Packing for a trip can be daunting. For most people, making a packing list and packing itself are the worst parts of planning any trip, and more often than not, you leave feeling like you forgot to pack something important.
But don’t worry- packing is a skill that can be mastered. All it takes is some practice and preparation!
But in case you have not yet mastered this skill, I have created the ultimate trip packing guide & packing list for you.
I go into all the things you need to add to your packing list, what to consider before packing, and tips for packing as efficiently as possible.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products that I personally would use or do currently use. Please read full disclosure for more information.
Just here for the list? You can get a copy here.
Below is the same packing list with links to products perfect for travel.
Want to know HOW to pack your bag for maximum efficiency? Keep reading.
Things to consider when making a packing list:
Are you driving or flying?
Whether you’re driving or flying can make a huge difference in how you pack.
Driving typically allows you to be a little more liberal with how you pack.
Flying on the other hand puts size and weight requirements on your luggage which for most people can make things a little trickier.
If you’re flying, be prepared to focus on packing efficiently and cleverly so that you can avoid baggage fees.
What will the weather be like?
The weather you’ll be experiencing during your trip can make a world of difference in how much space will be filled in your suitcase. Your packing list may look a lot different depending on the weather.
Cold weather packing is slightly trickier. (Coats take up a lot more space than swimsuits).
Trips where you might be experiencing a variety of different temperatures and climates may require more clever packing methods and lots of layers.
Make sure to check out the predicted weather forecast ahead of time so that you can be prepared for anything but can also avoid packing items you may not need.
Will you be able to do laundry on the trip?
Obviously if you will be doing laundry on the trip, you won’t have to pack as many clothes.
Plan out how often you will be doing laundry so that you have a good idea of how many days’ worth of clothes you will need to pack for in between washes.
Tips for packing for a trip:
Pack smart.
I think we’ve all heard that rolling clothes instead of folding them is supposed to save space in your suitcase. But this isn’t the only thing you can do to pack smart.
There are so many different packing methods designed to help you pack as efficiently as possible. You can check out a great article on different packing methods here.
But here are a few of my favorite tips:
- Use packing cubes. They can keep you organized and save you a surprising amount of space. Here are some great packing cubes here.
- Fold your clothes in outfits. After deciding what outfits you want to wear on your trip, lay them out and fold them as outfits. Lay out the pants, shirt, and any other pieces of clothing that go with it, and fold them all as one. This can save some space, but it also allows you to easily grab an outfit out each morning instead of having to dig through your entire suitcase to find the individual items you want to wear.
- Use every possible ounce of space. Stick your socks inside your shoes. Use that little zipper pouch in your suitcase. Fill up your carry-on and personal bag. Use it all up.
Layers are your friend.
The best tip for packing clothing is this- pack layers.
No matter what climate you’ll be in, layers can serve you well.
They can keep your luggage from being full of really thick items like bulky sweaters, and they can also keep you from getting too hot/cold on your trip.
Focusing on layers that you can keep on hand is a great idea for any trip.
Consider a capsule wardrobe (or at least a semi-capsule wardrobe).
If you haven’t heard of a capsule wardrobe, it’s essentially a wardrobe made up of fewer items that can all be worn interchangeably with each other. This typically looks like having a few basics like plain colored shirts, jeans, jackets or cardigans and other items that can be worn multiple different ways.
Capsule wardrobes are great when it comes to travel because you can keep your luggage light but still have a lot of outfit options.
Even if you don’t have a capsule wardrobe at home, picking out a handful of versatile items from your closet to pack can save you space in your suitcase.
Keep your bathroom/necessity items always packed.
One of the best travel hacks for avoiding extra stress of packing & unpacking- always keep your bathroom and necessity items packed and ready to go.
Trust me- this tip is golden.
Since starting to do this, I have saved so much time on packing AND unpacking (which I think we can all agree is the worst part of any trip) has been so much easier.
Basically, you’re going to keep a smaller bag always packed with things like deoderant, toothpaste, a toothbrush, etc. (bathroom items you need daily). Then when you’re packing for a trip, you just have to grab the bag and go.
Don’t overpack.
If it’s not something you use regularly and you would be able to easily buy if needed, don’t pack it.
For example, if you rarely get heartburn and are going to be staying somewhere near stores or gas stations, don’t pack heartburn medication just because you ‘might need it’.
Things like that rarely get used and end up just taking up space in your luggage. Worst case scenario, if you do end up needing them, they can be bought easily for a few dollars.
Take advantage of your carry-on and personal item.
Most airlines allow you to have a carry-on and some even allow an additional small bag like a backpack that can fit under the seat in front of you.
Don’t ignore this opportunity! You’d be surprised how much you can fit in a carryon and a small bag. This is also a great way to keep your checked bag lighter to avoid additional fees, or avoid checking a bag at all..
Pack your carry-on wisely.
One of the scariest things about flying is the possibility of losing your luggage. While it isn’t the norm, it is definitely possible, so preparing for that possibility can save you a lot of stress should that horrible situation arise.
One of the best things you can do for yourself as a traveler is to pack your carry-on in a way that allows you to still function on your trip if your checked bag were to get lost for a few days.
To do this, make sure to pack some of the essentials in the carry-on that could get you by until you are returned to your luggage.
This could include at least one or two full outfits, some must-have toiletries, any required medications, a cell phone charger, and any technology you’re taking with you. You definitely don’t want to lose expensive items like technology if your luggage were to get permanently lost or damaged.
Also, this one is pretty obvious, but make sure you have any tickets or required documents on hand with you rather than in your luggage. For example, if you’re going on a trip to national parks, don’t put your national park pass in your luggage. Instead, keep it in your carry-on or wallet so you are 100% sure you’ll have it when needed.
Expert tip: Snap a pic of your luggage right before your trip. Having a photo of what you have packed could help you out bigtime if your luggage were to get lost and you needed reimbursed for the belongings you had lost.
Make a car kit
If any part of your trip will be spent road tripping, a car kit is an ingenious way to make things more convenient for yourself.
Having a small kit that you can keep handy and easily access while in the car can save you from having to get out and dig through your luggage just to find something small.
Below I’ve added a section of the packing specifically for the car kit.
Recommended Gear:
Before we get to the packing list, let’s talk about gear. Having great luggage can make your trip much more organized.
Luggage
This brand makes beautiful luggage, including stunning carry-on suitcases perfect for any trip.
Personal Item/Backpack
Most airlines will allow you to take a personal item in addition to your carry on. This item can be a bag or backpack that fits underneath the seat in front of you. While this can vary from airline to airline, on most flights I have been on, this has been allowed and I have taken a pretty decent sized backpack with no issue. However, check with your specific airline to be certain of their rules.
If you are looking for a bag that can both hold plenty of items while still meeting the size requirements for a personal item, here are a few of my recommendations.
Backpack: Brevite
I love this backpack. Brevite bags are so high quality and perfect for travel. My favorite feature is the sleeve on the back which slides onto a luggage handle, making it easy to transport throughout the airport if you aren’t able to carry it.
Fanny pack: Patagonia Fanny Pack
We have this fanny pack and love it. It is the perfect size for carrying your phone and a small wallet along with some extra items like chapstick, keys, etc.
Let’s get to the actual list.
This is the complete packing list which is ideal for trips of around a week or more. Shorter trips may not require all of these items.
I’ve included everything I could think of that someone might need, so there may of course be items that aren’t applicable to you.
The ultimate packing list:
Clothing:
Figuring out how many clothes to put on your packing list is probably the trickiest part of packing. You won’t want to overpack and have to deal with the extra luggage, but you also don’t want to under-pack and be left without enough clothes to get you through your trip.
A great rule of thumb for packing is to pack enough clothes for each day plus one or two extras. If you are doing laundry throughout the trip, this can be reduced. For example, if you’re planning to do laundry every 5 days, you could pack enough outfits for 5 days, plus maybe an extra outfit just in case. I think it’s always a good idea to pack at least 2 extra pairs of socks and underwear, as those are things you can’t usually re-wear very comfortably once they get dirty.
It’s also important when packing clothes to consider what you’ll actually need for the climate you’re going to. The list below will include everything you could need for any trip, but you of course may not need it all. If you’re going to Mexico in July, you won’t need a coat for example.
You can of course tweak this to your own liking, but here are my suggestions for packing clothing for your trip:
I’m going to use the shorthand “EE” to mean ‘Enough for Everyday’.
So if it says ‘EE + 2’, that means ‘enough for every day plus 2 extras’.
Basics
- Shirts/Sweaters/Blouses/Dresses: EE + 1
- Pants/Shorts/Skirts/Rompers: EE +1
- Socks: EE +2
- Underwear: EE +2
- Bras: EE
- Lightweight jacket
- 2-3 Sweatshirts/jackets/cardigan
- Bringing a neutral cardigan along with you can be a simple way to add a warmer layer to any outfit.
- Tennis Shoes/Comfortable Walking Shoes
- Dressy shoes or sandals
- Hat(s)
- Belts
- Pajamas
- Jewelry
- Purse/bag
- A bag for dirty clothes.
- A trash bag works great for this. If you’re looking for something a little fancier, this one is a great option.
Optional depending on trip plans
- Coat
- Swimsuit
- Shower shoes
- Rain Jacket
- Hiking boots
- Sun hat
- Gloves, scarf, and beanie
- Snow shoes
Necessity/bathroom items
- Sunscreen
- Bug spray
- Shampoo & Conditioner
- Body Wash
- Wash Cloths
- Towel
- Extra glasses/contacts
- Contact solution & case
- Eye drops
- Razor
- Shaving cream
- Lotion
- Hairbrush
- Ponytails/hair clips/ bobby pins
- Toothbrush
- Get a good toothbrush holder too to keep your toothbrush clean.
- Toothpaste
- Floss
- Deodorant
- Anti-chafing cream
- Body Glide is by far the best one I’ve tried
- Band-aids
- Cotton swabs
- Makeup
- Skincare products
- Tweezers
- Chapstick
- Hairstyling tools/products
- Nail clippers
- Sanitary wipes
- Period products if needed
- Beard grooming products
Medications
If flying, you can check the TSA’s FAQ about bringing medication on flights here
If you’re looking for an aesthetically pleasing medication holder, check out this one.
- Dramamine / motion sickness
- Allergy
- Pain reliever (Advil, Tylenol, Ibuprofen)
- Prescription
- Nausea
- Vitamins
Car Kit
All of these items are things that I personally have found useful to keep handy on long car rides, especially when you’re far from home.
- Hand Sanitizer
- Wet Wipes
- Tissues
- Disposable face masks
- While most places don’t require face masks anymore, they are still handy to have just in case you end up somewhere that requires them.
- Chapstick
- Lotion
- Utensils/straw
- It’s not uncommon to stop for fast food on a road trip only to drive away from the restaurant and realize they didn’t give you utensils or straws. Having some on hand can keep you out of sticky (uh, pun intended) situations like this.
- Trash bag
- Aux cord
- Most newer cars have bluetooth options, but it never hurts to have an aux cord just in case.
- Gum
- Umbrella
- Ink pen
- Extra cash
- Extra cash is a great thing to have in your wallet, for toll roads or any other cash-only situations you may run into.
Documents/Important Items
- Driver’s License
- Passport
- Want a nice passport cover and wallet to keep all of your documents together? Check out my favorite one here. I have it and love it!
- Car insurance cards
- If you’ll be renting a car or driving for your trip, it’s a great idea to keep your insurance cards on hand.
- Health insurance cards
- While I hope you won’t have a need for health insurance cards on your vacation, it’s still a good idea to have them in your wallet in case something happens and you find yourself at the hospital.
- Tickets/passes you will need on your trip.
- I might be old school, but I still prefer to print out copies of my tickets just in case I can’t access them on my phone later.
- Vaccine cards
- While most places won’t have a need for this, it is good to keep any COVID-19 vaccine cards in your wallet in case you are traveling to somewhere that requires proof of vaccination.
Other
- Laundry detergent
- If you’re taking a longer trip where you’ll be doing laundry, it can be a good idea to take a small bottle of detergent with you. Not all Airbnbs/ VRBOs provide laundry detergent, so having a travel-size bottle like this can be great.
- Phone charger and powerbank
- If you’re looking for a really great powerbank that won’t break the bank (no pun intended), I highly recommend this one. We typically get about 5-6 full phone charges out of it and it is a reasonable price.
- Camera & charger/batteries
- Looking for a great beginner’s camera? Check out my camera here.
- Sunglasses
- Luggage tag
- Reusable water bottle
- This is especially important if you’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors and may not have frequent access to water. Here are my two favorite:
- Hydro Flask Bottle
- Stanley Tumbler
** side note: in case you’re wondering, you CAN take reusable bottles on planes, they just need to be empty until after you get through screening. Once you’re through screening, you can fill it up and avoid paying $10 for a bottle of water at the airport!
- Gum
- Laptop & charger
- Smart watch & charger
- Earbuds
- Pillow / blanket for plane
- Book/Kindle & Kindle charger
What to pack in a personal item:
Of the items above, I suggest packing the following in your personal item/bag that you’re allowed on most flights.
- Book/kindle
- Earbuds
- Powerbank
- Wallet/extra cash
- Passport
- Pillow
- Gum
- Dramamine
- Pain reliever
- Eye mask
- Disinfecting wipes
- Disposable face mask
- Snacks/ Hard candy
As mentioned above, you can get a printable checklist version of this packing list here.
I hope these tips will help you pack like a pro and take the stressful part out of your trip!
Looking for more travel tips? Check out these other posts.
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