When you are planning a road trip it is exciting and overwhelming. I am the head of the packing crew in my house so I like to have long lists and a solid plan.
Pack in stages, get things that you will not need at home packed 2 weeks or more in advance, then add outfits 3-4 days before the trip. Finally pack the toiletries, chargers and electronics the day before departure. Be sure to pack things in the order you will need them. Have a set of pajamas for everyone on top, so you can get to them easily on your first night.
I love to have a few organized lists. I have this blank printable list you can use, or this checklist style list that you can use to plan your packing.
So let’s think of this as a layer cake and start stacking.
First Layer of Packing
This first layer can be packed 1-2 weeks ahead of the trip. If you are going on a beach trip, ski trip or camping trip, you likely have a lot of these things stored together already.
These things may also be harder to find at a store if you find that you need them. They do not sell bathing suits at Walmart in December in my area. So getting these things together early allows you to see if you need to order any missing pieces.
Some ideas:
Bathing Suits
Sunscreen
Beach Towels
Skis and Snow Suits
Hats and Gloves
Sleeping Bags
Camping Gear
Propane Canisters
Fishing Gear
Life Jackets
This is anything that you do not use at home, but you will need on the trip. Pack this as early as you like, as long as you have space.
I like to pack in totes to keep things organized and stackable, give it a try.
Second Layer to Pack
Next, pack everyone’s clothes. I like to do this 2-3 days before we leave on the trip. This will give you plenty of time to do laundry and get organized.
If you will be traveling for a special event like a wedding, plan those outfits well ahead of the trip, 2-3 weeks if possible.
Rules for Packing Clothes:
- Pack at least one outfit per day for trips 3-7 days
- Pack an extra outfit for each adult and child over 12
- Pack 2 extra outfits per child under 12
- Pack an extra outfit if you will be swimming
- Trips longer than 7 days should include a laundry day
- Pack a bag for dirty clothes
- 2 bathing suits for beach trips or swimming trips longer than 3 days
How to Pack Outfits
Pack your clothes by the day, not by the person. Have a bag for the first night that has an outfit and pajamas for each person in your family. This makes it easy to get out of the car and into the hotel quickly.
I like to have a day 1 bag, I use a backpack, and a toiletry bag. When we arrive anywhere we just grab those two bags.
I plan my road trips in legs. This post gives my whole system and a printable worksheet, and I pack a bag for each leg.
Rolling outfits together with underwear and socks keeps it simple.
Third Layer to Pack
The final group of things to pack are the things you use every day.
Keep an notebook out the week of the trip and jot down all the things you think of that you want to pack last minute.
Things to grab on the morning of your trip:
Toothbrushes
Phone Chargers
Laptops and Tablets and Their Chargers
Contacts or Glasses and cases
Medications and Vitamins
Water Bottles
Shoes
The last minute list will be different for every family, but I recommend keeping a running list in the days leading up to the trip so you are less likely to forget anything.
There is no one like Andrea Mills when you are talking about trip organization. Check out her system in this video:
What do I need for a road trip?
There are a few things that almost everyone needs when they go on a road trip. Let these things on the list first.
The basics:
Clothes
One outfit, per person, per day plus 1 extra for adults and older kids, two extras for young kids. If your trip is longer than a week I recommend planning 5-7 outfits per person and have a plan for a laundry day.
Do not forget to grab a laundry basket or bag. I like to pack a pillow case or trash bag for dirty laundry. I hate having dirty laundry all over the place and this gives you a place to keep the dirty clothes.
Toiletries
Toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, clippers, tweezers and makeup. Pack these separately from clothes to avoid any potential spills and stains.
I keep all the toiletries for the whole family in one brightly colored bag. When we stop we grab this bag and everyone has their bathroom stuff in the hotel or cabin.
Food
SNACKS! If you are packing snacks and meals, add them to the checklist or make a grocery stop on your way out of town.
I think both strategie can work, just pack a cooler or car fridge ready to receive the deli meat and cold drinks.
I also recommend a car vacuum, I have this one for my bag and this one stays in the car. I love them and use them often.
Entertainment
Phones, chargers, tablets and non-electronic entertainment are pretty important on a family road trip.
There are endless car entertainment options, but I recommend audio books or podcasts. They allow everyone to enjoy them together and they can really set the tone of the trip.
I am all about shared memories for a road trip, so why not start sharing those experiences in the car.
Traveling with very young kids
If you are traveling with the under 2 crowd you need to add a few things to your list.
Be sure to pack diapers, make sure you have enough diapers, I tell you how to calculate that in this post.
Pack baby blankets. They are great for a floor play space, wiping up spills and covering a poop stain on a seat until you can wash it. I like to have 2 blankets per day.
Consider grabbing a cloth diaper cover if your child is prone to blow out diapers.
I have these covers and they offer another layer of protection against a soggy mess. A good wet bag is another great investment.
These washable waterproof bags can keep messes contained until laundry day.
Pack laundry supplies, it is unlikely you will make it through even a short trip without having to do some laundry. Bring the kind you use at home to avoid any allergies.
The most important thing about traveling with very young kids is to plan stops. Stop every 2 hours and get your children out of their car seats. If you are traveling with a very small baby, please read this post.
