Road Trip Packing Checklist

Here’s how we packed for our trip, organized by where things go. This checklist helped keep us sane on the road. Feel free to adapt it!

Heads up: Some items on this list have Amazon affiliate links. That means if you click through and buy something, we get a small commission (between 1% and 4.5%), at no extra cost to you. Everything I’m sharing here is gear we actually use and like, or newer versions of stuff we’ve had good luck with. If I don’t have a great recommendation, I won’t post a link. 

☐ Tent (in mesh bag)

☐ Sleeping bags (in mesh bag)

☐ Sleeping pads (in mesh bag), OR Therm-A-Rest luxury sleeping pads

☐ Pillows, sheets, blankets (your personal favorites, all in mesh bags)

☐ 4 Towels (in mesh bag)

☐ Moving blankets (for tent floor)

☐ 3 Tarps (1 for tent, 1 for gear under canopy, one in back of car)

☐ 10 mesh bags (these are so clutch!)

☐ Step ladder (for loading/unloading roof)

☐ 3 Cam buckle straps

☐ Large Cast iron skillet (with lid)

☐ Pot (with lid) bring from home!

☐ Stovetop coffee maker

☐ Propane stove (2-burner) + propane canisters

☐ Oven mitts, spatula, fire spatula, Weber spatula

☐ Cooking kit: tongs, cutting board, knife, thermometer, foil, oil

☐ Cleaning: sponge, chainmail scrubber, Clorox wipes

☐ Reusable cutlery, plates, bowls (in mesh bag)

☐ Trash bags, paper towels, ziplock freezer bags

☐ Thermacell + refills, bug spray , anti-itch cream

☐ Small sports balls (football, soccer ball), frisbee

☐ Insulated Bike water bottles (also great for brushing teeth), bike tubes

☐ Dude Wipes

☐ Disinfecting wipes, walkie talkies, scissors

☐ Water Jug

☐ Main cooler: food, drinks, condiments, ice

☐ Secondary cooler: bread or extra drinks

☐ 2 large rectangular suitcases (split adult/child pairs)

☐ Packing cubes: warm and cold weather gear

☐ Rain jackets (mens, womens, boys, girls)

☐ Gloves, winter hats 

☐ 2 Thermals (mens, womens, boys, girls)

☐ Pajamas, pants (3), shorts (4), shirts(6), underwear (6), socks (6), swimsuits (2), fleece jacket

☐ Hiking boots

☐ Athletic/tennis shoes

☐ Sandals

☐ Water shoes

☐ Daypack per person

☐ Headphones

☐ Nintendo Switch + chargers (optional)

☐ Books or Kindle

☐ Journal

☐ Deck of cards, Apples to Apples

☐ GoPro + chest strap, head strap, handheld stick

☐ Dashboard mount (optional)

☐ GoPro battery charger + 2 extra batteries

☐ Tech backpack with USB-C cords, charging stations

☐ Battery packs (1 per person)

☐ Jackery + charger

☐ Lighter

☐ Rechargeable headlamps (1 per person)

☐ Cordless vacuum (clutch!)

☐ Toiletry bag (hanging type preferred)

☐ Toothbrush & toothpaste

☐ Floss picks, tweezers, nail file

☐ Razor, lotion, moisturizer, SPF chapstick

☐ Deodorant, shampoo, conditioner

☐ Medications if needed

☐ First-Aid supplies (antibacterial ointment, Band-Aids, gauze, ACE bandage wrap, etc)

☐ 2 mesh dirty laundry bags

☐ Small mesh bag with detergent pods, laundry sheets, and $40 of quarters

☐ Driver’s license

☐ Debit card

☐ Google Wallet set up

☐ National Park Pass or 4th Grader Pass

☐ Screenshots of all reservations

☐ Cash (just in case)

☐ Car hitch (U-Haul installs them)

☐ Bike rack

☐ 4 bikes + helmets (strapped on)

☐ Bike lock

☐ Velcro straps for front wheels

☐ Bike tools + hitch removal tools

☐ Air pump (battery powered)

☐ Sunscreen

☐ Pools Towels

☐ Goggles

☐ Snorkling Gear

☐ Wetsuits (Mens, womens, girls, boys)

☐ Deflated tubes

☐ Earplugs (for campsite noise)

☐ Canopy (cheaper ones available at Walmart, Harbor Freight, or Academy Sports)

☐ 2 full size chairs

☐ 2 camping chairs

☐ Clothesline (for drying towels/swimsuits)

☐ Tablecloth 

☐ Umbrellas

☐ Seat cushions

☐ Selfie stick/tripod

☐ Hammocks

☐ Multitool

☐ Hammer

☐ Rubber Mallet

☐ Flat Tire Repair Kit or spare tire and jack

☐ Car jump starter

☐ Wrenches to remove bike rack/hitch