Are you thinking about taking a weekend trip with your family, but then get overwhelmed with the idea of packing everything? As a mom of 4, I get the struggle. Sometimes the idea of packing for a weekend road trip is so daunting that I second-guess my wanderlust.
Whether you’re going camping, visiting a theme park, or just spending time at the beach, I’ve got you covered with the ultimate packing list so you can thoroughly enjoy your family vacation.
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What Should I Pack for My Weekend Trip?
Once you have your weekender bag packed and are sitting in the car, do you have that sinking feeling you’re forgetting something? Packing by categories helps you stay organized, and you’ll feel confident you have everything you need. Here are the road trip essentials to consider:
- Clothes
- Shoes
- Outerwear
- Toiletries
- Electronics
- Medical
- Documents
- Entertainment
- Food
- Personal Needs
What Clothes Should I Pack for the Weekend?
Having 4 kids means a lot of clothes (and a lot of laundry, but I digress!). The first step to packing your clothes is determining your activities for the weekend. Are you going camping? to a beach? spending time in the city?
Plan one outfit per person per day you are traveling. Then pack an outfit or two extra in case of spills or messes.
If you’re traveling in the summer, pack light, airy items that can be easily layered. In the winter, pack heavier items that will keep you warm.
Tip: If cargo space is limited, wear your bulkiest clothes and shoes in the car to save space in your bags.
Include layers in your clothes packing list category. This minimizes the bulkier items while ensuring you are comfortable.
It also helps to think of your clothes as full outfits. Choose items that complement each other and can be mixed and matched. Simple patterns and neutrals are easier to mix together than bold colors and designs. At a minimum pack the following:
- Underwear/Bras
- Tanks/T-shirts/Long Sleeve/ Hoodie
- Pants and Shorts
- Socks
- Dresses/Skirts
- Sunglasses
- Pajamas
- Swimwear
Always pack extra socks and underwear – better to be safe than sorry, I say.
How Many Shoes Do I Need For a Weekend Road Trip?
Now that you’ve determined your outfits, consider the shoes. Again, choosing a sturdy and comfortable pair of shoes that can be worn with multiple outfits is a better use of bag and cargo space than a new, untested pair. The last thing you want is blisters while you’re trying to have fun with the family.
Depending on the weather and what activities you have planned, you will want:
Best Jackets for a Weekend Road Trip
Technically, outerwear could be in the clothing category but it’s an easy one to forget so I’m giving it its own section. Always check the weather before you go. Unexpected storms or changes in weather come up no matter where you are.
Will you be going someplace warmer or colder? Are you taking a weekend trip during unstable weather seasons? If you have littles, they get colder before adults, so make sure to pack adequate outerwear including hats and mittens.
- Hoodie or Sweatshirt
- Winter Coat
- Rain Jacket
- Lighter Jacket
- Hat/Beanie
- Mittens
If you’re packing for a winter weekend road trip – be sure to put extra blankets in the car for emergency purposes as well.
Need More Inspiration and Tips for Your Next Family Road Trip?
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- 20+ U.S. Road Trip Destinations with Kids You Don’t Want to Miss
- 3 National Park Road Trips You’ll Want to Take This Year
Toiletries
If you’re very tight on space, transfer some of your toiletries to travel-sized containers rather than taking full bottles. When you’re packing these items for your family, consider each person’s daily routine. Do they use different lotions or body wash? Pack accordingly.
- Toothbrush/toothpaste
- Face wash
- Bodywash
- Wet wipes
- Hand sanitizer
- Shaving Cream
- Razors
- Shampoo/Conditioner
- Diapers
- Rash cream
- Deodorant
- Make-up/Lip Balm
- Curling Iron/Straightener
- Gel/Hair Spray
- Combs/Brushes
- Hair Ties/Scrunchies (pack extra)
- Sunscreen
Can’t read now? Pin for later!
Electronics for the Weekend
This is a category that is frequently forgotten. Be honest, how many times have you left your phone charger somewhere? I think we’ve all been guilty of that so be sure to get these items in your bag.
- Phone
- Camera
- Car Charger
- Power Bank
- Charging Cords
- Tablet/Kindle
- Headphones
- Bluetooth Speaker
Medical Packing List for a Family Getaway
If you’re spending the weekend in a city, there is probably a pharmacy on every corner. However, packing a few key first-aid kit items will prevent unnecessary headaches (no pun intended) while traveling.
I like to pack my medical items in an outside pocket or the glove box for easy access.
- Thermometer
- Tylenol/ibuprofen
- Insect Repellant
- Anti-itch Cream
- Bandaids
- Alcohol Pads
- Gloves
- Cough drops/Throat Lozenges
- Dramamine/anti-nausea medication or ReliefBand if you’re prone to motion sickness
Documents
If you carry a purse, you might think you already have all the documents you could possibly need. However, this short list will get rid of that gnawing in the stomach feeling that you forgot something.
- Credit Cards/Cash
- Insurance Cards (health)
- Insurance Card/Registration (car)
- Attraction Tickets
- Printed map (especially if you’re traveling someplace remote)
Entertainment for the Road
The idea of a weekend getaway might be to get away from your devices, but you will still need some forms of entertainment. Kids and parents alike enjoy something different to do on road trips.
- Books
- Kindle Paperwhite
- Colors/Markers and Coloring Books
- Road Trip Bingo
- Download road trip movies on a tablet (If you have Amazon Prime, movie/show downloads are part of your benefits.)
- Road trip trivia and activity books
- I Spy books
- Mess-Free crafts
- Pipe cleaners and wax sticks
- Finger Puppets
- Handcrafts such as crocheting a Wobble Penguin or knitting
Healthy Weekend Trip Snacks
If you have littles, you know the importance of road trip snacks! Pack foods that are high in nutritional value and relatively mess-free. Our family favorites are:
- Almond Slivers
- Applesauce Packets
- Cheese and Crackers
- Apple Slices
- Grapes
- Trail Mix
- Peanut Butter Sandwiches
Don’t forget to pack reusable water bottles for everyone or a thermos for hot beverages.
Personal Needs For the Car
Some of us get more disoriented and distraught than others when we travel. Having a few comfort items can make all the difference between a good time and a meltdown.
- Pillow/blanket
- Stuffed animal
- Music
- Cozy shirt
How Do I Organize My Weekend Bags?
When you are packing for a family, don’t be tempted to throw everything into one giant bag. This would be a mistake (ask me how I know). Instead, organize your items into smaller bags or packing cubes. This keeps everything easily accessible, neat, and tidy.
With small kids, pack their items together in a larger bag or carry on, but use the packing cubes to keep items separated.
Use the road trip packing list to make sure you have all the categories covered.
Once kids are older they are responsible for their own duffel or small suitcase. I usually give my kids a shorter version of the ultimate weekend road trip packing checklist with very specific numbers and types of clothes so they know exactly what to pack. ALWAYS double-check their bags in case they didn’t actually bring the necessary items.
If you pack light, this sleek travel backpack is perfect for essential items on a weekend getaway.
Hitting the road for the weekend is a fun way to get the family away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, but they can also be a bit of a pain to pack for. Do you really need three changes of clothes? What about all those electronic devices? And don’t even get me started on trying to fit everything into one suitcase!
This weekend trip packing list will help you pack only what you need so your energy and time can be spent focusing on the things that matter.
What are your must-haves for a weekend away? Share it in the comments.
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Ready to Start Planning Your Trip? Use These Helpful Links to Book Your Trip!
- AIRFARE
- Find low fares with airfarewatchdog, Skyscanner, and WayAway.com.
- Get airfare deal alerts up to 90% off from Dollar Flight Club (free & paid membership options)
- Book your plane ticket with Expedia or Kayak
- Book your Airport Parking Reservations and save money.
- ROAD TRIP/CAR RENTAL
- Take the scenic route and rent an RV from RVShare
- Get packed for an epic road trip and don’t forget the Road Trip Games to Play in the Car Need more space? Get a rental car thru Discovercars.com.
- LODGING
- From hotels to private homes, find the perfect accommodation with Hotels.com or booking.com.
- For camping and RV campgrounds, find the ideal location with Campspot.
- PACKING
- Travel in style with a suitcase, carry-on, backpack, or handbag from Away and Eagle Creek.
- For packing cubes, we love these from Eagle Creek and these reusable silicon bags for a 3-1-1 bag from Stasher.
- TRAVEL PLANNING
- Looking to start travel hacking and want a place to keep track of it all? There’s the free TravelFreely site.
- For budgeting help, get our road trip budgeting tips here.
- ATTRACTIONS/ACTIVITIES
- Save on tickets to attractions, sightseeing tours, and more with
- Tiqets for cultural events, museums, Broadway shows, etc.
- CityPASS for multi-day attraction passes at up to 55% off in select cities
- Get Your Guide and Viator for guided tours/excursions, day trips, and activitties
- Groupon for discounted local attractions and event tickets
- Undercover Tourister for discounted theme park tickets
- Find guided outdoor activities led by local guides at 57Hours.
- Find information on local trails with the AllTrails App.
- Save on tickets to attractions, sightseeing tours, and more with
- LEARN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE
- We use and recommend Rosetta Stone to learn a new language. We bought the $179 lifetime option with unlimited access to ALL 25 of their languages.
- Need something else to plan your perfect trip? Visit my travel resources page for more trusted partners.
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