My family and I are avid road trippers, and I still struggle with how many outfits to bring for each member of the family. This summer we took a 2 week trip and the clothing was a disaster! I got it all wrong!
Unless space is severely limited, bring one outfit for each day. Families should pack one bag per day instead of one bag per person. The daily bag should contain one outfit and pajamas per person. Bring a separate bag with jackets or swimsuits. Packing cubes can create this separation within the same suitcase.
When doing laundry on the road, pack everything away as outfits. When planning a road trip; be prepared to do laundry, but don’t count on it.
There are a lot of reasons that laundry might not be available or might not be a good option while on your trip. If you need to be able to ensure you can do laundry, bring one of these portable washers and line dry. This will likely only be helpful for a small amount of laundry, but could be a lifesaver if you must have a clean uniform daily.
How Many Outfits Do I Need?
Here is my definitive chart.
When I travel it is important to me that I have everything I could possibly need. I am a practical packer, but not a minimalist. These are the recommendations based on my family’s travels. Your mileage may vary.
| 2 Days | 7 Days | 14 Days | |
| Adult | 2 Day 1 Pjs | 7 Day 3 Pjs | 12 Day 6 Pjs |
| Young Child | 3 Day 2 Pjs | 9 Day 3 Pjs | 17 Day Pjs |
| Baby | 4 Day 2 Pjs | 10 Day 7 Pjs | 20 Day 8 Pjs |
Remember to factor in pool time. If you will be swimming, plan for 2 outfits for each swim day.
These pajama recommendations are sure to be controversial.
If you are the kind of person who changes pjs every night, bring enough for every night, if you keep the same sleeping clothes for a week, I recommend you bring one extra set, just to be safe.
Sleeping in a new place is difficult, and you want to be ready to be as comfortable as possible.
How many outfits for a month-long road trip, or longer?
Long road trips are the best, adventurous families can spend months on the road. There is so much to see, why not.
A longer trip is planned differently and laundry will be part of the plan.
8-10 days worth of clothes will satisfy most travelers and give you a good cushion for finding good laundry facilities.
Be sure to remember the items that might only be used infrequently. Remember, there is no such thing as bad weather, only poor clothing choices.
- Sweatshirt
- Dressed-up/ Fancy outfit
- Walking Shoes
- Bathing Suits
- Gym Shorts
- Unimportant TShirt (to get messy)
How should I organize clothes for a road trip?
I use 4 bags:
Daily Bag
Organize your clothes by day instead of by person. When planning your outfits, lay them all out for each person and roll them up (including underwear) and secure them with a rubber band.
Then group one outfit for each person in a pillowcase or packing cube and add that to your larger suitcase.
This makes one bag per day and makes it simple to stay organized.
Toiletry Bag
This bag should be brightly colored, or different from everything else. Make it easy to spot.
This bag contains everyone’s toothbrush, razors, shampoo, hair elastics and pins. All the stuff you will need daly. This bag comes into each place you stay every day.
Easy.
Bathing Suit Bag
This bag contains swimsuits, but also sunscreen, towels, aloe, hats and an empty water bottle.
Grab this when you find a great place to splash around.
Trip Home Bag
This might be my best tip in this post!
Pack a bag that goes home with you. This will contain outfits for the ride home as well as some great snacks and surprise toys or books. Just what everyone wants after a hard week of vacationing.
You will feel refreshed and so will everyone else.
This bag can also be an emergency backup because you leave it in the car. If you suddenly need a new outfit or a surprise to calm an unhappy child, or a gift for an unexpected celebration, you are covered.
It is a great idea to always keep this kind of bag in your car. I love having a really stocked van, It is my secret to getting out the door without forgetting anything, and I also have a list of first aid items that I keep in the van.
Do I need packing cubes?
I hear from many people that packing cubes make packing easier for them, and I have used them, but with so many people in my family I find them too expensive, but I have a great alternative.
If you like the idea of a bag in a bag for packing organization, try pillowcases! You probably already have a few extra in your house!
When packing using packing cubes, the idea is to separate the space inside your large bag, so that you can easily find what you need. I find pillowcases to be a great size!
On our last trip I used rubber bands to bundle individual outfits including underwear, and then put those rolls into pillowcases for each member of my family. This was a failure!
Bundle outfits then pack by the day! Each day you can just grab the pillowcase and fill it up with the dirty clothes in the pillowcase at the end of the day.
If you are still interested in packing cubes, I love this explanation.
I have used lots of her tutorials when we were cruisers.
Where can I do laundry on a road trip?
When choosing a hotel or AirBnB, look for those that have laundry available on site. There are laundromats everywhere and, if you have the time, you can live like a local and visit one.
As a general rule, truck stops have laundry facilities. Truck stops are located close to major highways and offer food and showers. The prices may be higher than local laundromats, so call around to be sure you are getting the best deal.
Campgrounds also offer laundry. If you are traveling in a peak season, they may be crowded. Plan to wash clothes in the early morning or late at night to avoid congestion. If you are looking to find the best place for the best price, check with the camp host. They live there and are likely to know the best places.
You can also purchase a portable washer like this one on Amazon that collapses to save space.
These are for very small loads, like bathing suits, a work uniform or a single sweater or sweatshirt. They can be handy for things like this, but not practical for daily use.
If you are on a long term road trip and MUST do laundry frequently, I recommend this larger unit on Amazon. Some of my friends use it as their primary washer and it has worked well for them. I has a build in spin dryer.
While it is likely that you will have access to laundry on your road trip, the only way to be sure is to bring your own!
So, when you are on a road trip do your laundry:
- Hotel
- Rental House
- Campground
- Laundromat
- Portable Washing Machine
- Truck Stop
Should I bring laundry detergent on a road trip?
When you know you will be doing laundry on a road trip, bring a travel sized bottle of your preferred laundry detergent. While laundry detergent can usually be found while traveling, it is better to be prepared.
This can save you money, but also add comfort to your trip. Changing laundry detergent can cause rashes on sensitive skin, so avoid using a new detergent while on vacation, just in case. You can even pack a ziploc with a few of your laundry pods from home.
If you have purchased a portable washer like the two I recommended above, be sure to bring liquid laundry soap as a full pod will be too much detergent.
