel are perfect for building sandcastles.
- Don't forget water.
- If you're planning to stay overnight, you might want to pack items needed for washing up. Also, depending on how long you're planning to stay, you might need more than one change of clothes and other additional items.
4
Take protection from the sun. You don't want to ruin your beach trip with a bad sunburn. Plus, protecting yourself from the sun will keep your skin looking younger as you age and guard against skin cancer. Wear a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen, and make sure to reapply!
- Start with a sunscreen of at least 15 SPF. Check to make sure it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Don't forget to add a lip balm with sunscreen to protect your lips. Make sure to reapply it frequently, especially after sweating or jumping in the water.
- Use clothing for protection. Hats and sunglasses offer much needed protection for your face and eyes, but wearing a coverup with long sleeves can also offer protection. If coverups aren't your thing, take a beach umbrella or tent/gazebo instead.
5
Bring something to sit on. A beach chair or a towel is appropriate, but if you choose a towel, it should be separate from the one you’ll be using to dry off with. If you choose a plastic chair, you may still want to bring the extra towel to keep your chair from getting too hot while you are away. You could also bring an old blanket you don't mind getting sandy.
- Another option is an old fitted king-size sheet. You can put things like bags and coolers in the corners, so that the sheet makes a cozy little playpen for you and your family. ^{[2]
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Take a first aid kit. Of course, you hope no one will get injured, but taking a basic first aid kit will offer you some relief if someone gets hurt. You can buy a first aid kit ready-made or make your own. ^{[3]
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- Make sure you have things like bandages, antibiotic ointment, pain relief pills, and a thermometer, as well as anti-diarrhea medicine. You may also want antihistamines.
- Make sure you have an assortment of bandages, including small adhesive ones as well as roller bandages, gauze pads, and medical tape. You should also have things like antiseptic packets, hydrocortisone packets, non-latex gloves, and compress dressings. ^{[4]
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- Also, make sure you pack any common over-the-counter medications you use frequently.
7
Bring a waterproof or water resistant bag. You'll need a place to stash your valuables away from the water and the sand. Pick a bag that's fairly water resistant or waterproof so that you can stash your phone and wallet away. Leave anything irreplaceable behind that you can so you don't lose or damage it on the beach.
- Another trick to protect your valuables is to clean out an old sunscreen bottle. Use it to hide valuables you don't want anyone to steal, and as a bonus, it keeps them dry.
- You can also stash electronics in zip-top bags for protection. ^{[5]
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- For beach toys, find a net bag so sand can be left on the beach. Pack all the food in a cooler with ice.
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Be sure you aren't packing too much or too little, and remove any unneeded items if you find that you have too much luggage.
- If you have kids, it'd be a good idea to help them pack in case they forget something they need.

Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Planning Activities

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1
Bring activities to share. If you're traveling in a group, bring something you can all do. For instance, a deck of waterproof cards is great for the beach, as long as it's not too windy. You could also bring a board game that doesn't have too many parts. A game like Twister, for instance, would be great for the beach. ^{[6]
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- Remember to include fun for the kids in your group. On the beach, all you need are some simple toys, such as buckets, shovels, and other cheap toys. Your kids will have a blast in the sand and water. ^{[7]
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Music is a great way to keep people entertained. For a simple solution, you could bring along a waterproof, battery-powered radio, like a shower radio. However, you can also use waterproof bluetooth speakers so you can play music from your phone. ^{[8]
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Take some solo activities. You'll enjoy just lounging for a bit, but you might also want something to enjoy all on your own. For instance, take a light book you've been meaning to dive into. The beach is the perfect time to do it. ^{[9]
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- If you take an e-reader, make sure it's okay in the glare of the sun, and that you have a portable charger for it if you need it. You may also want a portable charger for your phone. Slip the e-reader into a zip-top bag to protect it.
- You could also take activity books such as crossword puzzles and Sudoku books.
4
Take some snacks. If you're planning to stay at the beach for a few hours, you're going to want some snacks and drinks to get you through. Keep it fairly simple. If you choose anything too complicated that requires assembly, you'll likely end up with sand in your food. ^{[10]
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- Some good snacks to take include fruit, granola bars, vegetable sticks, and bottles of water. Skip the sodas as those don't hydrate as well.
- In fact, if you're planning on staying all day, consider just packing lunch. Though you can take a cooler for drinks, you might want to pick something that won't spoil easily, such as a peanut butter and jelly.
- Bring a small bag for any trash you may accumulate. It may be difficult to find a trashcan at the beach.
- Bring moist towelettes with your food. You can use them to clean up hands before and after your eat.
It's recommended that you bring a GPS and a map to help you find your way to the beach without getting lost, as trips can sometimes get stressful when you're lost! Don't forget to bring a cell phone in case you have car problems.
6
Stake out your spot. When you get to the beach, you need to stake out a claim. It's good to go early in the day, when it's less crowded. That way, you'll have more opportunity to find a good spot. ^{[11]
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- Pick a spot near the water but not so near you'll be overrun if the tide comes in.
- If the beach has chairs or umbrellas for rent, consider renting one to make life easier.
- Stick with like-minded beachgoers. That is, if you're there to party and have fun with your friends, pick an area where people are being louder and playing music. If you prefer a quiet place to read, try to find a more secluded spot. If you're there with your family, look for other families to be near, so your kids can play together.
- Unload all your luggage into your hotel or motel room if you're staying overnight. If not, simply lay out your beach items and bask in the sun! Make sure to put on plenty of sunscreen to eliminate sunburn or too much tan.
  - It's not recommended you get a tan, as it will make your skin wrinkly and old as you age. If you like tans, it's best to get it done by a professional in the spa instead of doing it in the sun, as the rays can be harmful.
Shake out towels and blankets and wipe off things like boogie boards. Dry your hair so it doesn't drip, and sit on a clean, dry towel in the car.

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Buying a Bathing Suit

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When you're trying on swimsuits, you need to keep your underwear on. However, you also need to make sure the suit fits properly. Therefore, make sure your underwear doesn't bunch, and pick something on the slimmer side to wear to the store. ^{[12]
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Pick what makes you comfortable. Many websites will tell you to pick swimsuit style that's flattering to your body type, but the truth is, you can find a suit that's flattering in any style. The important thing is that you feel comfortable and that you like the suit. ^{[13]
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- For instance, you may not think you can get away with a two-piece because of your curves. If you don't feel comfortable showing as much skin, you could wear a tankini, which is basically a tank top with a bikini bottom, or a high-waisted bikini. Pick a fun pattern and rock that suit.
- For men, you also need to decide what you want out of your suit, such as how much skin you want to show. You could go for anything from full-length trunk shorts to swim briefs.
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Jump around. You don't literally need to jump, but you should move around as much as possible once you get the suit on. You want to make sure it stays on in all the right places because you'll certainly be moving a lot in the water. ^{[14]
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- Try walking up and down outside the dressing room or doing a few jumping jacks in the suit to see how it wears. Make sure it doesn't move around.
A coverup is just something you can slip on over your swimsuit to go from the beach to the car or to hang out on the beach in while you're not swimming. For men, it can be something as simple as a t-shirt. For women, it can be anything from a pair of shorts and a top to a breezy, cottony dress made for going over swimwear or a sarong .

Part 4

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Getting Your Body Ready

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1
Take some time to shave. If you're wearing a revealing swimsuit and you're not a fan of body hair showing, you're going to need to spend some time shaving before you go to the beach. Take some time to shave your legs and any other areas that might need it, such your bikini line or armpits, before you go. ^{[15]
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- If you're not comfortable shaving or waxing these areas yourself, let a professional do it. Set up an appointment to get a bikini wax done.
- If you're guy, you may want to shave your back or have someone do it for you.
- Make sure to check yourself out in the sunlight, as you're more likely to spot hairs in the sun.
2
Exfoliate your skin. To make your skin shimmer, you may want to spend some time exfoliating. Exfoliating is just a way of removing dead skin so that you skin doesn't look ashy or rough. You have the option of using a chemical exfoliant or a physical exfoliant.
- A chemical exfoliant uses chemicals, generally acids, to break down the dead skin.
- A physical exfoliant uses small beads or crushed pieces of seed or shell in a solution to rub away the dead skin. You'll also find exfoliating gloves that fall in this category. Even a washcloth is a physical exfoliant.
- To use an exfoliant, hop in the shower first to get your skin damp. Rub the exfoliant in with your hand, a glove, or washcloth in gentle circles. Wash the exfoliant away when your done. If you're using an exfoliating glove or washcloth, simple put your normal soap on it, and use it to rub the soap into your skin in gentle circles.
- Be sure to focus on problem areas like knees, elbows, and feet.
- After you exfoliate, apply a good moisturizer to your skin.
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Skip foods that bloat. If you're looking for a flat stomach, try to avoid foods that cause you to bloat for a couple days before the beach. That way, your stomach won't be pooched out because of bloating.
- Skip cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower. Also skip processed foods and carbonated beverages.
- Instead, try other healthy foods such avocados, eggs, nut butters, salmon, bananas, Greek yogurt, and lemons.
On the day you are planning to leave, check out of the hotel or motel room if you stayed in one and make sure you haven't left anything behind before packing everything in the car again. Drive home, using the GPS and/or map for guidance, and unload everything once you've arrived home.

Packing List

Sample Packing List for a Beach Trip

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Can I bring a beach mat on a beach trip?

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Yes, you can.

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How can I go to the beach every weekend?

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Buy a home close to your beach of choice! Real estate options near beaches tend to be pretty pricey, but if you really love the beach, it'll be worth it!

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How many bags should I pack for a trip?

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It depends on how many days are you staying, storage space of the vehicle, and how many people are going with you. Keep in mind that beaches can get messy, and that sand will likely get everywhere. Try to pack as light as possible to make cleanup easier later on.

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Tips

Ensure you have proper hydration, it is very important to always have water with you. It is very easy to become dehydrated, sometimes you don't even know when it's happening.

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Try to swim where there's a lifeguard on duty if you're going to be in the water.

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If you start to feel unwell, leave and seek medical attention. Heatstroke can come on quickly when you are in the sun.

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Warnings

If there are sharks in the ocean due to the location of the beach you are at, it's best not to go into the water, as you could get bitten by a shark. However, if you do want to go into the water, stay very near the shore - it's better to be safe than sorry!

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Don't get a tan or you risk getting sunburned. Plus, your skin will get old and wrinkly in the future as you age due to the tan.

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Don't spend too much time in the sun, or you may get a heat stroke.

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How to Prepare for a Beach Trip

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Packing for the Trip

Planning Activities

Buying a Bathing Suit

Getting Your Body Ready

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