What I Packed (and Learned) on a Week-Long Beach Trip With Toddler Twins

Real Talk, Life-Saving Tips, and the Printable I’ll Never Travel Without

Let me paint you a picture:

Every summer, we load up the car and head to the beach for our annual family tradition—a full week of saltwater, sandcastles, and attempting to relax while surrounded by chaos.

We’ve been doing this trip for years—even with the twins. But this time?

They were mobile. They had opinions. And they had no hesitation about running in two separate directions at once.

Suddenly, all the stuff we used to pack? Not enough.

The stuff we thought we didn’t need? Absolutely critical.

I created a checklist to keep my brain (and my packing) from melting down. And after a full week of hauling, corralling, and occasionally parenting barefoot in wet clothes, I can confidently say—it worked.

But this wasn’t just a “throw swimsuits in a bag and vibe” kind of vacation.

We’re a family of seven.

That’s two adults, two toddlers, and three big kids with opinions, snack preferences, and a very specific relationship with sand.

So when I say this packing list was field-tested, I mean it. I didn’t make this up after scrolling Pinterest in peace with a latte. I made this after realizing we needed two Pack ’n Plays, backup outfits for the backup outfits, and an inflatable kiddie pool just to survive the afternoon heat.

I needed gear that actually worked, snacks no one would throw back in my face, and enough planning to keep the whole trip from turning into a week-long meltdown (mine or theirs).

In this post, you’ll get:

✔️ What we actually brought (and used)

✔️ The stuff that saved our sanity

✔️ Bonus snack + Instacart tips

✔️ And the printable checklist I now consider a core part of my personality

If you’re heading to the beach with toddlers, this won’t give you peace and quiet.

But it will give you a fighting chance.

Heads up: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission (at no cost to you) if you purchase through them. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I only share what I genuinely use and love.

🧾 The Printable That Saved My Sanity

I’m not new to packing lists—but this one? It earned a permanent spot in my glovebox.

It’s short enough not to overwhelm, detailed enough not to miss the essentials, and based entirely on what actually got used during our seven-person beach trip.

It includes:

Toddler gear (yes, including blackout window hacks)
Sleep + comfort must-haves
Stuff I didn’t think I’d need but now won’t travel without
Fun stuff (kiddie pool, toys, and a few “please entertain them for five minutes” items)

🖨️ 👉 [Click here to download the printable Beach Packing List]

🛒 👉 Shop everything we brought in one click – my Amazon list

🧺 Gear That Actually Got Used

(Aka the things that earned their ride in the car)

Let’s be honest: there’s “cute on Instagram” gear, and then there’s “actually saved my butt” gear. Here’s what made the cut:

Inflatable Kiddie Pool We’ve tried the shower liner trick, and I’m here to say—never again. Digging out a level spot in the sand, anchoring it with more sand, and trying to keep toddlers entertained while wrestling with a tarp? By the time it was “ready,” everyone was hot, tired, and ready to go home. The inflatable pool took five minutes, held water, and bought us actual peace under the canopy. No contest.
Beach Cart Big family = big gear. This thing hauled our chairs, toys, cooler, and pool in one trip. No dragging bags like pack mules across hot sand.
Sun Canopy / Beach Tent We used this exact one and it gave the twins a shaded splash zone while the rest of us didn’t fry. Easy setup, didn’t blow away, and fit over the kiddie pool.
Extended-Size Pack ’n Plays We originally bought the standard-size ones… and realized the next summer they were already too small. The twins were tall, cranky, and looked like they were sleeping in carry-on luggage. If you’ve got toddlers over age 2 or twins who sprawl—go for the extended-size versions. Worth every inch.
Mesh Laundry Bag Sand toys go in, water rinses out. It doesn’t smell like seaweed after. Win.
Masking Tape Unexpected MVP. Outlet covers, name labels, cord tamer, emergency toy repair—this did more parenting than I did some days.
Scissors Simple, but crucial. Cut tags, packaging, snacks, zip ties, and some emotional tension.
Portable Gate Blocked off stairs in the rental. Gave us a baby-safe zone without rearranging furniture.
Stroller Fan For the Pack ’n Play, stroller, or wherever someone looked too sweaty to function.

🛍️ 👉 Shop the full Beach Trip Essentials list on Amazon

🍎 Snack Strategy: Feed Them Before They Feed on You

✅ MVP Snacks We Actually Used:

Yogurt pouches
Mini muffins
Goldfish
PB pretzels
Cheese sticks + crackers
Applesauce pouches
Juice boxes in this soft cooler bag with these ice packs

🛒 Grocery Game Plan

We Instacarted groceries to our rental—highly recommend. Here’s what we ordered:

Milk, cereal, fruit
Chicken nuggets + frozen waffles
Sandwich stuff
Iced coffee
Paper towels, trash bags, ziplocks

🛒 Pro tip: Schedule delivery 30 minutes after check-in. No store tantrums. 10/10 recommend.

🧠 Real Mom Hacks I Swear By

Pack a “first hour” bag – Sunscreen, toy, diaper, snack. Unpack in peace.
Double swimsuits – Because one is always wet/sandy/lost.
Plastic bin = car survival kit – Catch all the chaos in one place.
Baby powder – Magic sand remover. Pure sorcery.
Chargers for everything – White noise, fans, phones. Don’t get caught without.

🏁 Was It Chill? Absolutely Not. Was It Worth It? 100%.

This wasn’t a relaxing beach vacation. It was hot, loud, and someone cried daily (not always a child).

But thanks to this list—and a lot of snacks—it was manageable. And sometimes, that’s the win.

🖨️ [Download the printable Beach Packing List]

🛒 Shop the full Amazon list of what we actually brought

If this helped you, save it, share it, or send it to the friend who always forgets sunscreen and ends up buying towels at the gas station.

PS: That blackout window cover hack I mentioned? We used plain old aluminum foil. It sounds weird, but it worked like magic—blocked the light and the heat in our rental. Just tape it up with painter’s tape or masking tape, and boom: toddler naps on vacation = saved.

📌 Related Posts (Coming Soon):

The “First Hour Bag” Checklist
Road Trip Survival Guide with Toddlers
What I Wouldn’t Pack Again

Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click and buy, I may earn a small commission at no cost to you. I only share what we actually used, loved, and would pack again.

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