Tuesday, September 9, 2025

I am a packing nerd! Like, I really like to pack! This past weekend I had to pack for just one night away but I wasn’t quite sure what the weather would do. There was a chance of rain and the temps would be from 50-80 degrees!

I packed:

my rain jacket, one sweatshirt, sleep shorts and a tank, only one other bottom (I wore cut off jean shorts and only packed a pair of jeans), three more top options that would work with the jeans or jeans shorts. I wore flip flops but packed two pairs of sneakers, mary janes, a dressier sandal just in case for my foot wear. Shoes always get me in trouble. But, I packed really well, other than my shoes.

I didn’t wear one pair of shoes and I didn’t wear the sweatshirt or one of the top options that would have worked with cut offs or jeans.

TMI: My other tip is to bring more undergarments than you think you need. They don’t take up space and you will be glad to have them.

I thought it would be fun to bring a bunch of Trader Joe’s snacks for the car or the hotel room:

I made us hotel charcuterie!

We stopped for lunch on our way and then we had this around 5:00 and it was perfect to tide us over until we could get situated at the festival. Tom ate dinner at 8:30 and I didn’t even need dinner. You just never know so it’s good to have some back up food. Our room had a little fridge so it was perfect. Also, I brought some wine and prosecco.

I don’t pack shampoo, conditioner, or body wash for just one night. I love how many hotels now have this set up:

I loved these products and plan to look them up – Alice + Co Botanicals. I stayed at The Graduate in Nashville and then ordered their brand of products. So fun!

These sneakers were my walking sneakers and I wore them for my Saturday morning walk.

Friday afternoon festival fit:

Saturday festival fit:

It was a little cooler Saturday and I was happy I chose jeans. I did end up switching to flip flops when it got warmer.

Our hotel room was huge and really nice:

The hotel included breakfast and it was one of the nicer hotel breakfasts I have seen. Their coffee was really good, too. So, Saturday morning Tom and I went down to breakfast before we went to the farmer’s market.

Are you a good packer? I think I am. When my boys got a bit older (maybe 4 or 5), I would have them lay out what they planned to take on their beds. I would sometimes give them a checklist. They liked checking things off. We went on so many little weekend trips back in the day. We had family reunions, weddings, and just met family sometimes. They loved staying in hotels and immediately claimed their bed and got in it. We have so many fun hotel memories with them. One of these days I need to recap some of our family trips.

Do you immediately unpack when you get back home? I usually do! This time, I waited until the next morning and also did all my trip laundry. Ahhh there’s nothing like being back home and all organized.

Amy

19 thoughts on “Packing for a Road Trip/Hotel Stay”

  1. I am in the midst of packing for a trip to Charleston so this hits home for me.

    I always unpack the minute I get home. No matter the time, I cannot relax knowing I have all that mess. Typically I unpack and start a load of laundry.

    I love what you wore to the festival! Nice hotel room, looks like the kind of place you could stay for several days comfortably!

    xo,

    Kellyann

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    1. I know you are a great packer! I think p;eople forget lounge clothes for the hotel room and double your underwear especially if it’s hot and sticky cause you will need a body shower mid-day sometimes.

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  2. I think I’m a pretty good packer. I like the cubes for ease of organization and yes to extra undergarments. Especially if you’re hiking, walking, or out in the heat for an event. Shoes are also my downfall, but women need more shoes than men. I am definitely an unpack immediately kind of traveler. I bring a bag for laundry and sometimes start that as soon as we’re home. We stayed in The Graduate in Nashville and thought it was a fun hotel. Enjoy your day!

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    1. I don’t think about the cubes for a little trip but I should. I like to take just a body shower if I’ve been out walking around or if it’s hot.
      The Graduate smelled so good! I loved all the details, too.

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  3. I overpack and bring way too much. I was a flight attendant for 14 years so used to be a fabulous, streamlined packer! Now, not so much. I too like to unpack as soon as we get home and start the laundry. Just like that organized feeling after being away. Have a great day!

    Trish

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  5. I enjoy packing as well! I feel like I do really well most of the time; when I went to Denver over the summer, I packed for seven days in the carry on luggage that I took. I impressed Marilyn when she picked me up! I don’t always do so well, though, and it’s trips in the fall/spring that get me in trouble. I never know what the weather is going to be like, so I overpack usually.

    I am really going to think on this for my upcoming fall break trip; I am going to do lots of re-wearing of leggings and jeans; I’ll probably pack short sleeved or 3/4 sleeves, and do a jacket/cardigan over it for warmth. I need to find a better cardigan, and I really need to buy a jacket since I don’t have one that fits right anymore.

    I love the outfits you took with you! I definitely pack better when I fly, because my suitcase can’t weigh too much. Thanks for sharing today!

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    1. It’s definitely harder in the fall/winter. I just keep telling myself if I can get 9 days worth of England/Scotland in a carry on for winter I can do anything! What about the Amazon cardigan Jen from Show Me loves? I will try to find for you.

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  6. Not trying to be too much of a Debbie downer with the hotel shampoo bottles that are full size that anyone can open and add to… but the fact that they are openable means that some people (this is based on what I’ve read…) add their own liquids to the bottles. I mean, anyone CAN add anything to those bottles. Sorry! I try not to think about it when I see those types of bottles in hotels. I just hope and pray that no one has added anything when I stay at a place that has those. Anyway, I overpack undergarments purposefully always- a few extra each of socks and undies. I usually don’t unpack right away. Your hotel looks nice and yah to a really nice complimentary hotel breakfast!

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  7. I’ve mostly stopped packing shampoo and conditioner too. I typically unpack right away but we aren’t supposed to get home until nearly midnight tonight so I’m pretty sure I’ll be unpacking tomorrow.

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  8. I love when hotels have that set up. I agree about packing extra undergarments, and I also enjoy packing. I like to unpack as soon as I get home. I have usually put all the dirty clothes in a bag and just throw that in the laundry room. Great post!

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  9. I definitely unpack as soon as I get home unless it’s really, really late. Even then, I unpack toiletries and such. My downfall is shoes, too. The first time we went to London, I had an entire suitcase of shoes. I packed them in the only suitcase we had that wheels on it. Of course, a wheel broke, and I had to haul that thing across Victoria Station! I learned my lesson then, but I still take too many shoes (and I do take extra undergarments).

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

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  11. Getting caught up on blog reading…& I loved reading this. You did a great job packing. I’ve definitely gotten better through the years but still tend to overpack. I always bring snacks too! Just this weekend, I was out of town with Hadley and I didn’t go to the hotel grab and go at all. I packed breakfast, snacks and even not own coffee and creamer 🤣

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