What’s the best part about taking a nice weekend road trip to a cold wonderland? Probably not packing. But with this winter weekend road trip packing list, it doesn’t have to be stressful.
Planning a trip with your friends or family can be stressful and fun at the same time. Oftentimes, unexpected circumstances come up that aren’t exactly under your control. But guess what? Packing doesn’t have to be stressful at all if you follow a clear packing list.
I’m sure a lot of us have experienced leaving packing to the last minute and then getting in the car wondering if you forgot something at home. It adds extra stress that you definitely don’t need to be feeling. I also know that some of you think making a packing list is just as tedious as packing itself. I’m here to help you knock out that first step without having to put in extra effort.
Imagine this: it’s the night before your trip and you realize you haven’t even started packing yet. As new adults, we have so much to worry about in our everyday lives that this is usually not the primary thought in our brains – so I get it. But instead of taking out your clothes and toiletries and dumping it on your bed to sort out, you have a list of items that are just enough for your 3-day winter vacation. You go through that list one by one and voila! You’re all packed and ready to go! You wake up the next day knowing that you have everything you need, and the only emotion you’re feeling is excitement for the trip – no anxiety or worries (at least about packing lol).
Doesn’t that sound amazing? Well I’m here to make that imagination a reality.
As someone who has traveled internationally and domestically all throughout college and after, having this packing plan has been a complete LIFE-CHANGER.
I have been making packing lists for myself to make sure:
1) that I don’t forget anything
2) to have outfits planned out so I don’t overpack and
3) so I feel as little anxiety as possible during my travels.
In this “The Only Packing List You Need” series, I’ll be sharing with you my personal packing list for different occasions, keeping in mind the destination, travel time, and comfort.
For this winter weekend road trip packing list, I’ll be focusing on a weekend trip to a cold, winter wonderland. Whether you’re taking a family trip to the cabin or a road trip with friends to an AirBnb, this packing list will give you a great guideline for what to pack.
What to Pack
Personal Items
When I pack, I like to start with the most important items first. That would include everything like:
- Phone
- Chargers
- Wallet
- Passport or ID
- Keys
- Laptop
In my personal bag, I would also include things I would want easy access to during the trip:
- Earphones/Headphones
- Hand sanitizer
- Hand cream
- Lip balm
- Water
- Snacks
I usually pack all of the above in a backpack or a duffle bag and keep it with me near my seat.
Clothes
Who else has realized at the end of their trip that they didn’t even wear half of the things they brought? Just me? Probably not.
Now I know everyone has their own style of clothing and what they like to wear, but this is the guideline I follow for a 3-day winter trip to make sure I have everything I need – nothing less, nothing more.
Mind you, this should all fit into a carry-on size suitcase. I’m using the Monos Carry-on Luggage at the moment and absolutely loving it!
First things first, start with the inner layer, which would include:
- Underwear – Pack 3-4 just in case
- Socks – Two long ones and one short one
- Bras (if you’re someone who uses them) – 2-3 should be enough
Next, your middle layer. Depending on the trip, I lay out the outfits I want to wear and roll them up together. For a 3 day trip, I would need 2 outfits aside from the one I’d be wearing on the way there. Other times, I would just bring a few things that I can layer like this:
- Shirts – I would usually pack 2 long sleeve shirts plus maybe a t-shirt
- Trousers – If you’re going somewhere snowy, lay off the jeans and go for a water resistant one.
- Leggings – This could be worn under the trousers or by itself, depending on the weather AND if you plan on working out at the hotel, your leggings can be used for that as well!
Lastly, the outerwear. Again, this really depends on what you’re doing or what the weather is like, but
- Sweatshirt
- Coat
- Vest
Is a solid combo.
Plus other essential items for your clothing:
- Shoes
- PJs or sleepwear
- One nice outfit (if you’re anticipating a nice dinner)
- Jewelry
- Accessories (gloves, scarves, belts, hats)
I will go more into exactly how to pack these things in an organized way below!
Toiletries
Another essential when traveling, especially if you’re a skincare fanatic like me! I try not to take my ENTIRE skincare routine with me on short trips like this to save space and the hassle. My toiletry kit includes the following:
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Floss
- Deodorant
- Hair brush
- Hair product – I usually bring a hair mist or hair oil to make sure my hair stays neat.
- Skincare (Makeup remover, cleanser, toner, serum, and moisturizer)
- Sunscreen – even if it’s cold and gloomy out, SPF will save your skin!
- Feminine products
- Nail clippers
- Tweezers
- Perfume
Other
Now that we’ve covered all of the essentials, let’s go into the extra things you can pack. I will leave this up to you, but that might include things like
- Playing cards
- A travel pillow
- Snacks
- Glasses/contacts
- Medication
- Book
- Tea/coffee bags
Tips for Packing
As an avid traveler, I have found a few things through trial and error that I wish I’d known before. Tips to stay organized before, during and after your travels, how to keep your clothes smelling and looking clean, as well as how to stay safe (especially if you’re traveling by yourself).
To stay organized
Tip #1: Use packing cubes or pouches
Rather than throwing everything into your suitcase, categorize your clothes into pouches. I like using packing cubes or gathering whatever little bags I have at home. You can even put socks and underwear in one bag, and separate everything else.
Tip #2: Roll up your middle-layer clothes based on outfit
Rolling up your clothes instead of folding them is an amazing technique for saving space and keeping your clothes less wrinkly. I do this not only with individual items but with full outfits. Let me explain.
First, I would take whatever bottoms I’m wearing (in this example, let’s say I have a pair of jeans). I fold it in half lengthwise and set it down. On top of that, I layer the top I’m wearing, folding it lengthwise again, making sure that it aligns with the pants. Then, I would layer any other item of clothing I need for that outfit, like tights, scarves, tanktop, etc. I roll it all up with the trousers as the outermost layer.
This saves me time it would take picking out my outfit, and helps me stay organized.
To stay refreshed
Tip #3: Bring an extra plastic bag for dirty clothes
I absolutely hate putting clean clothes in the same place as dirty clothes, especially when I’m only halfway through the trip. To avoid this mess, I bring an empty laundry bag or plastic bag dedicated to dirty clothes. Something that you can fold really tight and doesn’t take up any extra space in your luggage is ideal.
Tip #4: Use dryer sheets in between clothes
Grab a few dryer sheets and place them in between your clothes to keep it smelling nice and fresh throughout your trip.
To stay safe
Tip #5: Bring an extra padlock for your luggage
You don’t necessarily need to worry about this if you’re traveling somewhere safe or to your own holiday home, but for those staying at a motel or an airbnb, I suggest bringing a padlock with you to lock your luggage. I personally use one for my backpack and one for my suitcase. It may seem like too much, but better safe than sorry!
Going on a winter getaway road trip is SUPER exciting, but using a packing list like this will make your trip even better. Try it for yourself with my own personal winter weekend road trip packing list below and let me know what you think!
Happy packing!
Check out our other travel tips:
Solo Travel in Your 20s – How It Can Empower You and Change Your Perspective on Life
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