Packing tips for multistop family roadtrip

[ButterMelonCauliflower]

Hit me with ‘em. Kids are aged 11, 8 and 6. We’re driving across the US for two weeks, staying in about 8 different places.
Planning to travel light but still… packing cubes? A toiletry bag each?!! How many pairs of pants? No idea what I’ll do about laundry but any bright ideas welcome!

If you've got activities that require special clothing at certain places, pack together - say one or 2 stops are beachy, pack all the beach stuff together, and just bring out there.
I like cubes. Some stay shut in some places!

I think I'd have two cubes per person with maybe two days worth of clothes in each, depending on time at each place. Then you've got one set to wear and one to wash. Maybe try googling laundrettes for where you're staying so you can plan that aspect. Everyone takes a light jumper and a light raincoat. Sun hat each and swimming costume. Lightweight hammam towels each, so a family pool kit in another cube perhaps (depending if you're doing that kind of trip).
At worst get a small washing line with sucker cups on it that you can stick above the bath and some hand wash for doing your smalls if you can't find proper washing facilities.
Pack a pair of pants and a clean top in everyone's hand luggage in case yours suitcases go walkies on the flight.

We used a combination of hotels and airbnbs so we could do our washing there! That way we were able to travel light (although we still ended up with one small suitcase each and a bigger one to share)
Have fun!

Washing line is a great idea, thank you. And maybe I will have to look into packing cubes but organise them by activity rather than by person.
Panicking a bit that we’ve bitten off more than we can chew!!

Pretty much every chain hotel and motel here has laundry facilities. Usually the washers cost a dollar and take quarters and the dryers cost a quarter for 20 minutes or so. Something like that. Top-end hotels don’t have laundry facilities usually. But if you’re staying in Holiday Inns, Marriotts, Hiltons, even Motel 6 then you’ll have laundry facilities.

I’d pack on toilet bag for the 3 children, toothbrushes, soap & shampoo.

pack one suitcase with 5 cubes with enough for everyone for 4 days, pack case number 2 with enough clothing for 5 days.

then as you travel you only have to take one case into each venue that you’re staying.

after the first 4 days at some point on day 5,6,7 or 8
take the dirty clothing in and stop at a laundromat and get the first suitcase of clothing all washed and dryer in one go. Repack in cubes ready for the last 4 days

Motels are kitted out in the us for travelling. They frequently have laundry rooms or services. You can hand wash essentials as you go and dry stuff in your car if necessary. Hopefully it'll be hit so drying shouldn't be an issue.

I've travelled with a family and done various stops. A well organised wash bag is essential and keep clothes basic, sleep in underwear or clothes you wore that day. Be organised and wash things when you can. I'd take a few days worth for each person. Tumble dry friendly or fast dry material and think capsule wardrobe. Not ideal but you can usually buy essentials from supermarkets if needed or just manage without for a short while.

Don't stress, it's only for 2 weeks and what an adventure, enjoy.

This is genius

This! I mean this is genius!!

Perfect. Thank you. Especially sleeping in clothes bit x

I was given a large wash bag as a present. Far bigger than I thought I wanted. But it’s brilliant. It has fittings for multiple toothbrushes etc and enough space for everyone’s products (DC2 has eczema so has own creams and body wash)
it travels separately in the car and is easy to reach and grab to go into the accommodation every night. It’s reduced space from everyone having their own. And it’s much easier to pack/repack.

One smaller bag with toiletries, , books , nightwear etc that you will need each night , then mix couple of cases with enough things for each person for number of days in one place. Separate bag for swim things , so can leave at least one case in car each time

Take a few very lightweight shopping bags so you don’t have to totally repack the cases if you’re short on space, and for dirty and then clean laundry. The worst thing about road trips is packing and unpacking! We always have walking boot bags and a cooler bag for whatever food we’re moving between locations.

I would never leave cases in the car overnight though.

Sounds amazing, where are you visiting? Roadtripping is my favourite way to travel. We try to pack as light as possible. We usual travel with a carry on backpack each only. I usually combine items for a couple of days into one bag so we don’t need to open each bag in each location. Also put in an empty fold flat bag or backpack for dirty laundry

Different colour cubes for each person and tie a small label on each so you know exactly what is in each. This is what I did on tour of Vietnam and Cambodia when we only had one or two nights in each place

Check Amazon for "pegless washing line", but don't rely on the suction pads. I usually tie mine to tables, chairs etc.
I love packing cubes, & I suggest different colours per person.

We’ve done this type of holiday a lot.

If travelling light I'd pack 5 of everything (pants, socks, t shirts) for everyone and allow doing 2 laundries (the machines in hotels / motels are large and do a quick wash and dryers are fast).

If planning a bag for everyone I’d pack 7 of everything and do 1 laundry.

I’d also mix clothes up across the bags for flying out in case luggage gets delayed (and pack spare socks / pants and a swimsuit each in hand luggage). You can repack into individual bags when you arrive.

I also wouldn’t leave luggage overnight in the car.