16 Beach Weekend Packing Essentials

A natural born sunchaser living in Los Angeles, I leave my beach bag packed all year round. If there is ever an opportunity to be by the ocean, that is where you’ll find me. But before I was summering on the Pacific Ocean, I spent 20-plus years at the Jersey Shore, waiting every May for a season of weekend beach trips and getaways. 

These often spontaneous trips taught me the value of smart planning and mastering the art of minimalist packing (no one wants to be that person trekking to and from the sand with a heavy haul of unnecessary items). To make sure that you set yourself up for sun-and-sand success, wherever your travels take you, I’ve compiled my 16 absolutely essential beach must-haves (trust me, you can get away with packing one single bag) so you can confidently RSVP “YES” to even the most spur-of-the-moment shore town getaways. 

Best Weekend Beach Trip and Quick Getaway Essentials

Etronik Weekender Bag With Shoe Compartment

First, let’s start with that magical bag that can fit everything. I reach for something like the Etronik Weekender Bag with an ultra-spacious design and strategic compartments and features. For weekend beach trips, the shoe compartment holds extra footwear and clothing options in addition to hair tools, my beach towel, an empty travel water bottle, and even my trusty portable camp chair. If I’m sneaking in a swim before I leave for home, this compartment also helps separate wet bathing suits and dirty clothes from my essentials. The included toiletry bag comes in handy for tiny beach essentials and toiletries. 

Bagail Compression Packing Cubes 

Compression packing cubes complement any weekender bag’s design with their space-saving capabilities. When I’m on the go for a weekend trip, I like to designate each cube to a specific type of clothing, day, or outfit so I’m organized (and won’t waste any precious time on the sand or boardwalk exploring by digging through my luggage). 

Bodysurf Packable Beach Bag

A designated beach bag is a must, but no one wants to be weighed down by multiple pieces of luggage on quick getaways. Instead, I bring this packable beach tote, which folds down for easy packing. What’s more, it’s waterproof, sandproof, and comes with a matching insert for all of your valuables. The zip closure is key to keeping sand outside on breezy beach days or an accidental tip over from a kiddo’s soccer ball. I would opt for the extra-large size so you can fit even an oversized beach towel in the bag, plus everything else on the essentials list. 

Rolling Nomad Tyvek Waterproof Pouch

I love the versatility of this Rolling Nomad wet bag; I use mine all year round from post-beach to post-gym (I have the large size to make sure it works for any occasion). This item is key if you are driving all the way home after your beach day and want to keep the rest of the items in your luggage (and your car seats) unscathed from your wet bathing suit. This wet bag also doubles as a toiletry bag when needed, and can even be used as a bag organizer or clutch if you’re hitting the town after the beach. 

Yimisan Ribbed Strapless Bikini Swimsuit Set

Quick beach getaways leave no time for high-maintenance bathing suits. Read: this Amazon-loved bikini has no side-bottom ties and no complicated top straps. Simply put both pieces on, and go. Plus, the bandeau style can double as a bra or a crop top with a skirt, shorts, or flowy pants at the pre-beach brunch or the post-beach bar. This swimsuit comes in a full array of colors, so you can go bold, neutral, or mix and match. 

Exlura Button-down and Shorts Matching Set

The perfect land-pairing to your swimsuit, this two-piece set can be whatever you need it to be on your quick beach trip: a swim cover-up, boardwalk wear, sleeves when the sun goes down, shorts for you to enter the dinner restaurant, or a dry outfit to drive home in. If you are packing for a weekend, the pieces can be separated to become parts of a different outfit. Tuck, tie, or let the top free flow. 

Sand Cloud Turkish Beach Towel 

It’s not just a towel, and it’s not just a blanket—and that’s what makes it a beach day staple. Shake off the sand with ease after an ocean dip or when it’s time to leave for the day. You can even use it as a sarong for an extra swim cover-up if the temperature drops. Lightweight, fast-drying, and packable, it easily fits in your beach bag without the bulk. Feel good bonus: Sand Cloud donates 10 percent of profits to help save marine life. 

Tobtos Portable Camping Chair

When I’m going to the beach in L.A., I bring my trusty Cascade Mountain beach chair that I’ve had for four years (every time I use it, a friend buys one by the time the sun sets). But for quick trips and beach vacation getaways, I recommend bringing something a little bit more compact, especially if you’re trying to pack as light as possible. This Amazon-loved camping chair from Tobtos fits into a backpack and makes sure every spot is the best, most comfortable seat on the beach with its sturdy construction, comfortable design, and attached pouch to hold your essentials. 

Reef Women’s Water Vista Sandals 

These versatile, memory foam sandals will take you to the beach, in the water, on the boardwalk, to dinner after, and all the way home. The adjustable strap in the back helps the shoe stay on your foot while trekking through the sand, and the water-friendly material makes for an easy wash-off and a quick dry. With a dual-density footbed, they are even comfortable when still wet. Plus, the espadrille detailing makes them a staple in your summer wardrobe, even when the ocean isn’t near, so you won’t need to pack multiple shoes!

Furtalk Foldable Straw Bucket Hat 

Light to wear, easy to carry, and foldable without losing its shape, this straw bucket hat is beyond beach-ready. Hand-woven straw on the outside looks stylish while linen lining on the inside ensures UPF 50 sun protection. Use the drawstring under the sweatband to tighten for a better fit. Looking to splurge? These similar straw bucket styles from Rag & Bone, LSPACE, and Hat Attack will make you want to leave your hat on long after you leave the beach. 

Charmast Portable Charger With Built-in Cables

Whether you’re spending the day on the beach or traveling to your destination, you’ll need a portable charger to keep your phone and essential tech charged. This handy, fast-charging portable charger from Charmast is a traveler-loved option because it has the charging cords built into the device, which means you’ll never leave it behind, and it leads to fewer cables and chargers hogging up space or getting tangled in your bag.

Hiearcool Waterproof Phone Pouch

Nothing ruins a phone faster than being dropped in the sand or the ocean, which is why I always travel with one of these waterproof pouches to keep it extra safe at the beach. It’s spacious enough to fit credit cards, IDs, room keys, cash, and other valuables, so you can enjoy the day without worrying about misplacing or damaging them. 

Mrsdry Travel Bottle Set

Low-maintenance packing doesn’t mean you have to skimp on your favorite toiletries, but full-sized bottles and jars will hog up most of the space in your carry-on. That’s why I always travel with a set of travel bottles so I can transfer my must-haves into the TSA-friendly, space-saving bottles, which come with their own toiletry bag. The leakproof containers make flying with sunscreen, leave-in conditioner, and other beach day essentials easy and mess-free, and they’re easy to throw into a tote. 

Stanley IceFlow 2.0 Flip Straw Tumbler 

Coolers aren’t always an option when you’re traveling, which is why it’s important to have insulated water bottles on deck so you can stay hydrated on those long days of fun in the sun—so Car Stanley and House Stanley cups, make room for your new Beach Stanley cup. It’s leakproof and keeps drinks cold for up to 20 hours with its double-wall vacuum insulation design. 

Homotte Stainless Steel Food Containers

No hangry beachgoers here! Pack your favorite summer snacks in these stainless steel leakproof containers (bonus: they can also double as packable airplane or road trip snack containers, and even handy organizers for tiny essentials like medications, jewelry, and more). Each set includes four conveniently sized containers, each paired with leakproof silicone lids for easy opening and stashing in your beach bag. 

Sun Bum Road Tripper Travel-sized Sunscreen Set

Head-to-toe sun coverage on the go. This travel-friendly suncare kit has the big three all in one small pouch: SPF 30 body sunscreen, a full-sized SPF 30 stick for your face, and a full-sized SPF 30 lip balm. Moisturizing, protecting, and great-smelling, it’s got all your bases covered on any beach day or weekend trip. 

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