How to Pack for a True Road Trip

A true road trip requires spontaneity and excitement. With that said, there is no need to over pack. In fact, it is more fun to bring the bare minimum because it presents interesting situations along the way, like washing your clothes, finding food, and just plain experiencing the world around you. Read on to learn how to pack for a true road trip.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A bag or two

1. Know that the first thing to concentrate on is the clothes. Nobody wants to lug around a huge bag of clothes, so pack the essentials only. Try to pack things that you can wear more than once, like jeans. If you must pack a huge bag of clothes, have a small overnight bag ready so you don't have to take everything with you into the place your staying every single night.

2. Understand that hygiene is still important on the road but there is no need to take up too much space with it. Bring small versions of everything like toothpaste, shampoo and soap.

3. If you do stay at hotels, take full advantage of any free stuff. Take all the shampoo and soap they give you. Also, if you're staying at a friend's house, don't be afraid to replenish your small bottles with some of their stuff. Depending on the friend, you may want to ask first.

4. When it comes to food, only pack what you will eat between the beginning of the trip and the first stop. If you really want to save on food costs along the way, pack food that is small but you can make meals out of. Think of what you would take on a camping trip. Also, it's fun to have food that requires some kind of preparation like heat or hot water or something, because it's fun to seek out just how you are going to make that happen.

5. Bring some tools. The best thing is a Swiss army knife. You never know when you're are going to need it on a road trip. If you have a small tool kit, bring that. One really important thing to bring is a flashlight. Again, you never know when you're going to need it, but if it's a real road trip, you will.

6. You shouldn't have to bring much entertainment if it's a real road trip, but if you must, keep it simple. Music and books is really all you should need. Try to stear clear of game systems and movies because you do want to enjoy the scenery and also be able to have good conversations.

7. You do not need to pack more than one pair of shoes. They will get wet somehow, but that's part of the fun. Just find a fun way to dry them off, and that goes for any wet clothing.

8. Finally, don't unload the savings account for the trip, because the money will burn a hole in your pocket. Bring a reasonable amount of cash, because again it is fun to skimp and save on a road trip. Also, it will prevent you from buying cheap souvenirs and will push you to take back real souvenirs which on a true road trip are always free.

Tips & Warnings

• Experience everything you can and don't make a schedule. You never know what you may want to stop and see.
• Don't bring too much liquid, you will drink it all just because it's there and you don't want to stop all the time to use the bathroom or the woods.

[grimsleygl]

on 4/10/2009 My, you are adventuresome! I love it though. Thanks for the great ideas and tips. I'm ready for a road trip right now! 5*'s and a recommend