packing for our upcoming road trip

[Not Heidi]

Our itinerary is set and our ho/motels are booked. Our dates with family and friends are mostly made. There's really only one thing left for me to do.

PACK -

Our trip will last for almost a month. Most ho/motels have coin-op laundries, so we can probably get by with our two suitcases (although one is smaller than the other).

I dread it.

My wife picks out her clothes and does the toiletries. I do the rest. I don't feel it's an even split, but I get over it.

Primary problem: I'm fabulously disorganized, and it shows very well when I'm packing.

Have you any tips, tricks, websites, advice, checklist ideas, or anything else that might help me with packing for a month-long road trip?

[Tetrachloride]

1. Zip lock bags. Tupperware. plastic bins in trunk

Vinegar. Qtips. (wash ears after swimming)

2-3x drinking water

check radiator and oil

If in Wisconsin, Iowa or Minnesota, use Kwik Trip / Kwik Star as your convenience store.

Sunglasses for drivers

[Not Heidi]

3. thanks, Tetra.

I appreciate your reply! Quite useful.

[Skittles]

2. you should have accumulated tips, tricks, etc from your other trips!

I'm assuming you've had some? Do you remember any issues that would serve you well to remember now as you pack?

my list includes:

ear plugs
sunscreen
comb
Tylenol
books
address book & stamps (for postcards)
TUMS

[Not Heidi]

4. Hey, Skittles

Do you remember any issues that would serve you well to remember now as you pack?

Oh, Skittles. You're so cute. 😘 And very sweet to offer help.

Darling, I'm famously forgetful. Only recently have I been taking notes about everything under the sun, because I finally learned that if I don't write it down or record it, I'm guaranteed to forget it.

I do, though, remember a couple of things I've learned from my many road trips (from before I learned to write it all down).

1. On packing day, leave notes all around the house about remembering to take the OTC bag - tums, pepto, imodium, pain relievers, cough drops/syrup, thermometer, etc. I've forgotten this twice and almost left without it a third time. It warrants house-wide reminders. An expensive lesson.

2. Put the batteries and chargers into the camera bag. My camera runs on AA batteries as well as its rechargeables. That was another expensive lesson, one I'll never forget, even without notes

3. WATER.

I'm looking forward to settling into the driver's seat on Day 1, relaxed, knowing I've forgotten nothing.

Thanks so much for your help. 🤗

[MLAA]

5. My lesson is you need fewer clothes than you think.

If you are picky about things matching, take the same color family clothes and tops that all go together. You can use body wash or shampoo to rinse out things in the sink if need be between finding a washer/dryer. For shoes which take up a lot of room go with one very comfortable pair and then one that look nicer and a pair of flip flops.

Throw some bandaids into the OTC bag 🙂

[Not Heidi]

10. Terrific advice

I'm not much of a clothes horse; my uni is jeans or shorts, t-shirt, and Vans (sockless of course). So all my stuff matches. We have one event that will require a button-up shirt with a collar, and I'll have to iron it, but I'll still wear the jeans & Vans.

Thanks for the tips about sink-washing and band-aids!

[MLAA]

13. Love vans 😉

[Not Heidi]

16. Me, too.

I had some kid on a skateboard in a park call me "old lady poser." I called after him to ask why; he actually came back. He asked what I was doing wearing Vans, as if only skaters had the right.

I told him, "Son," (yep, played the old lady card for all I was worth), "I've been wearing Vans since I was three years old. My mama raised me right." (In fact, Vans first hit the market when I was three - 1966.)

That was fun!

[Callalily]

6. Make a list and start it days before you need to pack

That way you can add to the list as think of important items to pack. Review and really think what is necessary.

As you pack, check off items from your list.

As stated already, you do not need as much clothes as you think. Layout everything (on bed?) that you think you'll need. Mix/match items, and start eliminating.

[Not Heidi]

11. Thank you, Callalily!

I appreciate your thoughts and will incorporate.

[littlemissmartypants]

7. Don't forget the first aid kit including benadryl in case of the odd allergic reaction.

Bandaids, safety pins, scissors... you get the idea. ❤

[Not Heidi]

12. Oh, yeah!

First aid kit. Silly me.

Thanks!

[Cracklin Charlie]

8. Baby wipes.

I am starting to pack for a 12 day road trip.

Baby wipes are invaluable on a road trip. Clean your hands after fueling, clean up spills, wipe mustard off the road atlas…

I don’t leave home without them. I also take my own toilet paper. Some of those truck stops have really scratchy paper.

[Not Heidi]

14. wipe mustard off the atlas

Good one!

Yes, baby wipes always go into the suitcase's front pocket, and some in the map pocket behind the driver's seat.

Thanks!

[we can do it]

9. We always travel carry-on only one bag, no matter where we go.

Packing cubes help. Lay out all your stuff and get rid or one of each item….
Check out this site, it’s helpful.

[Not Heidi]

15. Your link didn't come through . . .

Looking forward to investigating. Thanks!

[we can do it]

17. Sorry

https://www.thepackablelife.com/travel/gear/carry-on-packing-list

https://www.onebag.com/popups/what2pack.pdf

[Not Heidi]

18. No worries!

Thanks, can do. 😁

[Prairie_Seagull]

19. clear plastic tubs

[Not Heidi]

21. Thanks!

[Mr.Bill]

20. Always pack a pair of black Levis.

You never know when you might be required to attend a formal event.

Remember to pack snacks for the motel room. Make sure they include the four food groups - that would be salt, sugar, fat and alcohol. String cheese is great because it covers two food groups, salt and fat.

I used to have a job that had me traveling three weeks out of the month, mostly by plane. Thankfully it was about 40 years ago so airports weren't too crazy then.

[Not Heidi]

22. Three weeks per month. That's insane.

For how long did you have to do that?

Thank you for your two tips. It might be a while for me, a chonk, to find black Levi's, but I'm beginning my search. Hopefully I won't need them. It's going to be a hot trip. (Black Levi's cutoffs . . . hmm . . . .)

Snacks! What a great idea. We'd thought of packing a cooler but stopped at what to put in it. Salt, sugar, fat, and alcohol, indeed. We will have to pack our own alcohol, as motels generally don't have minibars. (Besides, I don't want to pay $20 for a beer.)

And thanks for making me think about high school. Class of '81 . . . god, I'm getting old.

[Mr.Bill]

23. I only lasted about six months.

I was young and single and the job was easy and paid well. I worked for a national print shop franchisor and I went to new shops and set everything up, made sure equipment was delivered and set up properly, established relations with vendors, helped hire press operators, etc. I spent one week at each shop.

The difficult part that I didn't anticipate was I often traveled on short notice, I mean literally getting a call on Sunday telling me I was going to Seattle tomorrow. Then just as I was anticipating going home on Friday they would tell me I'm going to Tuscon instead. I couldn't have a personal life where I could plan things. Couldn't plan dates, couldn't buy tickets to any event, etc. The franchise buyers were mostly very nice people and easy to work with.

[Not Heidi]

24. Re franchise buyers -

Silver lining, perhaps. Although I don't know how much goodwill that would add to your job. I can't imagine not being able to plan anything - especially dates and ball games.

Sounds absolutely exhausting. Good thing you were young.