How much should I really pack for a campervan or motorhome trip?

Less than you think. Most people overpack at the start and realise halfway through that they’re only using a small core of items. Focus on layers, multi-use clothing, and things you’ll reach for every day. If it hasn’t been used after a week, it probably didn’t need to come.

Is it better to use suitcases or soft bags?

Soft bags win every time. Duffels, backpacks and squashy holdalls are far easier to tuck into cupboards, garages and awkward corners. Hard suitcases tend to waste space and are frustrating to live around once you’re on the road.

Where should I keep things I need during the day?

Anything you use while driving or stopping briefly — snacks, water, maps, chargers — should live up front in the cab. It saves constant rummaging and makes short stops far more relaxed.

Do I need different packing for a campervan versus a motorhome?

The principles are the same. Motorhomes may have more storage, but clutter builds just as quickly. Pack with intention, give everything a place, and don’t fill space just because it’s there.

How do I stop the van feeling cluttered after a few days?

Organisation matters more than space. Packing cubes, separate bags for categories, and a quick daily reset make a big difference. Five minutes of tidying each evening keeps things manageable.

What’s the biggest packing mistake people make?

Packing “just in case” items instead of everyday essentials. Comfort items you use daily are far more valuable than novelty extras that never leave the cupboard.

How many clothes should I bring for a longer trip?

Plan around laundry rather than duration. A small rotation of favourites, quick-drying fabrics and a couple of warmer layers will take you much further than packing for every possible scenario.

What’s worth packing even if space is tight?

Comfort. A good pillow, decent towel, favourite mug or warm layer can completely change how enjoyable the trip feels — especially on slower days or in bad weather.

Essentials for Your Adventure

The Ultimate Road Trip Packing Guide

Ultimate Guide on What To Pack on Your Road Trip

• Master the art of small-space living: Pack with purpose, giving everything a clear place so your space stays calm and functional.
• Think about how you pack, not just what you pack: Use soft bags, packing cubes, and rolled clothes to save space and stay organised.
• Be prepared for comfort and convenience: Keep key documents, day-to-day items, and cosy downtime essentials easy to access.

Help and guidance on what to pack for your road trip

Packing for a road trip isn’t about bringing more — it’s about bringing better. When you’re living out of a campervan or motorhome, the difference between a calm, enjoyable trip and a frustrating one often comes down to whether you can find what you need, when you need it, without unpacking half the van to do so.

After a few days on the road, it becomes obvious which items earn their place and which ones just get in the way. The most important thing isn’t how much you pack, but how you pack it: giving everything a clear home, keeping frequently used items easy to reach, and thinking ahead to the realities of small-space living.

The same rules apply whether you're travelling in a small campervan or a bigger motorhome. Pack with a purpose, be flexible, and try to set things up so that they work just as effectively on day ten as they do on day one. This book is all about making smart packing choices that will make your road trip less stressful, conserve space, and keep things from getting too crowded.

printable road trip packing checklist

road trip planning guide
campervan travel tips
motorhome travel advice

Check out our what-to-pack suggestions by category:

Tips on How to Pack for a Road Trip > Important Documents to Keep Close > Money & Financial Back-Ups > Care Items & Toiletries >

Cosy Evenings & Rainy Day Essentials > Clothing & Personal Items > Kitchen & Practical Things > Cooking on the Road > FAQs

Tips on How to Pack

Packing well for a road trip is less about clever hacks and more about daily rhythm. The aim is to make mornings quicker, evenings calmer, and stops in between less chaotic. When everything has a place — and that place makes sense — the van starts to feel like a small, workable home rather than a storage puzzle. These tips focus on keeping things flexible, accessible and easy to live with as the days roll on.

Use Soft-Sided Luggage: Duffel bags, backpacks, and soft-sided luggage are better than rigid suitcases as they can be squeezed into tight spaces in the vehicle.
Roll Clothes Instead of Folding: Rolling clothes helps maximise space and prevent wrinkles better than folding. Roll bulkier items on the outside and lighter items on the inside.
Use Packing Cubes or Compression Bags: Packing cubes and compression bags help compress clothing and keep items organised. You can pack by clothing type or by day/activity.
Distribute Weight Evenly: Spread the weight of your luggage across multiple bags instead of one heavy suitcase for easier loading/unloading.
Pack a Day Bag: Keep a small backpack or duffel packed with just the essentials you'll need for overnight stops to avoid unpacking everything.
Maximise Space: Stuff socks and other small items into shoes, use pockets/compartments in luggage, and pack toiletries separately in spill-proof bags.
Prepare for easy access: Anything you reach for during the day — snacks, maps, charging cables — is best kept up front rather than buried in the back.
Once everything has a place, the van feels bigger and daily life on the road becomes noticeably calmer.

What to pack for your road trip

Important Documents to Keep Close

These are the items you hope not to think about — until you suddenly need them. Border checks, campsite arrivals, breakdowns and ferry crossings all go more smoothly when your paperwork is together and within reach. Keeping documents organised and close to hand avoids rummaging at the worst possible moment and gives you one less thing to worry about while travelling.

Tick them off as you place them together in the wallet. Even better, use our printable checklist below.

Personal documents

Passport
Driving licence
Travel Insurance documents
Health insurance details
Emergency contact (in case of an accident)

Vehicle documents: this will depend upon whether you are hiring or you own the motorhome or campervan

Hire agreement / contract / documents
Hire company contact details
Registration certificate
Motorhome instructions
Spare keys
Breakdown service contact details

Inside a vehicle with a beige interior, a table with sunglasses, a travel folder with documents, a map, a travel journal, and a reusable coffee cup, with the road and greenery outside visible through the windshield.

Money & Financial Back-Ups

Money is one of those things that’s easy to overlook until something goes wrong. A lost card, a machine that won’t work, or a place that only takes cash can quickly derail a day if you’re not prepared. A simple back-up system takes very little space but can save a lot of stress, especially when you’re far from home or travelling between regions.

It can and does happen: you’ve lost your bank card, the cash point is not working, or even your wallet might get stolen. Plan for every emergency and have a contingency in place. Have a second back up bank card stored away safely in the habitation area. Carry cash and split it between your wallet and the other half keep with the second bank card. Lastly, we recommend a small, glass jar of coins for when a few coins are needed (parking, tolls etc).

‘Every day’ bank card
Back-up credit card
Cash in notes (to split in two places)
Small, glass jar of coins (for parking etc)

Care Items and Toiletries

Life on the road is far more enjoyable when you feel comfortable and looked after. A well-thought-out toiletries kit makes everyday routines easier, whether you’re parked up on a campsite or stopping somewhere more basic. Travel sizes and shared products keep things compact while still covering what you actually use day to day.

Medication / prescriptions / contact lenses
Deodorant
Shower gel / soap x 2 - one for the kitchen!
Shampoo / conditioner / hairbrush / comb
Toothbrushes / toothpaste / floss
Razors / shaving cream / aftershave
Toilet paper / wet wipes

Painkillers
Sunscreen and after-sun care
Insect repellent
Bite cream
Plasters
Nail clippers / nail scissors / nail file
Flannel / sponge

Cosy Evening and Rainy Day Essentials

A cozy interior of a camper van with a table set for a board game night. The table has a colorful game board, several game pieces, dice, and playing cards. There are two glasses of white wine, a bowl of snacks, and a lantern providing warm lighting. The front of the camper has a driver's seat and windows with curtains, revealing a natural outdoor scenery.

Not every moment of a road trip is spent outside. Evenings draw in, weather changes, and sometimes the best plan is to stay put. Having a few familiar, comforting items turns downtime into something to enjoy rather than endure, especially after a long drive or on a rainy afternoon when plans slow down.

Cushions to lean on and prop yourself up
Board games / puzzles / cards
Books / magazine / puzzle books
Drawing / sketching / colouring essentials
Outdoor items: kite / ball / hacky sacks

Clothing and Personal Item Needs

Clothing for a road trip works best when it’s adaptable. Layers, quick-dry fabrics and a small rotation of favourites will take you further than overpacking ever will. The goal is to be ready for changing weather, relaxed evenings and active days — without filling every cupboard to the brim.

Quick drying towels: hand towel size, shower towel and swim towel

Bag options including easy to carry handbag / rucksack / day bag
Foorwear: hot / rainy / comfortable options. Flip flops for the beach / shower
Comfy evening and bedtime wear for loafing, plus PJs
Waterproofs, umbrella, rain jacket
Underwear: thin and thick socks, vest / cami top for cold weather or as a top in warm weather, pants
Swimsuit
Shorts and tshirts for warm weather
Jumpers, fleece and layers for cold weather

Kitchen and Practical Things

A simple, well-stocked kitchen setup makes everyday meals quicker and more enjoyable. You don’t need everything — just the right things. Choosing items that work across multiple meals and pack down easily keeps cooking straightforward and avoids clutter building up in already limited space.

Gas household lighter/ matches
Washing up things: Sponge/ scrubbing brush / washing up liquid / tea towel
Cups / glasses / flask / refillable water bottle
Cutlery / crockery / measuring jug / chopping board
Utensils: Tin opener / bottle opener / peeler / scissors / knives
Sandwich bags / tupperware / kitchen paper / silver foil
Frying pan / milk pan / casserole pan
Salt, pepper & dried herbs
Water bottle

Cooking on the Road: Why the Storecupboard Matters

Good road trip food isn’t about complicated recipes — it’s about being prepared. A thoughtfully stocked storecupboard makes cooking in a campervan or motorhome easier, lighter and far more flexible. When you’ve got a small selection of reliable staples, you can put together satisfying meals without needing a full supermarket run every few days.

Focusing on ingredients that work across multiple meals helps keep packing simple and avoids carrying half-used items that never quite get finished. Things like tinned tomatoes, pulses, pasta, rice, herbs and a few well-chosen condiments go a long way and earn their place quickly.

If you’re planning meals alongside your route, our Road Trip Recipes guide shows how a compact storecupboard can support make-ahead meals, easy one-pot dinners, flexible lunches and simple breakfasts, and includes a printable road trip recipe guide and kitchen-essentials packing printable guide — all designed for life on the road.

Print Out Packing Checklist

Printable Packing Checklist

Open the checklist in a new window, tick what you’re taking, then print or save as PDF.

Packing for a Road Trip: FAQs

Less than you think. Most people overpack at the start and realise halfway through that they’re only using a small core of items. Focus on layers, multi-use clothing, and things you’ll reach for every day. If it hasn’t been used after a week, it probably didn’t need to come.
Soft bags win every time. Duffels, backpacks and squashy holdalls are far easier to tuck into cupboards, garages and awkward corners. Hard suitcases tend to waste space and are frustrating to live around once you’re on the road.
Anything you use while driving or stopping briefly — snacks, water, maps, chargers — should live up front in the cab. It saves constant rummaging and makes short stops far more relaxed.
The principles are the same. Motorhomes may have more storage, but clutter builds just as quickly. Pack with intention, give everything a place, and don’t fill space just because it’s there.
Organisation matters more than space. Packing cubes, separate bags for categories, and a quick daily reset make a big difference. Five minutes of tidying each evening keeps things manageable.
Packing “just in case” items instead of everyday essentials. Comfort items you use daily are far more valuable than novelty extras that never leave the cupboard.
Plan around laundry rather than duration. A small rotation of favourites, quick-drying fabrics and a couple of warmer layers will take you much further than packing for every possible scenario.
Comfort. A good pillow, decent towel, favourite mug or warm layer can completely change how enjoyable the trip feels — especially on slower days or in bad weather.