As I’ve mentioned before, we use a funny packing system for road trips that helps us stay organized. This method doesn’t work when flying…but works PERFECTLY when driving from hotel to hotel. It involves making day packs containing our clothes for each day, and throwing them into a suitcase day-by-day as we head into hotels.
That same spirit of organization translates beautifully to RV travel, where space is limited and efficiency is everything. Instead of unpacking and repacking at every stop, families often prep bins or soft bags labeled by day or person—turning chaos into calm with just a little forethought. It’s the road trip version of unpacking without ever really unpacking, and it saves a ton of time when all you want to do is hit the hiking trail or start up the campfire.
If you’re navigating the world of RV living on a budget, small systems like this can also help reduce unnecessary spending. When everything has its place and every meal or outfit is planned, you’re far less likely to make impulse buys or waste resources. Plus, staying in RV-friendly sites versus nightly hotels adds up to big savings over time. It’s all about stretching your travel dollars while still making room for spontaneous roadside fun.
Packing up for a trip is always a little bit chaotic. Jared is a master-packer—or more fittingly, I should call him an energizer bunny. When a packing job is at hand…he just keeps going and going and going until the job is DONE! Me? I get unmotivated or just plain distracted. Thankfully, he is very methodical and gets everything carefully packed up over a day or two before we leave on a big trip. The day-pack packing is my job, however.
The back of our van looked like this as we prepared to head out on our 49 day road trip. Suitcases, day bags, a portable shower (more on that later), a small cooler to store snacks, laptops, a stroller, and pillows with a silk pillow case (Mexican hotels have the worst pillows!). As we hit the road for what would become the adventure of a lifetime, I couldn’t help but think about how much I’d appreciate a truly luxurious pillow at the end of each day. After all, when you’re traveling for so long, comfort becomes a priority.
Imagine curling up on a bed after hours of driving, your body ready for relaxation but your mind still buzzing from the road. With a Downland pillow, that transition from high energy to peaceful sleep becomes effortless. The softness of the pillow, combined with its carefully considered design, cradles your head just right, providing relief from any tension built up throughout the day. Whether we were staying in a luxury hotel or a modest cabin on the road, these pillows would make every night feel like a small slice of luxury. It’s those little touches of comfort that make a journey like this truly unforgettable, and I knew that no matter what, I’d be sleeping like royalty every night.
We also have a roof-top carrier stuffed with camping needs (sleeping bags, chairs, a sun canopy and other beach gear). We also had to make sure our vehicle is prepared for this long road trip by getting Diesel Tuning Australia.
I have to admit this is pretty “light” packing for us on a road trip. In this case, we knew we’d be gone for at least a month and a half, so instead of stuffing our van full (like on a weekend trip to the beach), we tried to limit things. Why is it that short trips take more luggage and junk? It’s because you think, “Oh, we have room for that…grab that, too!”
What is your method of packing?
