suitcase just due to the fact that I travel quite a bit. I have come to realize what I need. I think it is hard to slim down your packing list when you have a whole car to fill up, but hey there has to be some room left over for souvenirs, right?
I hope this list helps you:
Clothes.
Not enough to clothe you, your brother and your best friend though. I have a tendency to overpack when it comes to clothes because I never know what I am going to want to wear. I’ve realized that I really only need clean clothes to wear, I don’t need four options for every single day that I am going to be out of town. Try to pack lightweight options that could be layered if the temperature drops.
Chargers.
This is really important. You do not want to have to go buy a charger for your phone, tablet, laptop or camera. You may not even need to bring all of these electronics. If you are leaving the country, then you are going to want to make sure you have the correct converter for electrical equipment.
Aux cord.
Essential for any trip that involves you in a car. Sometimes the radio doesn’t come in clearly or you just don’t like what is playing. Definitely, bring one so that you don’t have to buy one on the road. Gas station prices seem to be almost triple what you would pay on Amazon.
Sunscreen and a hat.
If you are going to be outside at all, then you need to protect yourself. It is not fun to have a painful sunburn when you are trying to enjoy your trip. I would also bring some aloe vera along, just in case I get a sunburn.
This is the hat that I wear all the time in the field and on personal trips, it may look a little bit goofy but hey this girl burns. 🙂
Passport.
If you are leaving the country, then you are going to need this. I recommend taking a photocopy of this too, just in case something happens. You might even want to want to bring it in a passport holder. This is the most important document you travel with, so you want to keep it safe.
Tent and sleeping bag and pad.
If you plan on camping, then you are going to want to pack these. Check out my basic guide to camping article (coming soon) for more tips on camping. I LOVE this sleeping pad! Trust me sleeping on the actual ground is not really all that fun (tried that), it is worth the investment to buy and bring a sleeping pad along. It is affordable and you will enjoy your trip more because you won’t be tired a grouchy from a long night on the ground.
Food.
If you can bring your own, then do it. This will save you money on buying food and time trying to find food worth eating. Personally, I can’t go on a road trip without a bag of gummy bears, but that may just be me. 🙂
Footwear.
Bring at least hiking boots and flips flops. I would recommend bringing something in between those two, but I you don’t have space that’s okay too. I actually packed an old pair of tennis shoes and just tossed them after ruining them in some river hikes. It was a good way to clean out my closet a little and have some room in my bag for souvenirs on the way home. If you don’t know where to start for hiking boots, check out Merrell’s. Best hiking boots I have ever worn!
Stamps.
If you plan on mailing a postcard, this will help you save time on your trip. No need to go to the post office, you can just stamp it and mail it from your hotel or nearest national park. It may also help to have the addresses of people you would like to send a postcard to written down somewhere.
I hope this list helps you enjoy the road trip of your dreams!
