Help me pack light - first road trip

[Rainydaysandsundays13]

Posting here for traffic.
I'm used to more package type holidays and admittedly I'm a huge over packer 🙈 but next year for my 50th, DH and I are doing a 2 week US East coast roadtrip so will be in and out of various hotels throughout our visit. Obviously DH will moan if he's lugging my 23kg case up and down every day 😂
Any tips for packing lighter from seasoned travellers would be appreciated! I'm thinking I'll buy any toiletries out there but is there anything else I'm not thinking of or any magical tips? TIA

When next year? As in, what weather?

My tips are -

Buy a neutral jacket/jumper/top layer. I normally go for black. Wear on the plane. Same with heavy shoes.
Pack things you can re-wear in different combinations, not 14 outfits.
Split your stuff across 2 cases in case one gets lost.
You don't need a hairdryer.

I would plan out your outfits and what you'll wear together so you know exactly what you're putting on each day and only bring that. I also bring some washing powder so I can do a quick freshen up in the sink in the hotel if I really need to so i can rewear things without feeling grim, especially if I'll be using suncream.

Check the hotels have hairdryers so you don't need to bring one if they do.

I also try to bring a light weight comfy pair of trainers if you'll be walking a lot during the day and then a comfortable but slightly dressy pair of sandals for going out or for a nice dinner. Same for jewellery i just bring a few simple cheap bits that would go with anything and a small flat cross body bag for wearing on days out.

Try to make a list of activities you want to do and then try to find items that can cover multiple things. I also pack them repack so I can whittle it down further with a clear head.

You could also consider the weight of your case when it's empty to see if you need a lighter one if you'll be moving it around a lot.

Sorry - I forgot to say - yes, next year early September so going by previous year's, looks like the temps are still in the 20's most days. At least summer clothes are lighter than wooly jumpers!

put each outfit into a packing cube so u don’t have to take your big case into each hotel .
also after a long flight the last thing I want to do is go shopping for toiletries - so I take all mine with me .
The at the end of the holiday you’ve got all that extra room and weight where your toiletries were for whatever you may have bought .

Ooh thanks, I'll take a look at packing cubes!

But toiletries out there. You dont need shampoo AND shower gel, just shampoo as you can wash with shampoo.

Packing cubes are great. Pack a couple for your first stop or two. Have a mix and match wardrobe - make sure everything goes with at least two or three different things, so you can take less but still have different outfits. Take enough for half you trip and do laundry while you are there. US hotels tend to have face cloths, body wash and shampoo, so you can skip those if you’re not too particular. Wear a pair of trainers, take another. Comfy sandals for walking, nice sandals for going out in a neutral colour - tan or gold. Neutral crossover handbag that goes with everything. Swimwear - one to wear, one in the wash. Wear a sweatshirt or similar on the plane, take one with you. Denim or other light jacket - wear on the plane. Two pairs of lightweight shorts pj’s - one to wear one for the wash. Two nice dresses for going out.

Definitely going to look at packing cubes!

Packing cubes. One colour for you different colour for DH. If doing a proper road trip where spending one/two nights in each location I pack a cube per day. Otherwise I use a cube for underwear, one for tops, one for swim/ gym wear etc.

Take two ‘laundry’ bags. One for dirty clothes that won’t be re worn until washed. One for lightly worn clothes that are clean enough to re wear if required. For example clean top worn to dinner one night can be re worn on a different day.

Don’t know if you have been to the East Coast before, it will be very casual. We holiday in Cape Cod, Boston, Maine. Anything goes.

Unlikely to be a dress code unless dining at the very finest restaurants. Even then highly unlikely to be underdressed. I always used to take heels, dress etc now I rarely bother.

My downfall is the weight of toiletries I’d love to take!
I use travel bottles or pots which contain only the amount I need for the length of the holiday. Medication and prescribed creams are similarly “rationed”. Perfume is taken in a mini atomiser.
I aim to pare down as much as possible.
In my suitcase there are only enough pairs of knickers/socks/tops to last me until I stay for a couple of nights at a hotel. There I can wash items with the hotel’s shampoo or shower gel, roll in a towel to remove excess moisture and leave to dry. On one three week holiday a member of the group had taken 20+ pairs of knickers and a different outfit for every day, unlike most of us. Another member dropped and smashed a whole bottle of perfume. If you’re prepared to do this, hair conditioner removes waterproof make up but I’m expecting to be flamed for this.
I download beforehand then use my phone to read for info or pleasure rather than take books.

If not packing cubes, ziplock bags, which can then become laundry bags for your smalls. Only pack things you love, that mix and match (eg navy OR black.) US is mostly casual but some restaurants may be no trainers, so have one pair of shoes along with trainers. I find air-conditioning in the US absolutely arctic, so pack a smart sweater or wrap/scarf. A jar with washing powder/capsules for sink rinses; baby wipes are great for spot cleaning clothes. Put your toiletries in your DH’s case!

You’re doing a driving holiday? Just get a sturdy bag with wheels. I’d still do packing cubes. But that’s part of the good thing about driving, you just need to wheel your bag into the hotel and you can spread out in the car!

I would make sure you have a good tote bag for the car. So you have all things you’ll need while driving handy. Nothing sucks worse that wanting a sweater that’s packed your bag when you’re 3 hours from your next stop.

I love lurking here https://www.reddit.com/r/HerOneBag/.

Some of these women are assassins on the subject.

I've done a number of road trips in the US and I always take my normal 23kg suitcase. I take my own case in and out of hotels though and DH just pops it in the boot for me. I hate being short of clothes and going without my favourite toiletries.

We had a road trip this year, packing cubes are great.
I used them for different types of clothing as we had town days, national parks and beaches.
Many USA hotels have laundry facilities so we didn't take new clothes for every day.

Buy solid toiletries and take them with you, it's the water in them that makes them weigh so much. I have a shampoo bar, conditioner bar, soap bar, etc. I even have a stick of solid body moisturiser in my travel bag.

No one has mentioned having a colour scheme. One road trip I wore only black, white and purple. I usually wear patterned shorts/ skirts but take only plain coloured tops. Also, maybe prepared to wear t-shirts more than once. Two tips for lightening the load as you go: take old knickers and t-shirts that you can throw away once worn; have a spare bag in the boot of the car where you can keep your shopping so you aren’t carrying it in and out of hotels. I use packing cubes like a cabin trunk and never unpack my case. Just put things back in the right cube when worn.

Don't take a hairdryer, their voltage is lower than ours so it won't be as effective as it is here, just use hotel ones. As discovered on my west coast road trip last year

I remember taking a 25kg bag on a road trip and it being super annoying. In the end we just left the bags in the boot (saloon) and just picked stuff out of them every day. If I went now i would limit my suitcase to 15kg and then my handbag/backpack tote. It just becomes a pita lugging a big bag around

Take laundry sheets rather than powder. They dissolve really quickly and weigh practically nothing. Dry your clothes on the clothes hangers rather than over chairs/in the bathroom.

Good tip! Thankyou

This is my thought! Wondering about a large holdall with wheels rather than a case.

Thanks for this! I'll leave my hairdryer and just use hotels!