Road trip packing

[Phoenix78]

Hey so im going on a week long trip and im just paranoid that I wont pack what I need so I just wanted some help making sure I got everything. Any advice is useful. Please and thank you

[shadowrider]

Is this a driving trip?

Like a solid week travelling around? 

Or going to a destination and staying in a hotel or house then driving home after a week?

[Phoenix78]

6 hours ago, shadowrider said:

Is this a driving trip?

Like a solid week travelling around? 

Or going to a destination and staying in a hotel or house then driving home after a week?

Staying in a hotel but its a long drive there

[Curious Leo]

Hi 

i love planning

so perhaps my ideas for packing for your road trip might be helpful. 
-I am not organized-sorry’

So depending on whether anyone is coming with you or your driving alone matters on what you might want to bring along since the amount of food/drinks an entertainment items would double to include others,

also whether you plan to take breaks to sleep in your car along the way or stop at hotels or stop to camp along the way also can factor in what you might also want to bring along like light jersey knit or fleece blankets an pillows & stuffies to cuddle with if u sleep with the seat reclines or laying across if u have back seats or you can pack a light popup tent with sleeping bag/sleeping mat with blanket plus  pillow & stuffies if ur camping or just a change of clothes & toiletries bag & stuffies for the hotel  

So if your going by yourself then bringing printed out directions & extra cash to pack inside your emergency bag I find is helpful just incase i.e-u loose service.

Snack bags- protein bars, energy snacks, fruits & veggies cut up, premake your sandwiches without dressing so it doesn’t get soggy like little condiments on the side just incase if your not going to stop to eat at the service stations or just incase the food areas are closed by the time u arrive or sold out, you can pack something you would rather eat then what I usually bring, so when your hungry you have what you like, if ur bringing a little then pre make an pre pack bottles, fruit leathers, cut up fruits an veggies, finger foods basically, crackers/cookies or melt aways, juice boxes, baby food in those twist top containers that open an close but it’s disposable but the kiddies can easily hold themselves if u aren’t stopping or u like them urself, finger foods like precooked chicken nuggets or if you don’t want to prepare anything or cook before then at any grocery store you can get lunchables they come with juice boxes an junk food like candy/chocolates/cookies, or smuckers uncrustables are also easy to buy an bring along it’s in the freezer department so they will just thaw during your trip so it’s ready to eat once it thaws, 🤔 one or two already filled bottles or sippy cups would be helpful to bring for littles or urself if u want it but also bring spare clothes for both you an them, incase of accidents whether it’s bathroom or you spill food/drinks

I always pack a thermos of soup/chili  & another thermos of something that will help you stay awake I don’t drink coffee but prefer chai tea, but you can choose wtvr you like or none,

also arranging your preferred playlist before you get into the car is smart either on your iPod, cds, tapes or phone but pre downloaded, incase u loose service,

I’m not sure what you normally have in your emergency packs 

but mine has a first aid, change of clothes, protein bars, gatorade, & some over the counter meds like throat lozenges, essential oil roll ons, motion-sickness meds, migraine meds, antihistamines, back pain meds, (I pack both homeopathic meds & the regular over the counter name brands, so that way I have options for others)

I tend to seriously over pack like I would also pack a fully charged solar battery car box which can boost you car incase it died an u had no service to call aaa, i also pack disposable rain jackets an shoe covers in case it pours, I also pack a wrist brace an seat cushion for driving helps my lower back an the wrist brace helps while driving also, I would also pack extra battery packs an cords for charging our phones an the kids tablets & of course for any bluetooth devices incase the wired headphones “break” & I would also pack a battery powered night light for the kids for either the hotel, tent or even just in the car so it shines on the ceiling or In my emergency pack I have some glow in the dark sticks/stickers, cool stickers for fevers, heat wraps for cramps, battery powered thermometer an sticker thermometers, I would also bring babywipes/wetwipes, deodorant wipes & water filters but that’s me honestly the babywipes/wetwipes are great to use to wipe ur hands an face incase u camp an u don’t have extra water, papertowels are great for any messes but also great incase your windows fog up, i would also pack books to read an coloring books & predownload shows, movies on the kids tablets incase there isn’t wifi in ur car or u loose service, okay there’s a lot more I would pack if the littles/middles came or if other adults came or depending on your preferences then I would change the amounts an change some items if I’m going myself to be honest cause like I said up above it depends on who’s coming with you an also what your plans are  an back up plans are for your trip.

since I personally I think it’s better to be prepared then to be under prepared I guess hmm I really tried not to share everything thats going through my mind, sorry if I got a little carried away with what  I usually pack along since I wasn’t sure how much I can really write especially since some people don’t seem to like to read long messages an this one is getting pretty long so il stop here an if you want more suggestions let me know il be happy to share, 

so if anything I said sounds helpful, then yay 😁 that’s so awesome i was able to be helpful  so hopefully perhaps what I wrote will also help you have some of your own ideas pop up so that way you can add them into forming the perfect plan for your road trips whether it’s by yourself or with your friends or loved ones.

 

Also I’m sorry for over sharing so much.

 

   

 

Edited December 15, 2023 by Curious Leo
Spelling and grammatical errors since phone did some automated corrections that were incorrect.

[shadowrider]

I think Curious Leo nailed almost everything I was thinking and some things I wasn't. Nice job.

There are only a couple things I might add because I grew up working outdoors and away from civilization and you never know what can happen. 

I try to always keep water and toilet paper in my vehicles at all times. You can also stock your glovebox or console with napkins from fast food restaurants.

Some type of knife and either some 1/8" rope or large zip ties. You never know when they will come in handy. 

[Curious Leo]

Yes I agree with “shadowrider”

the water for-sure it’s always a necessary staple, I shouldn’t have assumed it would already be apart of the emergency kits like for the knives would also be in there but if your doesn’t have it then yes a small survival tool kit that has an army/pocket knife, has rope, flints/waterproof matches, saw chain, emergency blankets, etc all great for road-trips or possibly zombie apocalypse, ooh

an u can safely keep them all tucked under the seats or even by the hubcap an spare tire/patch kits which should have a tire gauge, hand air-pump. Also great if u get stranded/stuck/out of range. 
 

[MissNMTX]

I'm a notorious over packer, which I'll probably be doing again soon. It's important to remember that as wasteful as it is, you most likely can buy anything you forget.

[Gentleman_Daddy]

2 pairs of jeans or shorts if its hot 7 t shirs spare pair of sneakers......buy everything else on the way cus fuck carrying all your shit.

[MissNMTX]

Just back from a trip. Didn't over pack this time. Surprisingly, the think I didn't use was makeup. Too busy enjoying my trip and making memories to worry about that. I made sure all my outfits went in one way or another with one pair of shoes also... that was a huge help.

[Gentleman_Daddy]

Best way to save space is to roll everything up like a sleeping bag then stack it all on top of each other, I can travel for months with a small back pack! It is really very liberating and vastly improves travel when you have very little luggage and you beat the ques at immigration when you dont have to wait for checked bags!

[MissNMTX]

@Gentleman_DaddyI wish I was this good at this packing...ugh. maybe I need a Daddy just for packing lessons?🤔

[Gentleman_Daddy]

There is a new sub genre of Daddy, the Pack Daddy, carries what you cant manage for you lol

[beanbean]

Some clothes and fishing pole done I am packed😂😂

[CaptnLucid]

Oh, me too. Just some clothes and essential skin care. Sometimes, I make a checklist before I start packing. . This way, I usually make sure I don’t forget anything essential, like chargers, toiletries, and a few pairs of clothes for different weather conditions. Also, consider packing a small bag of emergency items, like a first aid kit and a few basic medications.