Casual Summer Outfits for your Lake Packing List

There’s nothing quite like a summer lake trip- sunny days on the water, burgers and brats on the grill, and plenty of time to relax and recharge. Whether you’re heading to a quiet cabin, planning a week of water sports, or just soaking up the peaceful vibes, knowing what to pack can make or break your trip. 

This casual lake packing list will help you figure out what to bring so you’re ready for anything from spontaneous swims to s’mores under the stars- and you’ll look good doing it. 

Let’s dive in to see what you should pack for a perfect, 1 week summer getaway to the lake.

When you purchase items through links on our site, we earn a tiny commission at no cost to you.
Thank you for purchasing through me- you’re the best! 🤩

🏠 If you’re looking to rent an entire house, VRBO has rental houses, villas, and city flats anywhere you want to go in the world.

What’s Great about a Lake Trip

I love the beach but there’s something really peaceful about a lake.  Growing up, my family had a sailboat and  I have so many wonderful memories from spending lazy weekends swimming, reading, and playing Mancala and Uno with my brothers.

And now my in-laws have a lake house that I’m lucky enough to be able to visit and have that be the place where my children’s memories are made.  

>> Check out Smith Mountain Lake– it’s absolutely gorgeous.   

I have been back and forth to their house about a million times and have perfected what to bring to make my trip easy without overpacking.  And I’m happy to share that with you.

Why a Travel Capsule Wardrobe

Who wants to lug a giant bag around on your trip to the lake?  Not me.  It’s enough that you’ll be lugging groceries- don’t add to the amount of stuff to bring.

I mean, you’ll need a bathing suit but really everything else is extra.  Just these few items will give you 10+ outfits for your week at the lake.  

Clothes to Pack for a Lake Trip

You only need the following to create 10+ outfits:

• 2 dresses
• 1 short set
• 2 tops
• 1 topper
• 1 bottom
• 2 shoes
• 2 bags
• Accessories 
• Seasonal items

And that’s it- told you it was easy!

DRESSES+SET: long floral dress + short floral dress + blue stripe short set
TOPS:  purple T-shirt + pink tank top
TOPPERS: blue linen shirt
BOTTOMS: jean shorts
SHOES: blue Birkenstocks + woven slides
BAGS: mesh tote + phone bag
ACCESSORIES: white sunglasses
SEASONAL: bikini top + bikini bottom + Turkish towel

How to Pick Your Clothes

If you want to make things easy on yourself, go through these 4 steps and you’ll have everything you need.  Pinkie swear. 

Step #1- Patterns

I always start out by picking out patterns I want to wear and then I find solids to go with them.  

Florals are, of course, a must in summer and I liked this mix of large & small florals PLUS long & short options for the dresses.  

And then, of course, stripes go with everything and just say summer to me- especially in blue and white.  It feels very nautical.

2 Pattern Dresses

Dresses are essential in summer and a great thing to add to your lake packing list.  And it’s even better to have two of them to swap out.  They’re comfy and cool and make you look put together with basically zero effort- not to mention the fact that they can be used as a swim coverup too.  Double duty items are my fave!  

A long floral dress is a great pick in summer.  I’m a mosquito magnet and, unlike shorts, long dresses are just as cool AND they help keep those blood suckers from attacking my legs.  I’m a big fan of wearing a long dress when they start buzzing around as the sun goes down.    

And you can’t go wrong with the short floral dress for just running around.  And in a pattern, you just toss on some shoes and look put together in literally seconds.  

1 Pattern Short Set

And I am all about this blue stripe short set for quick matching- and mixing!  Wear the top and bottom together with some sandals to go out for dinner.  Or break up the set to wear during the day with other items to make it more casual. 

This short set comes in 12 colors so pick the one that works for you (pink, purple, green, and neutrals would work with the other items in this list).

Step #2- Pick Solids

Take some of the colors from the patterns you picked and use find solids to go with them.  If you’re using the long dress to pick from, you could use light pink, deep purple, teal green, cobalt blue, light blue, orange, or red.  

2 Solid Tops

I picked Gap tops for both because they do basics really well and are always soft and comfy.

Purple is a color that I don’t think gets enough love.  I added the purple T-shirt but it comes in lots of other colors if you prefer green or even just white.   

And tanks are the coolest option in summer.  This pretty pink tank top goes with everything here- you could even wear it under the long dress if you’re not a fan of spaghetti straps.   

1 Solid Topper

Even in the summer, I sometimes need a little something to fight off the chill (usually because of the AC) so I bring a long sleeve shirt to toss over whatever I’m wearing.  This  blue linen shirt comes in 34 different colors.  It can also be used as your swim coverup, 

1 Bottom (+ short set)

The white  jean shorts come in lots of different colors if you’re not a person who wears white much (but it is good at keeping mosquitos at bay).  And Joe’s Jeans are my go-to when I need a good pair.  

>> If you need help packing, I got you!  
From Packing Tips to Capsule Wardrobes to free printable checklists and outfit planners in the ⭐️Travel Resource Library⭐️, I make it easy!

Step #3- Pick Shoes

It’s all about being easy and being comfy at the lake and that includes your shoes.  You don’t want to mess with buckles, ties, or anything complicated on your relaxing vacay. 

You could also bring a pair of tennis shoes for running or hiking but I mostly get my exercise swimming when I stay at the lake.  

2 Shoes

I love these blue Birkenstocks that are made to last.  I once had a pair of Birks that lasted 20 years.  Not kidding.  I’ve had my current ones (a metallic green) for probably 10 and I get a million compliments on them.  I’m loving this blue color but they also have a really pretty soft pink that would also work for this capsule.  

And while I usually hang at the house for dinner at the lake, we do sometimes go out to a local restaurant.  I don’t want to look like a schlump so I bring a pair of flat sandals to dress things up a tiny bit.  

I added some woven slides that could not be any easier- nothing to even buckle, fasten, or tie.  Put your still-wet hair in a bun, toss on a dress, slide these on, and go… 🛝

Step #4- Accessories

Keeping the clothes simple is great but I always try to add interesting accessories to jazz things up a bit.

2 Bags

The mesh tote is a great thing to bring because you can use it while traveling and it can also serve as the bag to carry your stuff from the house to the dock (or boat).  It’s just the right size and also nice enough to take out to the market or a casual dinner.

You don’t really need to haul around much on a trip to the lake- really just your phone and some lip gloss- and this phone bag is the perfect thing.  It has a long strap to wear as a cross-body or you can use it as just a clutch.  It’s basically just a wallet in purse form so when you’re taking your tote, just toss it in to make sure you have everything you need.  

Other Items to Pack in Summer

Be sure when you buy yourself some sunglasses that they offer UV protection.  These great white sunglasses are really inexpensive, super cute, and come in tons of styles and colors.  One of my friends got me onto them- she has three pair at least- and I’m so glad she told me about them.  

And I don’t know about you, but I love finding easy ways to stay cool.  This cooling hat is perfect for keeping you cool, keeping the sun off your face, and it has a wind strap so it doesn’t go flying over the side when you’re out on the boat. 

And the most important thing to pack for the lake?  A bikini top + bikini bottom of course!  I have stopped trying to wear string bikinis and have decided it’s worth it to pay extra to be comfortable.  If you are, ahem, larger chested as I am, you might like Freya suits (and bras).  

This one is great because it fits just like a bra and has all the support you want which is great when you’re bumping across the waves in a boat or jumping off the dock.  I really can’t say enough good things about their suits.  I have found that the ‘high apex’ ones fit me best but everyone’s different.    

And don’t forget quick drying towels.  I love a  Turkish towel because they dry super-duper fast and are thin enough to wrap around me as a sarong.  I also love that they don’t take up so much room in the washing machine so I can do my whole family’s at once.  I buy them in bulk because I really love them that much.  

In your lake bag, you’ll need some sunscreen, spf lip stuff (this doesn’t melt in the heat), something to read (this Kindle is glare-free), your hat, and of course your sunnies.  And don’t forget an insulated tumbler to keep your drink cool.

And if you want drink options while you’re down at the dock, out on the boat, or paddling on your board, I love this small insulated cooler.  Ps- it’s also a great Father’s Day gift.

Basics to Pack

Don’t forget your undies, socks (even if it’s only to walk around inside) and bras.  

I love bringing a pair of silky pajamas on all my trips.  They pack down to almost nothing, dry super quickly if you need to wash them, and feel cool and comfy on hot nights.

Lake Outfits

I know, putting together outfits can feel like a total pain. But honestly? It doesn’t have to be- especially with a capsule wardrobe. It’s basically effortless. You can literally close your eyes, grab something from your bag, and it’ll match.

I’m all about keeping things simple, and a capsule is the easiest way to look stylish on vacation without overthinking it.

Below are some outfit options but there are definitely more ways to put these items together.  And if you bring another pair of shorts or an extra top, then the options will be endless.   

DRESSES+SET: long floral dress + short floral dress + blue stripe short set
TOPS:  purple T-shirt + pink tank top
TOPPERS: blue linen shirt
BOTTOMS: jean shorts
SHOES: blue Birkenstocks + woven slides
BAGS: mesh tote + phone bag
ACCESSORIES: white sunglasses
SEASONAL: bikini top + bikini bottom + Turkish towel

Other Things for your Lake Packing List

If you’re looking to keep yourself busy on your lake trip, we do things like kayak (my son likes to fish from his) and stand-up paddleboard. We have this inflatable SUP and it’s great. And don’t forget to bring some floaties to just bob along and soak up some vitamin D!

And some tunes are nice when you’re hanging out so a waterproof speaker is a good idea. But really, my favorite thing to do is sit on the dock and dive into a good book. 📚

🏠 If you’re looking to rent an entire house, VRBO has rental houses, villas, and city flats anywhere you want to go in the world.

The other thing you might want is a big cooler (if you’re driving to the lake that is).  I live a few hours away from my in-law’s lake house and I started just buying groceries before I go so I don’t waste time at the grocery store after driving hours to get there.  

My trick is that I buy one of those thaw-and eat pies to serve as ice in the cooler then pack everything else on top and it stays good for the whole trip.  Once I get there and unpack, I can use the cooler to store ice and drinks so they don’t take up room in the fridge.    

My Favorite Travel Websites

Questions about Travel Capsule Wardrobes

Do I need to buy all new clothes for a travel capsule?
Absolutely not! I don’t expect you to buy all new things. This example is just meant to inspire you and make planning a little easier. You can totally raid your own closet and find most of what you need. That said… I’ll admit, I sometimes use packing as an excuse to treat myself to something new and I definitely won’t judge if you do the same!

>> Still have questions?  Get in touch and I’ll do my best to help.    

I hope this has helps you figure out what you do (and don’t) need on your lake packing list.  What lake are you going to visit?  Tell me all about it- I love a lake!
Happy travels… 🛶 ⛵️ 🚤