Packing for a weekend trip sounds simple… until you realize you want to be ready for beach walks, brunch, cute dinners, and maybe a little exploring too — all without overstuffing your suitcase 😅
If you’re planning a quick escape to the Sunshine State (or anywhere during summer), this Florida weekend packing list will help you do it in style. I’ll show you exactly what to wear on a weekend trip to Florida, how to stay cool in the summer heat, and what’s actually worth bringing (hint: not those three extra “just in case” outfits).
Inside this post, you’ll learn:
✅ Exactly what to include in your Florida weekend packing list
✅ My favorite Florida travel outfits — cute, comfy, and heat-friendly
✅ How to pack everything in a carry-on without sacrificing style
So if you’re trying to create the perfect Florida weekend getaway packing list, keep reading. Let’s make sure you look cute, feel comfy, and actually wear everything you pack!
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them — at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting my work!
☀️ First, let’s cover the basics!
Before we dive into outfits and suitcase strategy, let’s talk details — because a good Florida weekend packing list starts with knowing what you’re actually packing for. (Spoiler: just tossing random cute tops into your bag doesn’t work)
Here’s a quick look at what this Florida trip looked like for me:
🗺️ Itinerary:
3-night/4-day trip to St. Augustine, Florida — a charming beach town filled with cobblestone streets, cute shops, delicious food, and lots of history.
We explored downtown, went to a concert, enjoyed the beach, and ate out for most meals.
I changed twice a day (this rarely happens, but it happened for this trip!) so I’ll be sharing 6 different outfits. Perfect for a long weekend trip!
📆 Dates:
Mid-July — aka peak summer in Florida. Think hot, humid, and a daily thunderstorm or two. (Welcome to the tropics!)
🌦️ Weather:
- Average high: 91°F (33°C)
- Average low: 80°F (27°C)
- High humidity + summer thunderstorms in the afternoons
📝 Vibe & Activities:
Relaxed mornings, lots of walking, beach time, a little sightseeing, local tours and dinners out at cute restaurants.
🧳 Trip Style:
Carry-on only, of course! I always challenge myself to stick to one small suitcase. This could have all fit in a weekender bag like this one, but because we drove there I decided to bring my trusty 20″ carry-on.
This Florida weekend getaway packing list is perfect if you want to stay light without sacrificing style.
⚠️ Why this matters:
Packing is personal. What works for me might look a little different for you — and that’s okay!
My goal is to walk you through my process so you can build a packing list that actually works for your trip, your style, and your sanity.
You’ll see all my outfits below. This should give you an idea on how much you actually need to pack.
🧳 Florida Weekend Packing List (4 days/3 nights)
Normally, I plan every trip with mix-and-match pieces in mind — especially for longer adventures. For my usual 6-month trips, I’m all about versatility and would never pack three dresses. But weekend trips are different. (although all my tops do match all my bottoms)
When you only have a few days, you don’t need to stretch your wardrobe across weeks of activities. You can pack for exactly what you’re doing — whether that’s a beach afternoon, a dressy dinner, or lazy mornings with coffee and treats.
That’s what makes short trips fun to pack for: you get to bring the cute things you love without worrying about any of it fitting, repeat wear or laundry.
Here’s what I packed for this 4-day Florida getaway 👇🏼 (I’m 5’4″ and weight about 130 lbs for reference)
Tops: (3)
- Cotton Modal Double Scoop Neck Tank (Color: White – Size: XS). If sold out, browse other cute tank top options here.
- 100% European Linen Fitted Tank (Color: Classic Mini Gingham – Size: XS). If sold out browse more linen tops here.
- Crochet tank top (sold out, but you can browse similar options here – keep in mind that this style is seasonal)
Bottoms: (3)
- 100% European Linen High Waisted Shorts (Color: Chile – Size: S) – If sold our browse more shorts here.
- 100% European Linen Tapered Ankle Pants (Color: Martini Olive – Size: S) – browse my favorite linen pants here!
- 100% European Linen Skort (Color: Black – Size: 6) – If sold our browse more shorts here.
Dresses: (3)
- 100% Organic Cotton Eyelet Smocked Midi Dress (Color: Black [eyelet] – Size: XS) *more cute dresses here*
- 100% European Linen Scoop Neck Midi Dress (Color: Floral Waterfall – Size: S) *more cute dresses here*
- Printed Maxi Dress (Sold out – but more fun dress options here)
Shoes: (2)
- Nappa Leather Double Buckle Slide (Color: Bone – Size: 6) *similar sandals here*
- Flat leather sandals *for all my dinner looks*
Layering Pieces: (2)
- Pashmina
- Denim jacket (optional – only because I always get cold inside restaurants)
Accessories:
- Crossbody bag (if sold out, this is where I always shop for crossbody bags)
- Stylish sunnies
- (2) Dainty necklaces (both from here)
- Gold earrings (3 pairs)
- (6) Gold rings (all from here)
- I fit all my jewelry inside this travel jewelry case
Others:
- Bathing suit
- Beach cover-up (exact one is always sold out but it’s from this brand)
- Straw hat
- Foldable beach bag
- (1) strapless bra
- (1) regular bra
- (10) underwear (I always like to overpack these)
Toiletries:
- Antioxidant balm
- Plumping cream
- Plumping serum
- Face sunscreen
- Body sunscreen
- Lip balm with SPF
- Small makeup bag
- Refillable travel containers (one for shampoo, one for body moisturizer)
- Natural deodorant (lavender)
- Bar soap
- Razor
- Washable makeup remover wipes
This easily fits in this 20″ carry-on. Feel free to pack it all in a weekender bag if that’s your preference. Also, I’m a fan of packing cubes!
🧳 Need a customized packing list for a longer trip?
This post is perfect for a quick weekend getaway, but if you’re packing for something a little longer — or you’re just not sure where to start — I’ve got something that can help.
Just answer 2 quick questions about your trip, and I’ll send you a customized packing list based on the destination and length of your trip.
It’s fast, it’s free, and it’ll take the guesswork out of packing ⬇️
St Augustine Travel Outfits: What I Wore & Why
We drove to St Augustine for this trip, which meant I technically could’ve packed whatever I wanted. No TSA limits, no carry-on restrictions — just a trunk waiting to be filled 😅
But I still challenged myself to stick to a true Florida weekend packing list: just a few cute, comfy pieces that mix and match easily and make getting dressed feel effortless. Because even when I can overpack… I’d rather not.
Here’s what I wore each day. I saved the dresses for happy hours and dinners and the other 3 outfits worked great for everyday explorations.
Day 1 – Morning & Evening Outfit:
We spent most of the day walking around, exploring shops, grabbing food, and just enjoying the town. We went to the beach in the afternoon and I had my bathing suit and cover-up in the car ready to go, but ended up deciding not to go in the water.
Around 4 pm it started pouring, so we took a break at the Airbnb, then headed out again for dinner.
☀️ For the morning, I wore my scoop neck tank with these red linen shorts and my white double buckle sandals — comfy, breathable, and perfect for all the walking we did.
I finished the look with my straw crossbody bag, sunglasses, and a pair of gold hoops. I’m not usually big on shorts, but these are so flattering and didn’t ride up while walking, which is a win in my book.
🌙 For dinner, I changed into a printed maxi dress (sold out, similar dresses here) and my flat black sandals. I love this dress because it feels a little extra without requiring any effort — plus it doesn’t wrinkle, which makes it perfect for traveling.
For accessories I used the same crossbody bag (you’ll see how it works with everything) and a dainty gold necklace.


Day 2 – Morning & Evening Outfit:
☀️ For the morning, I wore my crochet tank top with the olive tapered linen pants and Nappa buckle sandals. This outfit felt relaxed but a little more elevated — perfect for walking around, taking photos, and grabbing lunch by the beach. (these are the cutest linen pants I’ve owned!)
I stuck with my straw crossbody bag, sunnies, and gold jewelry to keep things simple but polished.
🌙 For dinner, I changed into my floral linen midi dress and paired it with the black flat sandals again. I added statement earrings, rings and a dainty gold necklace to complete the look.
I love this dress for so many reasons: the linen fabric kept me cool on a hot, humid night, the floral print is just beautiful in person and it has pockets! Plus, I didn’t even need to wear a bra. Total win!


Day 3 – Morning & Evening Outfit:
This was our final full day in town. We did a couple of tours in the morning, relaxed at the Airbnb in the afternoon, and went out for one last dinner in the evening.
☀️ For the morning, I wore my gingham fitted tank with the black linen skort and double buckle sandals. Skorts are such a great option if you don’t love wearing shorts — they’re cute, comfy, and super practical for lots of walking.
I didn’t wear a bra with this top and felt totally fine thanks to the thicker straps, double lining and structured fit.
🌙 For dinner, I changed into this gorgeous black eyelet midi dress — basically my elevated version of a little black dress. It’s flattering, super comfortable, and I loved how easy it was to dress up with my favorite tassel earrings (found them at a little antique shop in Montana!).
I wore the black flat sandals again and of course, the same Raffia crossbody bag I used for every look on this trip.


I was very happy about my outfit choices because there are so many nice restaurants, and people like to dress up, so I never felt underdressed.
I wore everything. If I had done laundry I would have had different outfits for 3 more days because all my tops matched all my bottoms, so they were easy to mix and match. That’s one of my little packing secrets for longer trips 😉
The why behind each piece: (my thought process)
Florida in the summer means heat, humidity, and the occasional pop-up thunderstorm — so lightweight, breathable fabrics were non-negotiable.
I leaned heavily on linen, and even though this is a casual weekend destination, some people definitely dress up to go out.
We had nice dinners, did a lot of walking, and yes — those charming cobblestone streets are no joke if you’re in the wrong shoes.
Here’s the thought process behind every piece I packed 👇🏼
- Cotton Modal Double Scoop Neck Tank – Simple, breathable, and great for layering. Easy to pair with linen pants or shorts for daytime exploring – If sold out, browse other cute tank top options here.
- 100% European Linen Fitted Tank – I didn’t need a bra for this one and that’s always a plus when it’s hot outside – . If sold out browse more linen tops here.
- Crochet tank top – chic, breezy, and gave that effortless, slightly elevated look. Perfect for a sunset dinner or rooftop drinks — (my exact one is sold out, but you can browse similar options here – keep in mind that this style is seasonal)
- 100% European Linen High Waisted Shorts – Not a huge fan of shorts, but I’m trying to change that. These are practical, breathable, and surprisingly flattering! – If sold our browse more shorts here.
- 100% European Linen Tapered Ankle Pants – Out of the linen pant styles I’ve tried, these tapered ones are the most flattering in my opinion. They work day to night and were perfect for the drive home too – browse my favorite linen pants here!
- 100% European Linen Skort – I prefer skirts over shorts, but I’ll admit shorts are more practical. Here’s where the skort comes in super handy. You get the best of both! – If sold out browse more shorts here.
- 100% Organic Cotton Eyelet Smocked Midi Dress – timeless and so cute! Everyone dresses up to go out in St Augustine, so this dress was perfect! Also, no bra needed! – *more cute dresses here*
- 100% European Linen Scoop Neck Midi Dress – Simple, breathable, and one of those “looks nice without trying” pieces. Great for lunch or walking around town. Also, no bra needed! – *more cute dresses here*
- Printed Maxi Dress – I always like to pack at least one fun printed piece, and for a short weekend trip you can do whatever you want! It felt easy and dressy without being fussy. – (Sold out – but more fun dress options here)
- Nappa Leather Double Buckle Slide – My dressier pair of everyday sandals that still felt comfy. They work for everyday explorations and for dinners too! – *similar sandals here*
- Flat leather sandals – I skipped the heels. These were comfortable enough for cobblestone streets (which St. Augustine has a lot of) and still looked cute with everything.
- Crossbody Bag – Just one neutral and stylish bag that matches with everything. I’ve this exact bag for over a year now and I use it daily!
- Jewelry – I brought a couple pairs of gold earrings, simple rings, and dainty layered necklaces. Easy, low-effort accessories that instantly elevated every outfit.
- Sunnies – You’ll need them! It’s the sunshine state 😎
❓Your Packing Questions Answered:
These are the questions I get all the time — whether I’m packing for a weekend in Florida or 6 months abroad. So if you’ve ever felt overwhelmed while packing, know you’re not alone (and yes, you can look cute without bringing your entire closet).
🧳 How do you fit everything in a carry-on?
It’s all about planning. I choose pieces that mix and match, limit my shoes to 3 pairs max, and always pack with a loose itinerary in mind. You don’t need 12 outfits for a 3-day trip — you just need smart, versatile ones. This Florida weekend packing list had more than enough.
Read more carry-on packing tips here.
🧼 Do you do laundry on short trips?
Nope! I usually plan to rewear a couple of things (especially bottoms), but for 3–4 days, I pack enough to get through without washing. If a trip is longer than 9 days, I’ll try to stay somewhere with a washer or use a laundry service.
Doing this is way better than overpacking!
👜 What kind of bag do you use?
I use this 20” carry-on suitcase and a small personal item (like a crossbody or backpack). Even for road trips, I stick to the same setup — it keeps me focused and makes my travel days way easier.
👠 How many shoes do you pack?
For weekend trips? Always two. One pair of comfortable shoes for walking (usually leather sneakers OR comfy sandals like Birkenstocks for a summer trip like this one) and one pair of flats leather sandals to go out at night.
Both pairs should match every bottom piece.
🧴 What are your must-have toiletries for hot-weather trips?
I bring fewer products in summer and focus on skincare that works double-duty. Some staples:
- Primally Pure Plumping Serum + Antioxidant Balm (hydrating and multi-purpose)
- Face sunscreen
- Razor, deodorant, and a bold lipstick to elevate any outfit
👗 How did you choose what to wear on this weekend trip to Florida?
I think about the weather, the vibe (beach town vs city), and what I’ll actually be doing. Then I build outfits around that.
For example, in the summer I always include Florida travel outfits with breathable fabrics, easy silhouettes, and layers I can throw on if we head indoors. (I always have a denim jacket or pashmina with me because I always get cold)
❌ What do you not bring anymore?
“Just in case” pieces. Fancy shoes I won’t wear. Anything that doesn’t go with at least 2–3 other items in my bag.
Oh and uncomfortable pieces. I make sure everything in my bag fits me, looks good and it’s comfortable. It makes a huge difference to try things on before your trip!
Final Thoughts:
I hope this post helped you feel a little more confident about your own Florida weekend packing list — whether you’re headed to the beach, exploring a cute town, or just trying to unplug for a few days.
Packing light isn’t about being restrictive — it’s about being intentional. When you know what to wear, what you’ll actually need, and how to mix and match, packing becomes so much easier (and let’s be real — way less stressful).
Whether you’re figuring out what to wear on a weekend trip to Florida or just looking for cute, comfy Florida travel outfits that don’t take up your entire suitcase, I hope this post gave you some new ideas and a fresh perspective.
Here’s your permission to stop overthinking it. You don’t need more options — you need the right ones. You’ve got this 💛
XO,
Aimara
>>> PS: remember I travel full time with a carry-on and my specialty is international travel! So be sure to answer these 2 questions about your trip and I’ll send you a customized packing list for a spring or summer trip.
About the author:
Hi! I’m Aimara — a full-time traveler who’s been living out of a carry-on suitcase for up to 6 months at a time. Over the years, I’ve figured out how to pack smarter, travel lighter, and still feel confident and stylish on every trip — and now I love helping other women do the same.
I know how overwhelming packing can feel — even for a quick weekend getaway — and my goal is to make it easier, less stressful, and a lot more fun. You don’t need to overpack or buy a bunch of new things to feel great on your trip. You just need a little strategy, the right pieces, and someone in your corner who’s been there.
I’m so glad you’re here 💛
If you enjoyed today’s post, you’re also going to like these:
- What to pack for Montana in the summer
- What to pack for a beach vacation
- 7 best travel accessories you’ll actually need
- How to pick the right carry-on for YOUR needs?
- My favorite wrinkle free travel clothing
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