Florida Beach Holiday Packing List for Kids

You don't need to haul half your house to the Gulf Coast. Most parents pack twice as much as they actually use, then spend the first day of vacation digging through a suitcase they never needed to fill.

Here's what earns its space, what to leave home, and what your rental will already have waiting.

Jump to:

Before You Pack a Thing, Check What the Rental Already Has
Beach Essentials That Actually Earn Their Space
Baby and Toddler Gear: Bring vs. Rent at Destination
What to Pack in the Carry-On
Florida-Specific Clothing Notes
What to Skip (The Over-Packing Trap)
Pack It vs. Skip It: A Quick Reference
Final Thoughts on Packing for a Florida Beach Trip

Before You Pack a Thing, Check What the Rental Already Has

This is the step most families skip, and it costs them an entire suitcase. Parents pack a Pack 'n Play, high chair, beach chairs, umbrella, and folding wagon, then arrive to find the rental had every single one waiting.

Well-managed Florida vacation rentals typically include the baby gear you'd otherwise lug across the country, plus a full beach setup with chairs, umbrellas, and toys.

Many 30A properties throw in bikes and a golf cart, and you'll usually find basic kitchen staples in the pantry, too.

The better property managers list all of this right on the property page. Seaside vacation rentals from Exclusive 30A spell out baby gear, bikes, beach chairs, and golf cart access in the listing, so you know exactly what to leave home. Scan the inclusions before the suitcase comes out, then build your packing list around what's missing.

Beach Essentials That Actually Earn Their Space

These are the items you'll reach for every single day of the trip.

Rash Guards for Every Kid

The Florida sun is brutal, especially between 11 am and 3 pm. A two-piece swimsuit paired with a rash guard beats sunscreen alone every time, particularly for toddlers who won't sit still for re-application.

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends UPF-rated rash guards, hats, and sunglasses as a core part of any kid's sun protection routine. Pack one rash guard per beach day if laundry isn't easy.

Reef-Safe Sunscreen

Mineral-based sunscreens with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are the standard, and they're also what pediatric dermatologists most often recommend for children's skin.

Many Florida beach towns now discourage the use of chemical sunscreens because they damage reefs and marine life. Pack more than you think you need, since the Florida sun burns through a tube fast.

Mesh Sand Bags or Bag Liners

The single most underrated beach item for families. Sand falls through the mesh instead of riding home in your beach tote, your car, and your luggage.

A Pop-Up Sun Tent

Even if the rental provides umbrellas, a small pop-up tent offers babies and toddlers a shaded spot to nap. They pack flat and weigh almost nothing.

Water Shoes

Florida shells, hot afternoon sand, and the occasional jellyfish make these worth the suitcase space, especially for kids under ten.

Baby and Toddler Gear: Bring vs. Rent at Destination

This is where parents save the most space in their luggage.

Bring your child's favorite lovey or sleep blanket from home, since it's irreplaceable, and pack it in the carry-on rather than checked luggage. A familiar bottle, sippy cup, or sleep sack helps keep routines steady in a new place, and those small comforts from home make bedtime easier when everything else feels unfamiliar. Pack diapers and wipes for the first day only, since you can buy the rest at any nearby grocery store. A baby carrier is also worth its weight for airport navigation and walking on uneven ground.

Strollers, especially beach-friendly ones with thick wheels, are easier to rent locally than to check at the airport.

Pack 'n Plays and high chairs come standard at most rentals, and if yours doesn't include them, a baby gear rental company will deliver one before you arrive.

The same goes for wagons and full-size beach gear. It's often cheaper than the airline fees you'd pay to check oversized items.

What to Pack in the Carry-On

Flight delays happen. Connections get missed. A well-stocked carry-on is the difference between a memorable trip and a meltdown at gate B14.

A change of clothes for each child (and one for yourself, for the inevitable spill)
Snacks your kids will actually eat, not airport snacks
A small bag of new-to-them activities like sticker books, magnetic drawing pads, or a deck of cards
Headphones sized for kids' heads
A pre-loaded tablet with shows downloaded ahead of time, since in-flight Wi-Fi is unreliable
A reusable water bottle, empty through security and filled at the gate
Wipes, even if you don't have a baby
One small comfort item per child

Florida-Specific Clothing Notes

A few things that catch first-time Florida visitors off guard:

Humidity makes denim and heavy cotton miserable. Pack lightweight, breathable layers instead.
Restaurants and shops crank up the air conditioning, so bring a light cardigan or hoodie for each kid for dinners out.
Afternoon thunderstorms are common from June through September. A packable rain jacket beats an umbrella every time.
Sandals with straps work better than flip-flops for kids who run, climb, or refuse to stand still.

What to Skip (The Over-Packing Trap)

Here's what parents bring on every Florida trip and never actually use:

Three pairs of "real" shoes per kid: They'll wear flip-flops or be barefoot for the entire week.
A full library of beach books: Be honest. The kids won't read them, and you won't either.
Snorkel gear: Unless you're booking a specific snorkel day, the rental shops have it on the spot.
Beach toys from home: Buy a cheap set at Publix or Walmart the first morning, then donate it or leave it for the next family before flying home.
A dedicated beach blanket: Towels do the same job.
More than two outfits per day: Reality is one swimsuit, one casual dinner outfit, repeat.

Pack It vs. Skip It: A Quick Reference

Item	Pack It	Skip It
Sunscreen	Reef-safe mineral, full-size tubes	Spray-only chemical brands
Beach toys	One small set in a checked bag	The full toy bin from home
Strollers	Lightweight travel stroller only	Full-size jogging stroller
Sleep gear	Lovey, sleep sack, white noise app	Pack 'n Play (rental has one)
Clothing	Layers, swimsuits, and one nice dinner outfit	Multiple outfits per day, denim
Shoes	Water shoes, sandals, flip-flops	Multiple pairs of dress shoes
Snacks	Carry-on snacks for travel days	A week's groceries (Publix is everywhere)

Final Thoughts on Packing for a Florida Beach Trip

Packing for a Florida beach trip with kids is less about bringing more and more and more, and more about bringing the right things.

A little upfront planning before the trip goes a long way, and if you're traveling around the state in different ways (a beach week, then a few days in an RV exploring Florida's parks and coastline), your packing strategy can shift to match the trip.