The Ultimate Vacation Packing List
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Packing for vacation can be a daunting task, especially if you have kids. Not only do you have to make sure you have everything you need, but you have little people that you’re also responsible for. But don’t let the thought of packing for a vacation overwhelm you. Read on to see how I make sure everyone in our family always has what we need on vacation.
The sooner you can start planning for everyone’s needs, the better. Keep a list of what you need to pack.
I adore the app AnyList. It lets me create as many lists as I need. I usually create a list called “Vacation Packing” and start adding things to the list as I think of them. And since my phone is always with me, I just pull it out and open the app as I think of something.
For example, back in February when my husband told me to remember to pack a radio for our summer Tennessee trip so that the boys could fall asleep, I just opened the app and added radio to our list. Easy peasy!
If you don’t want one really large list, then you’re welcome to create smaller lists on this app with each person’s name. Do whatever works best for you.
The app lets you tap each item to mark it off when you’re done with it. You can choose to keep those items visible once you mark them off, or you can choose to make them disappear.
Take an inventory of what you already have on hand at home so you don’t over buy.
Once you have an idea of what you need to pack, take a few moments to look around your house and see what you already have on hand so you aren’t buying double. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather save that money for vacation.
Then once I know what I need, I usually save myself a trip to the store and place one really large order on Amazon.
So what do I buy?
Great question! Here’s a very large, all-inclusive list of everything I make sure we have on vacation. This also eliminates the need to find a store while we’re out in a new place (unless we need milk or something because I don’t travel with that).
- Nail kit with nail files-inevitably someone will tear or snag a nail
- Tylenol, Advil, etc.-make sure you have this on hand for both adults and kids who are traveling
- Pepto Bismol for adults and kids-because you never know when that new food you try will upset your stomach
- Tums-again, you just don’t know if you’ll have an upset stomach or not
- Blistex chapstick with sunscreen-if you travel someplace hot, the heat can take a toll on your lips.
- Scissors-because you never know when you’ll need a pair, and I always need them when I don’t have them
- Aloe after burn-great if you’re going someplace where you’ll be outside or in the pool a lot
- Sunscreen-prevent any sunburns
- Bug spray-you don’t want to be miserable on vacation
- Clorox wipes to go-nice to have to wipe down picnic tables, hotel room remotes and doorknobs, etc.
- Kleenex-these always come in in handy and there’s never enough
- Cooling towels-especially useful if you’re traveling someplace sweltering
- Sea bands-these help keep my kids from getting motion sick
- Night lights-most places don’t have them and who wants to fumble around in the dark in an unknown place
- Wrinkle free laundry spray-this stuff is amazing, especially if you don’t have a dryer or iron on hand
- Band aids-because you never know when you’ll need one
- Blister patches-so important if you plan to do a lot of walking
- Gold Bond Friction Defense-a MUST if you plan to walk a lot
- Hand sanitizer-because germs!
- Baby wipes-great to clean dirty little hands and faces
- 2 gallon zip lock bags-for packing outfits in…more on that later
- Gallon zip lock bags-to pack all these little items in and keep them together…more on that later
- Sandwich bags-to pack snacks or leftovers in
- Flashlights-what if the power goes out in an unknown place?
- Water bottles-Keeping hydrated is important, and if your water stays cold, you’re more likely to drink. These are totally worth it.
- Dramamine-for those who get motion sick
- Tweezers-you never know when you’ll need them
- Allergy pills-no one wants to be miserable on vacation and new places may bring on allergies
- Snacks-No one wants to be hangry! We like protein bars for a quick pick me up.
- Drink packets-just in case the water is gross
- Hand soap-I’ve been places that don’t have it. Gross!
- Neosporin-to help any cuts heal
- Calamine lotion-in case you get into poison ivy or something
- Cell phone chargers-can’t leave home without them
- Stain wipes-in case you don’t have immediate access to a washing machine
- Pony tail holders-for hot days or days where you don’t want your hair in your face
- Swim suits-Some of my favorite swimsuits come from Cupshe.
- Laundry soap-if you’re lucky enough to stay some place with a washer and a dryer
- Dryer sheets-these aren’t usually supplied…put them in a zip lock bag so you don’t have the bulky box to drag along
- Safety pins-make great temporary fixes in a pinch
- Backpack-to store the necessary items needed for each day’s outings. We love this one with a charging port.
- Cooler-if you plan on packing lunches or cold foods
- Books-to relax with-Ree Drummond is one of my favorite authors.
- Tickets-if you need any for admission
- Air freshener-bathrooms can be close to bedrooms in hotels, enough said
- Cell phone battery packs-if you’re traveling someplace like Disney where you need to use your phone all day, these come in handy
- Hair dryer-nothing quite compares to your own
- Trash bags-for keeping trash out of your vehicle, to catching vomit from sick kids, to replace ones you run out of in your vacation room, to using in a rainstorm if you don’t have ponchos, there are all sorts of uses for these
- Ponchos-just in case you get caught in a monsoon
Whew! I know that’s A LOT! And depending on where you’re going and what you’re doing, you might not need it all. But I bet you’ll need most of it.
How do I pack all this stuff?
Great question! Don’t let the amount of stuff overwhelm you. Remember all those zip lock bags I said you’d need? Here’s where those come in handy.
Here’s what I do. I take the 2 gallon zip lock bags and use them to place each day’s outfits inside. So let’s say we’ll be gone for 5 days. Each person gets 5 of the 2 gallon zip lock bags.
Inside each bag, we pack one outfit for the day including socks and underwear. We roll the clothes so they fit nicely inside each bag (even my 6’2″ husband’s clothes roll nicely), and we label the bags as we go. That way if we’re planning on going on a hike on Wednesday, we can make sure we have hiking clothes packed for Wednesday. (Of course if it doesn’t matter what you wear when, then you don’t need to label.)
It saves so much time to plan ahead and pack accordingly. Then you can just give each kid their bag of clothes in the morning and everyone can get dressed. Super simple!
The End of the Day
Then at the end of the day, those same 2 gallon zip lock bags come in handy again. If you’re lucky enough to stay in a place where you have a washer and dryer, you can wash your clothes, and put those same clean clothes back into the bag and your suitcase.
BUT if you don’t have a washer or dryer, those bags are glorious. Because chances are your clothes are going to stink at the end of the day. So just take them off, roll them, and put them back inside the 2 gallon bag. The smell stays contained until you get home, and you don’t stink up your suitcase or other clothes around them.
Gallon Zip Lock Bags
All of those gallon zip lock bags come in handy too. I use those to put like things from my list together. For example, all of the kid’s medicine goes in one bag together. All of the adult medicine goes into another bag together. Think about what makes sense together, and put it into the gallon zip lock bags together. Nothing gets lost, and it fits nicely into your suitcases that way.
Sandwich Bags
Don’t underestimate the importance of sandwich bags. They’re great of packing snacks in, bringing home leftovers, or keeping track of those random items that are too small for a bigger bag. And anything you have left can come home with you.
Have a Great Trip!
Once you’re packed and ready to go, enjoy your trip. You’ll be much more relaxed knowing you have everything your family needs should something unexpected come up. What do you always have to take with you on vacation? I’d love to know in the comments below. Happy travels!
