Road trips can be a fantastic experience for friends and family, offering a unique opportunity to connect and slow down. Whether you are planning a week-long sightseeing trip or are planning to hop to a new city for the weekend, packing well is an essential part of a great road trip. A well-packed vehicle can be the difference between a stressful trip and an enjoyable one. These tips are perfect for packing your car effectively for your next road trip.
Pack Luggage Smart
Packing your luggage for a road trip comes with its own challenges and benefits. You don’t have to worry about weight limitations, as long as you’re willing to carry it, but you may have to spend extra time thinking about space within your vehicle. If you’re packing for a car full of occupants and their luggage, opt for duffel bags and totes instead of hard airport-friendly luggage. Soft bags will be easier to squish and stack, making better use of your limited space. For clothing or electronics that you don’t want squished, consider using packing cubes with clear bags for organization and ease-of-access.
Pack a Day Bag
Bring a separate bag for storing items for activities for each stop: road trip entertainment, chargers, sunglasses and other daily essentials. This can also be an excellent spot to store non-perishable individual snacks for each passenger. If you plan to stop overnight mid-trip, consider packing smaller overnight bags so the whole car’s contents doesn’t need to be unloaded.
Don’t Forget an Emergency Kit
An emergency car care kit is essential for every road trip—no one wants to get stuck with a flat tire and no recourse. Be sure that your kit includes jumper cables, a flashlight, tire inflator, basic tools and an emergency blanket. It is also a great idea to include a small first aid kit in your vehicle for unexpected scrapes and bruises. Be sure to add helpful over-the-counter medications like pain reliever for kids and adults; include ginger chews or sea-sickness pills for any motion-sick occupants.
Bring a Wet Bag or Laundry Bag
If you are planning a long trip, bring a laundry bag to store any dirty clothes. This keeps your clean items fresh and makes unpacking and sorting easier at the end of your trip. Going to the beach? Consider bringing a wet bag for any swimsuits or wet towels that can’t be laundered immediately—just be sure to launder or dry them along your trip so they don’t produce mildew.
