Ultimate Packing List for a Family Beach or Lake House Vacation

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Ultimate Packing List for a Family Beach or Lake House Vacation

There’s a reason week-long stays at beach houses or lake houses are a popular summer vacation choice for families with kids: they’re essentially a home away from home with no need to hop aboard an airplane or worry about squeezing your life into a few suitcases. My family and I have been renting a house up in Michigan every other summer for the past decade and as more and more grandkids enter the picture, it continues to get more fun. We’ve usually kept the drive to just a couple of hours, choosing a location on a small lake that isn’t too far away. So, what exactly do you need on your lake house packing list, you ask?

For this type of family trip, it’s so nice that you can pack the car to the brim complete with groceries for the week and all the baby and kids gear you’ll need. Sure there might be traffic, spilt milk, and a few meltdowns on the drive to get there, but trust me, it’s worth it. Plus the savings of being able to cook your meals and split the cost of the house rental with other family or friends doesn’t hurt either.

Our Everymom editors banded together to compile the “everything but the house” packing list for a week-long stay (or longer!) at a beach or lake house this summer. We even included some of our favorite product recommendations. Plus, you’ll find a printable packing checklist at the end so you can check things off as you pack up the car! Read on for everything you need for your next trip to the water.

Long Car Ride Kid Essentials

  • Snacks, snacks, and more snacks
  • Water bottles
  • Hand wipes and napkins for inevitable spills
  • Books, toys, iPad
  • Teethers, pacifiers (one of our biggest tips for using a pacifier in the car is having a case—like this Skip Hop pacifier holder—so you know where extras are when they get thrown and lost between the seats)
  • Car adapter chargers
  • Sun shade for windows
  • Any medication people might need
  • Diapers, wipes, toilet paper, hand sanitizer (you never know where you have to pull over)
  • Extra clothes
  • Small soft cooler for milk, drinks, packed lunches, etc.
  • Bag for trash to keep the car “clean” as you go
lake house vacation packing list
Source: @sopharush

Beach or Lake House Necessities

Some of this is may provided by your rental, so be sure to check with the management company so you don’t overpack if you don’t need to.

Lake House or Beach Clothes

lake house vacation packing list
Source: Alaina Kaz

Food & Drink to Pack for Lake or Beach Vacation

  • Bottles, plates, utensils for kiddos and babies
  • Spill-proof snack cups (these Munchkin Snack Catchers are a must have)
  • Bibs
  • Groceries
  • Beverages of choice: milk, wine, juice, etc.
  • Olive oil, herbs, sauces, condiments
  • Sponges, dish soap

Beach or Lake House Sleeping Gear

  • Lovey/stuffed animal/blanket
  • Sound machine
  • Summer swaddles (our favorites are the aden + anais muslin blankets) or a sleep-sack
  • Pack-n-play (an investment, but we swear by the BabyBjörn Travel Crib)
  • Travel blackout curtain
  • Privacy screen or curtain (if sharing a room with baby)
  • Extra pacifiers if you use them
  • Baby monitor
family beach vacation packing list
Source: Alaina Kaz

Health & Hygiene Supplies for a Lake or Beach Vacation

Most rentals provide the following but be sure to check! Otherwise don’t forget:

  • Toilet paper
  • Hand soap
  • Dish soap
  • Laundry detergent
  • Hair dryer
  • Bath towels
beach and lake house packing list
alaina kaz

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alaina Kaz, Chief Executive Officer

Alaina is the Chief Executive Officer, sole owner, and cofounder of The Everygirl and The Everymom. She is a mom to sons Henry and Charlie.


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