How to pack the car for a road trip

A road trip has no airline baggage limit, so it is tempting to bring everything. The limits are the space in the car and how much you can reach from the driver’s seat. Pack with both in mind.

Pack two sets

Split what you bring into what you need on the road and what you need when you arrive. The first set stays in the cabin, where you can reach it. The second can go in the boot.

What to keep within reach

The road trip packing list has the things that belong in the cabin. These are a car charger, a phone mount, a first-aid kit, coins or a card for parking and tolls, a cooler bag and wet wipes. Your driver’s licence is marked Must-have, so check it before you leave.

Start from the Essentials

The road trip list is an add-on, so it comes with the Essentials. Use the packing list generator to merge them for the number of days you are away, so the clothes are counted and nothing appears twice.

Load the boot with care

1. Put the heaviest things low, and as far forward as you can.
2. Keep anything you will need on the way where you can get at it without unloading.
3. Make sure nothing heavy can slide forward if you have to brake hard.

Weight still counts

A car has a limit on what it can carry, and a heavy load changes how it drives. Our free luggage weight calculator adds up a bag. Check your car’s handbook for the limit on what it can carry.