What to Pack for a Weekend Trip

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. This means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you! I never endorse products/services that I don’t personally use and/or trust. You can view my full disclosure policy for details.

We apparently have decided it’s the summer of road trips.  Why? I don’t know because I prefer flying! So this is either going to be an EPIC summer of road trips or a completely MISERABLE experience!

The first trip is a weekend trip to Nashville, and so that one is going to be easier to pack for.  Then, later this summer, we are driving from KY to St Louis to see the arch, then driving toward Mt. Rushmore with plans to just find fun things to do on the spur of the moment while driving.  Then, we will go to Denver, CO where I am attending a conference.  So, from Friday to Tuesday, we will be on the road…  I’ll keep you updated on that adventure.

**(Updated 2020 to link to these awesome trips!)

But, today, we are focusing on the weekend road trip, and more specifically:

What to Pack for a Weekend Trip

We are leaving Friday evening and staying Friday and Saturday night, and returning Sunday.  So knowing the days and night totals are helpful to know amounts to pack.  I have two days and two nights to pack for.

• Clothes (of course) — I will have what I am wearing on Friday.  I will pack a casual set for both Saturday and Sunday (especially Sunday since it involves driving back home – you want to be comfy in the car!).  We are going to a CrossFit event, so it will be basic shorts/jeans and shirts.  I will also pack a casual, but nicer, dress in case I want to change for a dinner or night out.  (Don’t forget the basic underwear and bras – socks and shoes).
  • Two sets of clothing for the day that is comfy
  • One set of clothing that is nicer and dressier for the evening out
  • bras, underwear, socks, shoes
  • Don’t forget the PJs.
  • If you plan to work out, don’t forget those clothes.  For the short time I’m gone, I won’t be working out – I’ll just use it as my rest days and get back to it on Monday.
  • Swimming suits and towels if your hotel has a pool or hot tub you may want to use (we won’t do this in Nashville, but we will in Colorado)
  • A light jacket.  It’s 90 degrees around here right now, but I can’t stand to walk into a cold air-conditioned restaurant and be miserable.  I will have a light denim jacket on hand. 
• Beauty supplies  —  My friend and I have actually debated on whether or not to bring shampoo, soap, etc or to use the hotel supplies just recently.  Honestly, it depends on the hotel.  If you are going to Disney, totally use the provided soaps and shampoos.  What I typically do is look to see if they list what they use on their website under their amenities.  We are staying at a Holiday Inn Express, and we actually took this trip last year so I remember that I didn’t like what they had so we ended up at a CVS at 10 pm trying to buy shampoo/conditioner — soooo, I have travel sizes to take this year.
  • Straightening iron/hairdryer (I actually used the hotel hair dryer last year at this particular hotel and it was fine, so I won’t be wasting space with my own.  My flat iron is a must though – hello frizzy hair.
  • Hairbrush/Hairspray
  • Travel shampoo and conditioner (if you don’t want to use the hotel offerings)
  • Toothpaste, toothbrush, and dental floss
  • Deodorant
  • Soap/lotions (if you don’t want to use the hotel offerings)
  • Makeup bag
  • Any hair essentials needed (elastic bands, bobby pins..)
  • Q-tips (If I forget these, I go insane – they are a must-have for me.)  I bought a small travel size of Q-tips, and now I just repurpose that container and add from my big supply.
  • Nail clips (You might not need them, but don’t get stuck without some… it’s horrible to have a torn fingernail or ragged nail edge and not be able to fix it)
  • You can also get a travel kit that has the whole kit and kaboodle already put together for you if you want to go that route.  
• Cash  — We carry cash in multiple places for emergencies.  So, we take several $20 bills and sort those between us.  A few in a purse, a shoe, a pocket.  We go to a local ATM before we leave so we don’t get hit with an ATM fee later. 
• Phone chargers/computer chargers/iPad chargers  – This is VERY IMPORTANT.  Don’t get stuck with dead phones especially. 
• Snacks – For this short trip, I won’t pack many snacks, but I will pack some.  I will be packing Spark sticks (which I drink in the morning for my version of caffeine), and likely a few granola bars. 
• Medications  — I can’t get stuck without my allergy medication or I’ll be one big swollen face.  Don’t forget your medications.  Leave them in the bottle they are dispensed in – don’t get put in a bad position trying to explain what a pill is that is loose in your luggage or purse.  Also, don’t forget any OTC stuff you might need – at least have some ibuprofen on hand. 
• Sunglasses – I got stuck in a very sunny Maryland without my sunglasses once, and it manages to make my list every single time now. 
• Entertainment – My husband usually does the majority of our driving.  I’ll take either a book or my knitting for the drive.  We also download podcasts we can listen to together on the way.

What do you pack for the short weekend trips?  Did I miss anything you would add?

I can’t wait to tell you about our epic upcoming road trip.  This is a first for us – and it’s bound to be interesting.

 

 

Related Posts:

EPIC Cross Country Road Trip Planning