The practically year-round warm weather of south Florida is always inviting— especially as temperatures in the north drop! A week in the sunshine will bring you back to life and maybe even give you a great tan too. Whether you’re visiting as family, enjoying some time away with your significant other, or cutting loose on a girl’s trip, you’re bound to have a fabulous time. Spending spring break in Florida is the perfect winter escape!
Packing for a 7-10 day trip to Florida can be tricky if you’re not sure what to expect— especially if you’re visiting over spring break. We grew up in the wild wild southwest of Florida, so we’ve got you covered. Having the right essentials will make your trip smoother and more enjoyable…. And isn’t that kinda the whole point of a beach vacation? To enjoy some stress-free relaxation? In this guide, we’ll share exactly what you need to bring—from must-have clothing to all the easy-to-forget items that everyone always seems to forget.
From beach bum kiddos to long days spent on the boat to relaxing sunset escapes, we have spent hundreds— if not thousands of hours on the beach. There’s nothing that brings us peace quite like sitting on the sand, looking out as the waves as they crash.
A Full Packing List
Are you an over-packer? Or do you tend to get someplace and realize you forgot your bathing suit and favorite pair of jeans? In order to ensure packing goes smoothly, we have complied a comprehensive-but-not-overzealous packing list for anyone planning to spend a week or so down in Florida. Spring is a beautiful time of year, almost anywhere in Florida!
Bathing Suits
First and foremost, you gotta back a few bathing suits! If you’re going to be gone a week, you’ll likely want at least three bathing suits. If you’re gone for ten days, you might enjoy having five different suits to choose from. Luckily bathing suits don’t take up much space, so packing 1 or 2 extra won’t split the seams on your bag.
There’s so many different places to snag a bathing suit, but if you’re wanting some coordinating spouse, partner, or family bathing suits, we love Kenny Flowers! If you happen to be in the Fort Myers area, check out Mack Swimwear to see if there happens to be a pop-up shop when you’re in town.
Rash-guard shirt (optional)
Three of the five Wherry sisters enjoy surfing, so if you plan to visit the east coast of Florida and give it a whirl, you might want to bring your own rash-guard shirt (like this or this) or a long sleeve one piece (like this one). Oftentimes they’ll provide one if you’re getting a first-timer lesson; however, it’s not always included if you just rent a board. It’s not the end of the world to surf without one, but it’s nice to have if you plan to be out for a bit. Rash-guard shirts can also be a great option for anyone with very fair skin that wants a layer of sun protection!
Cover Ups
Everyone has a different style! Fun vs functionality…. or perhaps a bit of both. For some, a cover-up is as simple as a cotton t-shirt, whereas someone else might rock a cute sarong, and someone else yet might have a trendy cover-up dress. Anything works but when you’re planning clothes and outfits, this is something that might get a bit sandy, so you’ll want to make sure you pack a couple cover-ups. Oftentimes you’ll find yourself running to grab food on your way to the beach or perhaps afterwards, and it’s ideal to have something besides your bathing suit to hang out in.
Casual outfits
Beach towns are often pretty casual in nature, so you don’t need anything fancy to run to the grocery store, grab lunch, etc, but you’ll definitely want to pack a 5-8 easy-to-throw on outfits. Think a few pairs of cotton, linen, or jean shorts that are easy to re-wear and a handful of cotton or performance wicking t-shirts or tank tops. If you’ve never experienced Florida humidity, it’s nice to have clothes that handle a bit of sweat well. Just a word to the wise, white and black clothing tends to not show sweat as much!
All Dressed Up
Even in a casual ambiance, sometimes it’s fun to have a nice night out or two. This can be as easy as a little cotton dress or perhaps you’re looking hot-to-trot with a new matching set! It’s always fun to dress up a little every once in a while.
If your spring break adventuring brings you to Miami, there is a bit more opportunity to get all done up, but it just depends on what you’re after! If you’re looking to go clubbing, attire is a bit different than heading to a craft cocktail bar. Either way, you should definitely pack one or two nicer outfits that you feel confident in!
Layers
March in Florida usually means highs in the 80s but lows can still drop into the 50s, depending on where in Florida you’re staying. The beach can also get surprisingly windy at night, so it’s always a good idea to pack some longer layers. A single long sleeve shirt and one hoodie will be perfect. A long sleeve linen shirt is always nice to have in the mix as well. It can work as a cover up but also might be nice to throw on over a t-shirt, for an evening walk.
Sandals
You won’t want to leave home without 1-2 pairs of sandals. You definitely want a pair to wear down to the beach. While you *can* bring your Birkenstocks down to the beach, usually a pair of flip flops, Chaccos, or something else you don’t mind getting wet is the better option. It’s nice to have a second pair of sandals that go with your casual and more dressed up “non-beach” outfits.
Beach Bag
If you’re an adult going to the beach with other adults, this is super easy— any canvas tote or even an old (larger sided) reusable bag will work. You want something large enough to fit a towel, your water bottle (don’t forget to pack a water bottle— it gets HOT!), keys, and perhaps a good book. If you’re a parent, you might want something mesh-sided that makes extraneous sand easy to shake out! Perhaps something like this or like this.
Hat
Protect your face and scalp!! At least one hat should be in your bag, if not two or three. We love a fun straw sun hat but you can never go wrong with a classic baseball cap.
Sunglasses
Don’t let these be the thing you leave behind! A good pair of sunglasses not only protects your eyes but they can be a fun accessory as well. If you plan on wearing them into the ocean, you might want a pair of croakies. There’s nothing worse than losing a pair of sunglasses you love to an unsuspecting wave!
Sneakers (optional)
While sneakers aren’t a must-pack item for everyone, sometimes it’s nice to have them if you plan to do any long beach walks or runs. The hard packed sand is easier to walk on and carries less risk of wayward sand grains making it into your shoes. We love starting the day with a nice morning walk!
Socks, underwear, & PJs
No packing list is complete without your socks, underwear, and pajamas. You can leave the socks behind if you don’t plan to pack your sneakers, but don’t leave home without your underwear! PJs are another must as well. A comfy night’s sleep is a good night’s sleep!
Sunscreen
If you’re packing in a carry-on, you can always buy body sunscreen once you get to Florida, but if you use a specific sunscreen for your face, don’t forget to pack it! Especially for anyone that has sensitive skin, nothing is more frustrating than breaking out because you rolled the dice on something new. If you’re driving or packing a checked bag, it never hurts to bring a bottle of sunscreen with you. There’s usually sunscreen in stock somewhere, but some smell weird and others have a strange texture… it’s always nice to feel confident in whatever you’re using to protect your skin!
Dr. Jart has a redness-correcting 30SPF face sunscreen that’s a fan favorite in our house. For body sunscreen you can never go wrong with Neutrogena spray-on sunscreen.
Bug spray
It never hurts to have a small bottle of bug spray. We also have friends that swear by the bug repellent bracelets. Regardless, Florida is home to mosquitos AND no-see-ums… nothing makes you crazy on vacation like legs covered in bites!!
Beach Gear
Depending on where you’re staying, there might be some beach equipment included. Airbnbs and VRBOs oftentimes have a couple boogie boards, perhaps a couple beach chairs, and maybe a frisbee or two available for guests to use. They will also (usually) leave you a stash of beach towels as well. Even if towels are provided, we always love bringing a nice roll-up beach mat to lay out on. They usually pack down nicely, so it shouldn’t take up toooo much space in your bag.
If you’re bringing young kiddos with you, a sun shade/shelter (like this one) can be a nice reprieve from the hot sun. It packs down reasonably well, so it won’t take up toooo much space. This can also be nice for any fair-skinned girlies that are ready to be out of the sun but still want to read a book by the ocean.
Hotels right on the beach will often have beach towels available for use, but if you’re staying somewhere a few blocks from the beach, you might need to bring your own beach towel. A quick-dry travel towel (like this one) isn’t quite as nice as a fluffy beach towel, but it does the job and it’s quite compact.
Do not forget your water bottle!! If you’re driving down to Florida and have the space, a cooler can also be nice to have on had as well. Either for food….. or drinks! This is another item an Airbnb/VRBO might provide for you though, so check in with them before you pack yours.
Tripod (optional)
Setting up a tripod can feel very tacky tourist, but as long as you’re generally being courteous to the people around you, who cares?!?!?! Sometimes this is the best way to get a nice group photo. I’ve never looked back on a family or friend group photo and thought to myself “ugh it wasn’t worth the hassle to commemorate this little memory”. Take the pictures!
The shadows aren’t always in your favor (see below), but I’m so grateful to have this little family moment captured.
Leave it behind
You should always check the weather before you leave, but it’s unlikely you’ll need your rain jacket. The rainy Florida months come in the summer, so you should be fine to leave any rain gear at home, when visiting in March.
The Official List
Here it is all together! An easy to save and reference list, with all your must-haves and extra options in one place! Cheers to a well-packed bag.
We absolutely love the beach, and we hope you have the best time enjoying the salty air, golden sands, and refreshing waves. Having all the packing essentials squared away makes it all that much easier to relax, knowing you’ve got everything you need! Still trying to figure out what to do while you’re down here? Unfortunately Fort Myers Beach (hometown beach) was hit pretty hard by hurricane Ian in 2022 and is still rebuilding, but you can check out our guide for Tampa and our favorite things to do in Key West. Happy travels!
written by Hannah
Hannah traded the warm beaches of southwest FL for the outdoor adventure locale that is Bend, OR. Despite the distance, Hannah maintains her bossy big sister role with regular phone calls to keep up with all the little sister shenanigans. Notoriously chatty with her patients as well, Hannah stays busy as a physical therapist, but loves making time to explore newfound hikes. These days she has some extra pack weight; however, Xavier is notorious for being unimpressed by sweeping vistas.
