It’s far too easy to overpack for short trips. That is why you need an overnight trip packing list. With a solid overnight bag list, you’ll be able to keep organized and not forget anything important.
With just an overnight trip, the temptation to overpack can really strong. Let’s avoid that if we can. Ready for the list? Just keep reading!
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Use this overnight trip packing list as the basis for creating your own list for each of your trips. Of course, you don’t need to follow this list exactly. It’s designed to be customized. Use it as a starting place.
The key thing is to keep it simple.
Tip: use an editable digital packing list to easily make changes to your list as you pack.
You only need to pack two outfits at the most:
For overnight trips, my preference is to pack only one pair of pants and then wear home the next day the same pants or even the same outfit that I wore for travel the day before.
Pajamas—a simple lightweight set of pajama bottoms paired with a T-shirt like this works. I love my Amazon Essentials pajamas.
One pair of shoes for whatever you have planned for your trip. Make sure they work with whatever outfits you are taking.
Underwear
Socks—to work without whatever shoes you have packed.
Jacket or cardigan to keep warm in case of sudden weather changes, cold event venues or restaurants, etc.
If your hotel has a gym and you enjoy working out when you travel make sure to take your workout clothes with you. Or if you want to check out your hotel’s pool, add a swimsuit and coverup to your packing list.
If you have room in your bag, consider packing a pair of flip-flops or slippers for wearing around your hotel room or in case you need to make a quick run down the hall for ice.
For a trip of just one night, keep skincare, haircare, and makeup products to a minimum. I always recommend that you just use your hotel bathroom product amenities when possible. That means you won’t need to pack shampoo, conditioner, soap, or perhaps even a facial cleanser or body lotion.
Pack a basic toiletries bag with only the essentials. Here are some examples of what you might pack (all are products I actually pack for trips and have used for many years):
There are a few other things you might want or need to pack to make sure you have a good trip.
I find that the danger of overpacking is strongest with short trips. And overnights are no exception. Because it’s so easy to overpack for overnight trips, I recommend you use the smallest bag you can but still have room to pack the things you genuinely need.
Using a small bag will help you avoid the temptation to overpack because you simply won’t have the room.
A large tote bag like this popular weekender would also be great for a short one-night trip.
Why do you need to get organized for your overnight trip? All you have to do is toss a few things in a bag, right? But when heading out on an overnight, it’s so easy to simultaneously overpack and yet forget important items.
So, pause for a few minutes to think about what you really need. What plans have you made for your trip?
When traveling for just an overnight getaway, try to resist the temptation to overpack. You don’t need multiple outfit options “just in case.”
But you don’t want to go to the opposite extreme either and not give any thought to what you need to take with you. That’s how you forget to pack essentials in your overnight bag.
The packing list in this post is all you need to make sure that you pack well for your short trip.
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