How do you fit everything for the beach in the car??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:we brought a double Bob one year and still managed to fit everything in the car (Rav4). I do pride myself on my car organization skills

I used every bit of space I had (sheets/soft in compartment under back trunk area), soft cooler just big enough for lunch, one large soft suitcase/duffel, beach bag and towels go on floor in back seat.

We also do all grocery shopping when we get there and as others mentioned we don't over pack clothing. Over the years I have found that no matter how much clothing I bring i always end up wearing the same 2-3 things, especially at the beach where 80% of the time I am in a bathing suite.

This is really impressive. So you brought one suitcase for everyone? I'd love to bring my double BOB, but it literally takes up most of my trunk. Did you fold it flat and put it on the bottom of the trunk?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP needs to acknowledge the questions that were posed.

As multiple people said, buy food when you get there. That alone will save you a lot of space. I have seen some beach houses have a pack and play and a high chair.

I am OP. I will buy most of the food when I get there, but I don't want to go to the store right when I get there when traffic is awful. I will bring some snacks, TP, paper towels and soap to get me through the first day. I'm renting a crib and bath towels, and I can make do without a high chair. The stroller just takes up so much room, plus I'd like to bring sand toys and some toys & games for the kids to play with when we aren't on the beach. Do people not do that? The place we are renting might have stuff, I just don't know. I don't want the older kid sitting around watching TV during nap time.

Beach towels will go in the beach bag with lotions, and the cooler is small and only big enough for drinks.

I looked into a thing to put on top, and my car + luggage carrier will be too tall to fit into the parking garage.

Thanks for the ideas everyone. I think that I am REALLY going to try to cut down on the clothes we bring. PPs are right in that I usually end up bringing 12 shirts for a 7 day trip. It will be hard, but I can cut it to 4 or 5. My son can probably get away with 2 pairs of underwear, but I'm not doing that.

[Anonymous]

It's pretty likely that the place you are renting will have sand toys. And if it doesn't, then make friends with people at the beach who do have toys they are willing to share.

Back when we took indoor toys to the beach, it was 1 truck type thing or 1 doll, a couple of books, and each kid's preferred stuffed animal. No major packing of toys, books, stuffies, and games. Things that fit into 1 backpack that's in the back seat with the kids. The point of going to the beach is to be outside.

During nap time for the younger one, take the older kid to grocery store or some other similar outing if you have screen time issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP needs to acknowledge the questions that were posed.

As multiple people said, buy food when you get there. That alone will save you a lot of space. I have seen some beach houses have a pack and play and a high chair.

I am OP. I will buy most of the food when I get there, but I don't want to go to the store right when I get there when traffic is awful. I will bring some snacks, TP, paper towels and soap to get me through the first day. I'm renting a crib and bath towels, and I can make do without a high chair. The stroller just takes up so much room, plus I'd like to bring sand toys and some toys & games for the kids to play with when we aren't on the beach. Do people not do that? The place we are renting might have stuff, I just don't know. I don't want the older kid sitting around watching TV during nap time.

Beach towels will go in the beach bag with lotions, and the cooler is small and only big enough for drinks.

I looked into a thing to put on top, and my car + luggage carrier will be too tall to fit into the parking garage.

Thanks for the ideas everyone. I think that I am REALLY going to try to cut down on the clothes we bring. PPs are right in that I usually end up bringing 12 shirts for a 7 day trip. It will be hard, but I can cut it to 4 or 5. My son can probably get away with 2 pairs of underwear, but I'm not doing that.

Seriously OP? I can't believe you were even thinking about bringing that along! There are no words.

[Anonymous]

You asked about games/toys for the kids during down-time....let each kid pack a small backpack of what they want such as dolls, books, stickers, whatever. They must keep it at their feet in the car.

Bring small family games - Uno, travel-sized version of Connect 4, Go Fish, etc. Play charades.

The Olympics will be on. You might get more screen time than you bargained for anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP needs to acknowledge the questions that were posed.

As multiple people said, buy food when you get there. That alone will save you a lot of space. I have seen some beach houses have a pack and play and a high chair.

I am OP. I will buy most of the food when I get there, but I don't want to go to the store right when I get there when traffic is awful. I will bring some snacks, TP, paper towels and soap to get me through the first day. I'm renting a crib and bath towels, and I can make do without a high chair. The stroller just takes up so much room, plus I'd like to bring sand toys and some toys & games for the kids to play with when we aren't on the beach. Do people not do that? The place we are renting might have stuff, I just don't know. I don't want the older kid sitting around watching TV during nap time.

Beach towels will go in the beach bag with lotions, and the cooler is small and only big enough for drinks.

I looked into a thing to put on top, and my car + luggage carrier will be too tall to fit into the parking garage.

Thanks for the ideas everyone. I think that I am REALLY going to try to cut down on the clothes we bring. PPs are right in that I usually end up bringing 12 shirts for a 7 day trip. It will be hard, but I can cut it to 4 or 5. My son can probably get away with 2 pairs of underwear, but I'm not doing that.

Well last year I brought one of those strap to the chair type things. It's not big, but it takes up room, as does everything else.
Seriously OP? I can't believe you were even thinking about bringing that along! There are no words.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here do you bring 7 days worth of clothes or only 4 and do laundry in the middle?

4 days - usually there is laundry soap left over from the person before us, but if not, I will pick up a small bottle at the store.

[Anonymous]

dont bring anythings but beach necessities clothes and stroller everything else buy up there or on the way.

[Anonymous]

duffel bags make such a difference when packing a car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:we brought a double Bob one year and still managed to fit everything in the car (Rav4). I do pride myself on my car organization skills

I used every bit of space I had (sheets/soft in compartment under back trunk area), soft cooler just big enough for lunch, one large soft suitcase/duffel, beach bag and towels go on floor in back seat.

We also do all grocery shopping when we get there and as others mentioned we don't over pack clothing. Over the years I have found that no matter how much clothing I bring i always end up wearing the same 2-3 things, especially at the beach where 80% of the time I am in a bathing suite.

This is really impressive. So you brought one suitcase for everyone? I'd love to bring my double BOB, but it literally takes up most of my trunk. Did you fold it flat and put it on the bottom of the trunk?

Shorts, t shirts, and bathing suits hardly take up any space. We use 1 suitcase for 5 people (3 kids). We spent most of our time living in bathing suits.

You're not packing bulky sweaters and jeans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP needs to acknowledge the questions that were posed.

As multiple people said, buy food when you get there. That alone will save you a lot of space. I have seen some beach houses have a pack and play and a high chair.

I am OP. I will buy most of the food when I get there, but I don't want to go to the store right when I get there when traffic is awful. I will bring some snacks, TP, paper towels and soap to get me through the first day. I'm renting a crib and bath towels, and I can make do without a high chair. The stroller just takes up so much room, plus I'd like to bring sand toys and some toys & games for the kids to play with when we aren't on the beach. Do people not do that? The place we are renting might have stuff, I just don't know. I don't want the older kid sitting around watching TV during nap time.

Beach towels will go in the beach bag with lotions, and the cooler is small and only big enough for drinks.

I looked into a thing to put on top, and my car + luggage carrier will be too tall to fit into the parking garage.

Thanks for the ideas everyone. I think that I am REALLY going to try to cut down on the clothes we bring. PPs are right in that I usually end up bringing 12 shirts for a 7 day trip. It will be hard, but I can cut it to 4 or 5. My son can probably get away with 2 pairs of underwear, but I'm not doing that.

Where are you going?

[Anonymous]

There are grocery stores at the beach!
Tie the stroller on top of the car, or rent one from a vacation rental beach & baby supply company when you get there.
We have this problem since we switched to a sedan from a hatchback. When we want to go camping we have to rent an SUV just to fit the tent. It's not worth the extra expense so we've started doing cabins instead.
Nice thing about a rental SUV is somebody else washes all the sand off when you get back

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Edit the clothes.

For the kids -- 5 outfits total, plus what they are wearing. 2 pairs of PJs, a long sleeved shirt in case it gets cool, shoes that can get wet, shoes to play on a playground (wear one pair of shoes), 2 sets swim clothes.

For yourself, much the same amount, in the adult versions.

Then edit again.

3 outfits at MOST. 1 pair of pjs (seriously? it's a week!)

Of course, at our house (with 4 families) there is laundry happening constantly - you can always slip something in.

If you only bring one pair of PJs, it's a straight up guarantee that the kid will wet the bed.

[Anonymous]

When we went we rented a u haul mini trailer to attach to the family suv. Stored everything in there and no concerns about sand everywhere from the beach items. It worked great for us with 3 adults, 4 kids between 2 months to 6 years old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Edit the clothes.

For the kids -- 5 outfits total, plus what they are wearing. 2 pairs of PJs, a long sleeved shirt in case it gets cool, shoes that can get wet, shoes to play on a playground (wear one pair of shoes), 2 sets swim clothes.

For yourself, much the same amount, in the adult versions.

Then edit again.

3 outfits at MOST. 1 pair of pjs (seriously? it's a week!)

Of course, at our house (with 4 families) there is laundry happening constantly - you can always slip something in.

If you only bring one pair of PJs, it's a straight up guarantee that the kid will wet the bed.

Yeah, I have a 2 year old. He pretty much wets the bed a few nights a week. I have to pack a waterproof mattress pad plus sheets and at least 3 pairs of PJs.