Summer Travel Packing List: What to Pack for Summer Vacation — Wear She Wanders - A female travel & fashion blog featuring tips & guides, travel outfits, photography, & videos from around the globe to inspire women to wander the world in style | travel re (2024)

Summer travel packing list

There’s nothing quite like summertime! The days are longer, the temperatures are hotter, there’s more sunlight, and summer vacation mode is ON!

Whether your summer travels include trips to the beach, pool days, tropical islands, or sandy deserts — if you’re heading somewhere warm and sunny, this post is for you!

Not sure what to wear for summer vacation? This packing guide features stylish warm-weather essentials, cute summer outfits, and tips to help you pack efficiently for your summer getaway!

What to pack for your summer vacation

Here’s a packing list to help you decide what to pack for your summer getaway!

Summer vacation packing list:

• Sunhat(s)

• Sunglasses

• Swimsuits

• Coverups

• Lightweight tops

• Shorts

• Skirts

• Dresses

• Rompers

• Lightweight pants

• Sandals & shoes

• Summer bags

• Summer skin & body essentials

Use this packing list as a rough guide on what to pack for your summer vacation. You can add and subtract from each category based on weather, how many days you will be traveling, and to accommodate for the size of your suitcase.

Sun hats

Hats are the perfect summer outfit accessory! Whether you’re laying out by the pool, lounging on a beach, or taking a summer stroll, a summer hat will help to shade your face from the sun’s harmful rays. Straw hats are one of the most popular hats for summer, they’re lightweight and come in fun styles like boater and fedora. This Lack of Color wide palma boater is my favorite hat for summer, I bring it on almost every warm weather trip and the brim is the perfect width to keep your face out of the sun. It also comes in a fedora version too!

Sunglasses

If you’re going to be out in the sun on vacation, eye protection is absolutely necessary so don’t forget to pack sunglasses! Not only do they offer protection, but they’re a fun way to spice up your summer travel outfit! I tend to bring at least 2 pairs, just in case I lose or break a pair. This sunglasses organizer is a great way to protect and carry multiple pairs of sunnies when traveling!

Swimsuits

If you’re planning on hitting up the pool, beach, or lake while on your summer vacation, obviously swimwear is a must! Whether you’re into bikinis or one piece swimsuits, there’s a swim style suitable for every body type and travel activity!

Swim coverups

Swimsuit coverups are the perfect clothing item to toss over your swimwear when you’re not in the water. Coverups offer you appropriate coverage if you’re wanting to walk around in public for a bit before heading for a swim instead of changing in and out of your swimsuit multiple times.

Lightweight tops

As the summer temperatures rise, lightweight, loose-fitting tops are a must! Clothing that is too heavy or tight will be uncomfortable in hot weather and will make you sweat even more! You’ll definitely need these types of tops if you want to avoid being sticky, sweaty, and uncomfortable during your summer getaway. Camis, tank tops, and crop tops are your best options to wear in the summer heat!

Shorts

You can’t go wrong with a good pair of summer shorts! Shorts are one of the most common summer staple item. From denim, to linen, terry, crochet, khaki, and more, there’s a style of shorts for both casual and dressy vacation attire.

skirts

Skirts are a fun way to dress up your summer vacation outfit and pair well with cute summer tops. They also offer more breathing room for your thighs in hotter temperatures! Mini, midi, and maxi skirts are all great options to bring with your on your summer getaway!

Dresses & rompers

Dresses are the #1 summer staple! From mini, to midi, and maxi dresses, there are so many types of sundresses to wear on your summer vacation! I will also add that not everyone is a fan of dresses, due to the dangers of accidentally flashing the public when a gust of wind rushes by, so if you want something more secure, rompers are a perfect alternative that offer you both a similar style while giving you the coverage you need!

lightweight pants & jumpsuits

Lightweight pants are a great way to add more coverage, while still feeling comfortable in hot weather. Lightweight and flowy beach pants are not only comfortable, but can be super chic as well for dressy dinners or classy travel outfits! While pants are best for mixing and matching with any type of top, jumpsuits are another great style item to add to your summer packing list. Jumpsuits are the easiest travel outfit, especially when you’re in a rush or don’t feel like styling an entire look.

Sandals & shoes

When it comes to summer shoes, sandals are a definite must! While closed-toe shoes make sense for travel activities like hiking, the summer temperatures can be a bit too toasty for your toes, so to avoid swampy feet, open-toed sandals are your best bet! You don’t have to sacrifice style for comfort either, there’s lots of sandals that are cute and comfortable for walking in! One of my favorite pairs of sandals have a soft, cushioned sole and stretchy straps — perfect for walking in style and comfort!

Bags & purses

Summer bags are the cutest travel style accessory. From straw, to wicker, raffia, canvas, woven, and bamboo, there’s a bag for every type of summer travel outfit! Keep in mind that these will take up a good amount of space in your suitcase so try to stick with either 1 bag, or 1 bag and 1 clutch. This woven tote from Amazon is my favorite summer bag and has been my go-to for summer trips. Tip: Use your summer bag to store items inside of in order to optimize space in your suitcase!

Summer skin & body care

Summer sun and weather can definitely mean trouble for the skin. To protect both yourself and the environment, make sure to not only wear sunscreen, but that it’s reef-safe as well! For those who tend to get a little too much sun for their own good (guilty), 100% aloe vera gel is an absolute life saver! Plus, it’s great for your skin too! Also if you’re heading somewhere that’s tropical or humid, bring bug spray! If you’re a mosquito magnet like me, this is an item you do not want to forget! I’ve tried lots of different types of bug repellents and the only thing that has worked for me so far is Avon’s Skin So Soft. It’s hydrating and also keeps mosquitoes at bay!

Tips on how to pack for your summer vacation

I’ve had my share of hits and misses when it comes to packing for my previous summer trips. I just love warm weather and summer fashion so much that sometimes I overpack because I want to bring all of the cute vacation outfits, only to end up wearing less than half of what I packed in the first place. Here are some tips to help you pack more efficiently for your summer vacation…

• Check the weather before you go! Not all summer getaways are created equal, so it’s important to know the climate before you go. Depending on your destination, you may experience scorching temperatures, mild heat, humidity, dry, or windy weather, so make sure to check the weather before you go!

• Plan your outfits in advance. In order to prevent overpacking, or even worse, under-packing for your summer vacation, plan all of your outfits ahead of time. Create and outfit for each activity or event, and try to mix and match pieces to optimize your clothing selections.

• Keep it neutral. Creating vacation outfits can get a bit complicated if you have a colorful wardrobe. The best way to avoid bringing too many outfits is to pack neutral colors. This way it’s easy to mix and match anything you bring with you on your trip!

• Roll, tuck, or vacuum seal your clothes. There are tons of ways to maximize space in you suitcase. Try tightly rolling some of your items and stacking them together, or even tucking them into other items in your suitcase, such as shoes. For bulkier items, use a travel-friendly space saver bag, or compression packing cubes to easily compress your items as thinly as possible.

• Wear it on the plane. If your flight gets to your destination early enough and you want to waste no time getting into the water, wear your swimsuit underneath your clothing, or if that’s too uncomfortable, bring it in your carry-on!

Need some summer outfit inspiration?

Here are some cute and stylish summer travel outfits to wear on your trip!