Packing the Car Like a Pro

Planning and preparing for a trip can be exciting while also stressful. For road trip planning tips check out “Pointers for Planning Your Next Road Trip.” When that day finally arrives you want to be sure that you planned appropriately and should feel confident that when you pull out of that driveway you have left nothing vital behind. To ensure you have all the essentials packed, check out “Road Trip Checklist: The Essentials You Must Not Forget.” Now that the big day is approaching, the last item on the to-do list is packing your vehicle. This is something that takes planning and should never be done at the last minute. If you follow these pointers you will have packed your vehicle efficiently and effectively allowing for a smooth and stress free ride.

One of the first things to do is decide on which vehicle you will be taking for your road trip. You want to consider what type of road trip you will be venturing on (where are you traveling too?), who all is going with you, and how much space you may need. After deciding upon the right vehicle for the trip the next thing you need to do is ensure that it is fully clean and emptied out from all unnecessary items. You only have so much space so you must use it wisely!

Depending on the type of vehicle you plan on driving, there may be several options for where to pack your luggage and equipment. If driving a car, you will most likely be using the trunk and possibly the back seat. SUVs and vans often have roof racks that allow drivers to secure luggage on top of the vehicles. These types of vehicles have plenty of cargo room in the back as well though and if possible is better both on gas mileage and from a safety standpoint if you can pack everything on the inside vs on top of the vehicle. Trucks likely have the most space. Utilize the cabin if able to for your smaller items and essentials as well as snacks, etc.. The bed of the truck can be utilized for all of your larger luggage and extra items such as skis, hiking gear, beach items which you will not need until you reach your final destination. If you have a truck be sure to have a hard top, well secured cover that is tamper proof to ensure no one can gain access to all your belongings.

As the date of your departure approaches and you’ve cleaned out your vehicle, the next thing you want to do is set aside some time the night before to start packing the vehicle. If possible, lay out all the items you have to pack (if friends or others who do not live in the same house as you are going on the trip as well, see if they can bring a majority of their items, bags, etc.. over the night before) this will help you to visualize how much stuff you have to pack, sizes and shapes of each item, and logistically can plan out the packing like a real life game of Tetris. This can help you determine if you have extra room for those non-vital items that maybe you were still hoping to be able to take along with you but were not necessarily essential. On the other hand, this will also allow you an opportunity to see if you have packed too much stuff and need to consolidate or cut out certain items. It will also save you a bunch of time in the morning so you’re not wasting precious time figuring this all out the day of travel. This will allow you to hit the road early and get a great start on the day.

Now that you know exactly what all you have to pack I would suggest packing the items in the order which you are going to likely need or use them. Any items or bags that you will likely need first should always be packed last so they are easily accessible. If you can, pack all of your immediate essentials in a smaller bag that can be easily tucked under a seat or near the door so it can be a quick grab and go when you reach your first stop. If you are going to be stopping somewhere to sleep at night and continue to your destination the next day I would highly recommend packing a small “carry on” style bag with only items you need for that one night so you’re not having to drag all your bags into the hotel with you that night. Particularly for longer road trips, be sure to pack any entertainment items, things to help you pass the time, and comfort items such as books, headphones, a light blanket, sunglasses, snacks, etc.. into smaller bags or containers which can easily be tucked under your seat or in a small compartment in the vehicle. This will prevent everyone from constantly digging through all the luggage throughout the vehicle and may help limit unnecessary rest stops.

I would be doing a disservice if I didn’t mention a few travel hacks to help you save space and optimize your packing.

• One of the best tips I can give is to roll and not fold your clothes. This simple act can help you save a bunch of space and allow you to pack more clothes into your bag. Additionally, it will help reduce the likelihood of wrinkling up all those shirts.

• If taking dress clothes either for business or for that nice night out on the town, a good trick for dress shirts is to fold them neatly and roll up your belt and place this inside the collar area of the shirt. This trick will help save space as well as help keep that collar nice and crisp so when you pull that shirt out later you look sharp!

• If taking an extra pair of shoes or multiple pairs of shoes then take your socks that you are packing and instead of placing them inside your bag put those rolled up socks inside your shoes to consolidate space. You can usually fit 3-5 pairs of socks inside a pair of shoes depending on the type of sock.

• Have you ever seen the vacuum sealers that can help condense your clothes down into the smallest of spaces? Well even if you don’t have access to one of those devices you can utilize gallon size Ziploc bags to fill with rolled clothes and squeeze all the air out of the bags allowing for more items to fit into smaller suitcases. If you do have access to a vacuum sealer, utilize it whenever possible. Larger items such as a blanket, beach towel, hoodies or jackets will take up much less space when vacuum sealed rather than all piled up in the backseat.

• When possible use soft luggage such as duffel bags rather than using more rigid, hard luggage. Rigid luggage takes up a lot of space and often is more challenging to fit into trunks or backs of cars as they are not flexible. Those softer bags can fit more easily around wheel wells and other oddities throughout the vehicle.

• If you will be traveling for multiple days and know you will be traveling through well populated areas or near urban centers, it’s ok if you don’t pack every single personal care item. Worst case scenario you can make a pit stop before checking into your hotel and pick up that shampoo, sunscreen, or extra snacks.

• Store all of your chargers and other cords in an old sunglass or glasses case. This way it will be easily accessible and can easily be placed in a cup holder or inside the glove box or that side door compartment.

• For added security, use a black bed sheet to cover your bags when you leave the car unattended. This will help deter any wandering eyes from noticing anything that may entice someone from breaking into your vehicle.

The key to successful packing is control. Only pack items that you know you will need. It is always easier to ride in a car for an extended period of time day after day if you have plenty of legroom and don’t feel crammed in the back. Hopefully these tips will help you pack well and allow you the space to relax while knowing that you have all your essentials packed perfectly.