My husband (Andy) and I have traveled together since our early dating days. Road trips were our specialty – hopping in the car to visit ghost towns, wineries, mountain towns, and beaches became our thing.
It’s no surprise that we frequently tossed around the idea of a much longer, cross-country road trip. The issue that stopped us was usually a lack of time. We always had a schedule to meet.
And then Covid came.
I’m immunosuppressed. Obviously, traveling became a problem. It was years before we could feel good about staying in hotels and visiting family. But when that time came, we jumped at the chance to head to New York and Ohio to visit loved ones. It was time for a well-planned adventure.
After years of doing smaller multi-day trips, we were excellent packers. Luckily, both of us choose to pack light no matter what our travel plans. We didn’t have to battle each other for trunk space. This isn’t to say we didn’t have one or two missteps. Below, you’ll see our ultimate packing list, including the items essential for a comfortable cross-country, three-week road trip, and what items were not worth the space.
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Plug-in Lumbar Heating Pad
Twenty seconds before we left our driveway in Los Angeles, I twisted my ankle so severely that I couldn’t drive for the entirety of the three-week road trip. This put all the pressure on Andy and Andy’s back. By the time we got to Colorado, he was thankful to be able to use the jack in our car to power a mini heating pad. It soothed his tired muscles as he drove and in the hotel. It was the best $30 we spent. You can even get “fancy” ones with massagers. This has earned a permanent spot on our ultimate packing list for road trips.
No-Wrinkle Dresses
Speaking of travel dresses, I love wearing jersey dresses when traveling. No-wrinkle dresses are always on my vacation checklist. This is true whether we are on a road trip or flying somewhere. They flow well and wash well (even in hotel bathroom sinks). They pair with everything. I took a black tank dress and a blue T-shirt dress. Both items were easy to dress up, accent with a wrap, or wear casually with my walking shoes and baseball cap. I never travel without one! This one from Marine Layer is a particular fave because of its comfort and pockets (not an ad, just sharing):
Road Trip Pants
One of my splurges before the trip was a pair of comfortable “road trip” pants that were no leggings (although a pair of those came too). My road trip pants were “Ripple Pants” from Everlane. They flow beautifully. They have pockets. And they are easy to curl up in on the drive or in a hotel. This is not an ad, but they are 70% off right now.
Hiking/Walking Shoes
Comfortable shoes that work on city sidewalks and desert canyons are always a good investment. When you twist your ankle, it’s even more critical. Andy took his Hoka faves, and I brought my Asics. Both sets were well-broken in before we set off, so we didn’t have to worry about blisters or adding more discomfort to my poor ankle once I could walk again.
Sandals/Foldable Flats
While Andy relied on his sneakers for the trip, I also took flat, waterproof sandals. This gave me the option of wading into lakes along the way, but they also looked nice enough to pair with a casual dress when going out for a nice meal with family.
Fleece/Wraps
If you travel in August, you probably don’t think much about needing a fleece. However, if you are traveling in the desert, consider adding one to your ultimate packing list. Night temps and early mornings can be quite chilling even when the daytime temps are over 100 degrees. If I had to choose, I’d pick a fleece over a traditional jacket. I also brought a wrap scarf. It folds up beautifully and was a great accessory to up-style the casual dresses and shirt/jeans combos.
Sun Hats
Whether you wear baseball caps or foldable sunhats, please don’t leave them behind. From Fargo to Arizona, the sun was powerful. And we wanted to explore without having to find shade constantly. Fair warning, though, even a hat won’t protect you from prolonged heat and sun exposure.
Weekend Travel Bags
Rather than choosing large suitcases, we opted for weekenders. Initially, we made that decision to conserve space in the car, but it made moving in and out of hotels and family homes a more straightforward process. It also made keeping track of our belongings much easier. Mine is the Catalina Deluxe (Small) from Lo & Sons. I chose it for size, style, durability, and the fantastic separate shoe compartment. I have had it for years, and it never fails me.
Water Bottles
I think we brought every water bottle we owned – thank goodness! It allowed us to keep moving on our tight schedule without getting dehydrated. Most of the hotels we visited had bottle refillers, so filling them before leaving for the day was easy. It also stopped us from grabbing sodas or other sugary drinks along the way. These will always make our ultimate packing list.
Travel Tide/Detergent
When are you on the move like we were, travel tide or other detergents always make our ultimate packing list. It’s not just about fighting stains that might arise from eating in the car. Being able to wash travel dresses, shorts, etc means that you don’t have to spend time doing laundry in the hotel or vacation rental after a long day of driving.
Gel Ice Packs/First Aid Kit
I found out how helpful gel ice packs can be. I spent many hours on the first day of travel with my ankle raised and wrapped in a gel ice pack. We took two with us and cooled them in hotel refrigerators at night. It made my healing time come faster, for sure. But they also came in handy for dealing with sore muscles and overheated bodies when the Arizona sun came calling. As for first aid kits, emergency supplies are always useful on road trips. Even if you are just grabbing a Band-Aid or a Tylenol, they are worth having. Plus, there are some spots on cross-country trips where you don’t have cell service, and there aren’t many cars for long periods. Better to be as prepared as possible.
Portable Air Purifier
Packing a portable air purifier on a cross-country road trip is not a high priority for most travelers. It came in very useful. Because my immune system was still struggling, it allowed us additional comfort when stopping at hotels each night. Some places allowed smoking outside first-floor windows—the air purifier made that much more tolerable for me. Also, when staying with family, the air purifier helped me handle the animal allergies at night. So, it was a splurge to buy the Coway, but it made life better for me. Win!
Kindles
Thank goodness for the Kindle! We loved powering down at night with a good book without the added weight of physical books. We both had our computers with us. We really only needed one. It was a luxury for me to have mine, but a tablet would have given me the same utility without the added weight.
What should we NOT have packed on our three-week road trip?
A Full-Size Cooler
We decided to take a cooler for drinks and other perishables. It made sense because we knew there wouldn’t always be a place to grab dinner when we finally got into a town after a long day of driving. However, it isn’t easy to keep filling the cooler with ice. And after the first day, we realized it wasn’t saving us time or money. It was, however, taking up a ton of room in our trunk. Small, insulated snack bags would have been a much better option. Next time!
A Day Pack
I brought a backpack with us because I thought putting a few things in a day pack would be easier if we explored whatever town we landed in on any given day. Normally, I believe this is still a good call, but only if you are spending an extended amount of time in a place. I don’t think I used it once. We were either on the move or didn’t need to carry much gear while enjoying the sights or time with family.
Jewelry
I always pack at least a necklace and a couple of pairs of earrings. I never wear them. Unless you are planning an upscale night on the town, extra jewelry feels like just another thing to misplace on the trip.
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