4 Clever Ways To Maximize Space When Packing For A Road Trip in the USA
Packing may seem quite simple, but a lot goes on to get it done perfectly. A big difference separates so-so-packers and those who have mastered the art of maximizing their luggage space. Beginner road trippers often belong to the first group, with the experts in the latter. That’s where you’ll want to be, too.
Whether you have big luggage and a car, that’s often immaterial. What matters the most is how you’re able to use your available space to have all you need without feeling like your luggage and car are overflowing to the brim. Focus only on the essentials and a few multi-purpose items, like a key organizer keychain and multi-tool, to name a few. The more you’re able to maximize space, you may be able to have room for extra knick-knacks and souvenirs you’ll bring home, and you’ll feel a lot less stressed with the loads of things you’re bringing as well.
In this article, you’ll come across four clever tips to help you out.
1. Plan All Your Outfits For Everyday
Don’t just pack anything at random. You have to be certain that whatever you bring with you, you’ll get to use them. Don’t bring any outfit you’re unsure of wearing, especially if you haven’t tried it at home yet. Like all other facets of your road trip, have a plan.
By this, it means planning all your outfits for every day. Write them on your phone or your planner, so you know what to wear daily. Do the same with the other family members, especially if you have children, or going on a road trip with your family.
Planning all your outfits helps you have a capsule road trip wardrobe. This means having only the bare essentials. For instance, you can reuse bottom wear on some days, particularly when there’s room to wash or if they aren’t that dirty yet. After planning for every day, have at least one day’s worth of extra clothes in case of delays in your trip or when washing may not be possible.
2. Bring A Basket With Your Essentials
If you’re going on quite a far road trip, you’ll frequently reach for road trip essentials. These include flashlights while traveling, snacks, drinks, tissue, wet wipes, alcohol, lip balm, phone chargers, candies, and sunglasses, to name a few. Storing those in your bag works, but it’s not always efficient. A better route is to have a basket stored with your essentials instead, making it easy to reach out to those.
For example, you can have a basket for drinks, another one for snacks, and one more for the other road trip essentials. Be sure also to have a bin designated for all your trash. When you make road stops to refuel or for meals, it’s easier to clean your car when all your trash is in one bag, ready to dispose of.
This technique also enables you to maximize space in your luggage, as all those items that would’ve been in your luggage are now in a different place. You can reserve your luggage capacity for clothes and belongings you won’t be reaching out for, while on the road.
3. Use Bag And Bike Racks
This third tip applies to those on a road trip who also plan to take their bikes with them. You can either be one of those sports enthusiasts off to a marathon. Or, you may simply want to bring your bike when you explore the areas you’re visiting.
If this is the case, you’ll want to invest in bag and bike racks. Even if you have a lot of space in your van to lay down your bikes, that’s a lot of wasted space. It would’ve otherwise been utilized for bags, coolers, and other things you’ll bring. Most importantly, bike racks also ensure your bike stays safe and secure.
Apart from bike racks, a bag rack is also another plus must-have worth investing in. It’s usually placed on top of your car, so you can use that rack to fasten your bags safely. Like a bike rack, having that space dedicated to your bags frees up more space in your car, so you don’t have to feel cramped into a small space with all your bags.
4. Roll Your Clothes
If you already have vacuum bags, use them for every one of your trips. Those bags truly are a game-changer. Because you’re vacuuming out excess air, you can squeeze more items than you would otherwise have without vacuum bags. It’s worth investing in those, especially for families who are avid travelers.
While waiting to have vacuum bags, a tried-and-tested hack is to roll your clothes. Not only can you keep your clothes wrinkle-free, but you’ll also see how it’ll magically take up less space.
The Bottomline
Are you now feeling more confident and ready to hit the road? The packing tips above can help you revolutionize the way you pack for road trips so you can make the most use of the space you have in your car. You can have a big and spacious RV or campervan with you but still, feel cramped if you’re not packing efficiently. If there’s anything you’ll need along the way that you haven’t packed with you, making a stop to stretch your legs and buy it won’t hurt. Let go of the ‘just in case’ category and focus only on the essentials.