We have a really small car! As passionate road-trippers, we've been known to live out of our little Pontiac Vibe for weeks, even months on end.
And we've learned lots of easy car packing hacks to make it happen.
We choose to travel in a tiny car for many reasons: maneuverability, great gas mileage, and easy upkeep, just to name a few.
And we've become experts at packing light, so we thought we'd share some of our favorite tips for how to pack a car for a road trip.
Our experiences backpacking have really helped us learn to pack only the bare necessities for long road trips in a small car.
When you've lived your life out of a backpack, a car trunk seems cavernous. Of course, that makes it tempting to pack more than you need, but in the end, tough decisions are made, and the car always wins.
So what do you have to pack for a long road trip in a small car? Well, that depends on where you're going and what you're doing, but I do have a few tips to share based on our own experiences packing a small car for a big trip.
Let's take a look at some easy car-packing hacks that you can use to make the most of the space you have. But first.
Small cars are easy and fun to drive!
There are obvious benefits to traveling in both a small and large car, so before you plan your road trip, decide what the most important factors are. For us, gas mileage and maneuverability are both very high on the list, and we've always been very comfortable traveling in a small car.
Here are some of the benefits of small-car travel that you should consider before your next road trip.
Our car is great for winter travel too!
Start by thinking about the season you'll be traveling in, as well as how long you'll be gone, and what you plan to do on your trip. Road tripping with kids and/or dogs will take extra consideration, of course. Our family is big on outdoor adventures, and we mainly travel in the summer, so our packing list usually reflects that.
Next, create a packing list, starting with supplies that your family can't live without (clothes, food, and shelter), and moving on to items that may make your road trip more exciting and memorable (fishing poles, toys, games, books, and musical instruments).
Recruit your kids to make lists of their own. Even if you have to nix the idea of bringing along the pet iguana or the boogie board, at least their ideas were in the running.
Here are a few more easy car packing hacks to help you make the most of the space you have:
Do you still have more stuff than will fit in your small car? Invest in a car-top cargo carrier for your extra gear. Hard shells are way more durable than soft ones, even though they are more expensive.
We got our car-top cargo carrier used, and can't imagine traveling without it! We use it to hold all of our bedding, backpacks, tents, and souvenirs, while our trunk stores food, cooking supplies, and clothing.
In 2021, we bought another used Pontiac Vibe!
This basic packing list is for a months-long, cross-country road trip in a small car. It's the road trip packing list that we used for a family of four on our last big summer trip.
To save money, and because we love being outdoors, we cook almost every meal outside and camp every night of the trip. Your packing list will be much different if you are driving from hotel to hotel and eating in restaurants.
Here's what we recommend for cramming all of your stuff into a small car and hitting the road:
Check out: Does your Dog Deserve a Road Trip?
The thing about packing for a road trip is the packing list is pretty much the same whether you're traveling for a long weekend or the whole summer. Get into the habit of packing light, and you'll love traveling across the country in a compact car.
Tara is a freelance writer and travel blogger with a passion for outdoor adventures. She currently blogs at Back Road Ramblers and Vermont Explored, where she shares travel tips, adventure destinations, and vacation ideas for the wanderer in everyone.