"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.
You can pack the car to the brim complete with groceries for the week and all your baby gear. Turn on your favorite podcast or playlist and hit the open road knowing a relaxing, waterside vacation awaits. 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!
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. Still, it pays to be prepared for anything.
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
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.
- Sun canopy or umbrella (we recommend the Sport-Brella for UVF protection)
- Infant/baby canopy play area (we highly recommend Fisher-Price’s portable bassinet)
- Beach chairs (consider Bright Star’s portable booster chair for kiddos)
- Beach toys
- Beach towels
- Mini inflatable pool
- Kid-size ring float
- Sunglasses
- Goggles, snorkel
- Baby carrier
- Life vests (we recommend the O’Neill Infant Superlite vest for babies)
- Giant flotation device, kayak, paddle board
- Games and puzzles
- Baby/kid toys
- Outdoor games: bocce, badminton
- Portable chargers
- Chargers (phone, camera)
- Large cooler with wheels
- Small, soft cooler (to take to the beach, on a boat, on day trips)
- Wireless speaker
- Stroller/scooter/any type of transport you might want for kids
- Bikes (check to see if there are rentals nearby)
Lake House or Beach Clothes
- Tees
- Shorts
- Sweatshirt
- Pajamas
- Swimwear
- Coverups
- UPF rash guards
- Sun hats (we love Carter’s reversible swim hats for babies, and this Madewell woven straw hat for moms)
- Water shoes
- Sandals
- Sneakers
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
Health & Hygiene Supplies for a Lake or Beach Vacation
- SPF for kids as well as sunscreen for you
- Hand sanitizer minis for on-the-go
- Disinfecting wipes and spray
- Diapers/wipes
- Bug repellant (we recommend the California Baby Natural Bug Repellent Spray or these Cliganic bracelets)
- Baby powder to wipe sand off
- Body soap (especially if you prefer certain brands)
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Any skincare items you want to bring
- Hair brush and comb
- Baby nail clippers
- Toothpaste and toothbrushes
- Travel first aid kit (this Johnson & Johnson first aid kit has everything you need)
- Necessary medicines, vitamins, thermometer
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
Click Here to Download Our Printable Packing Checklist!
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.