How I Pack for a Weekend Trip

This summer has been busy for me so far, and I’ve realized it’s easy to get caught up in work and forget about taking a vacation! As I talked about in the What I Packed for Our Beach Trip blog post, when I realized Matt and I didn’t have any vacations planned for this summer, I booked us a last-minute rental. We had less than 4 days to plan everything and it turned out to be a great trip, but it got me thinking about how overwhelming it can be to pack for vacations, especially shorter trips.

I feel like when the vacation is longer, it’s almost easier to pack and plan. But when it’s shorter and you have to condense everything, the packing seems so daunting and it’s hard to know what to bring. I’m sharing How I Pack for a Weekend trip so your next quick vacay prep can be seamless and stress-free.

Make sure you have cute yet functional travel gear.

Having functional travel gear is absolutely essential to successfully pack for a weekend trip. It’s easy to throw everything in a duffle and call it good, but having travel gear that keeps me organized has helped so much in my ability to pack more and not forget anything. And of course, if that gear is super cute too, it’s a win-win 😉 All of my favorite travel products are laid out in my The Best & Cutest Travel Products blog post with everything you need for easy packing.

Get some good luggage (and make sure it’s yours!).

Speaking of functional travel gear, you’ll definitely want to grab some good-quality luggage. Luggage can be an investment, but there is nothing better than getting a quality piece that lasts year after year and trip after trip. I have a few luggage options here, but if you already have your luggage, the next step is making sure you don’t lose it. If you’re traveling by car this is a non-issue, but if you’re checking luggage at the airport (or even stowing it in the carry-on bin) this is for you. I always love to personalize everything, so these vinyl stickers were the best find! They are customizable with your initials, you can easily stick them on your luggage, and they’re under $10!

Essentials only!

It is SO easy to overpack (trust me, I get it) but a weekend trip is short, therefore your packing should be light. Bring your must-haves only, plan out your outfits in advance, and keep it organized. I put together my carry-on essentials in this blog, but here’s another simple guide when packing for a weekend trip:

1 pair of shoes in the bag, 1 on your feet. I know, I know… only two pairs of shoes?? It seems impossible, but for a weekend trip, you really only need two pairs. I’d say pack a pair of comfortable sandals and some casual tennis shoes and you are set. This also frees up so much room in your bag since you’ll only be packing one pair.

1 set of PJs or a lounge set. You don’t need multiple pairs of pajamas for a weekend trip, and if you pack the right pair, they can double as your lounge outfit, too!

Essential toiletries only. The items in your toiletry bag should be the items you use every day, no extras. Keep the skincare simple, bring travel-size shower items, and only pack things you know you’ll need. All of my travel beauty must-haves are in this blog post!

3 outfits that can go day to night. Plan out your outfits in advance so you don’t overpack, and make sure you can take each of them from day to night! This way you don’t have to pack multiple outfits for one day, and it will give you more time to actually enjoy your vacation and not stress about what to wear.

1 jacket. If necessary, pack one light jacket to keep you warm if the evenings get chilly.

Wear your bulkier items on your travel day.

Once you have everything you’ll be packing organized, take out the bulkier items and wear them when you travel. This will free up more space in your bag and make packing a breeze. I usually wear comfortable tennis shoes when I travel (which tend to be the bulkier shoe), and it’s easy to get chilly in an airport or even in a car with AC, so wearing the jacket I packed is a non-issue. Finding small ways to free up more space in your weekend bag is always a good idea!

How do you pack when you head somewhere for the weekend? Let me know in the comments!