6 Packing tips I learned from RVing to Yellowstone
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Tee - comme des garcons, skirt - claudie pierlot
One of the best things about our just-wrapped RV trip to Yellowstone was the sense that we were all in it together. “I appreciate your photos from some of my fave trips growing up!” wrote a friend on Instagram. “We are hoping to head west along this same route in August” shared another. “I think you’ve infected us with the RV boondocking adventure bug!” said a third, who has since booked her own camper. Road trips have become the pandemic getaway of choice for many of us. So, having just completed one, I thought it might be helpful to share some of the packing do’s and don’ts I learned along the way. Hopefully, whatever sort of trip you’re planning, this will save you a little time so you can get on the road and enjoying all the sites – quick!
DO: Pack for all possible weather conditions
tank - athleta, shorts - anatomie (this year’s version), photography at badlands national park thanks to our seven-year-old 😊
No offense to my husband, but I think I might have fallen in love with my hat on our trip. It was always there to make a hike in the rain more comfortable, a blazing day more bearable, or a photo on a bad hair day less embarrassing – and wow, were there lots of those! Planning for the full spectrum of weather possibilities is a must on any trip, but especially on one when it’s hard to fill gaps along the way.
jacket and tee - lululemon, photography in yellowstone natoinal park thanks to friend and filmmaker tom winston, grizzly creek films
As well as the beloved hat, a light-weight puffer, fleece hoodie and merino PJs were trip MVPs - acting like a warm hug on chilly nights. Unstinkable tanks, breathable mid-layers, merino socks and undies and various incarnations of shorts, meanwhile, saved the (steamy) day. In case it’s a helpful reference, I wore everything from this packing list except the rain jacket – since we luckily avoided true downpours.
DON’T: Forget it can get dark, buggy and exposed
When we leave our warmed / cooled homes on a summer’s day, it’s easy to forget that at some point it could be pitch-dark, utterly bereft of shade or intensely buggy. (I quickly experienced all these things at a boondocking (no amenities) campsite, the Badlands, and Grand Teton National Park respectively!)
HAT - TILLEY, PHOTOGRAPHED AT MOUNT RUSHMORE NATONAL MEMORIAL - THANK TO MY HUBBIE 😊
Don’t forget to pack the things you’ll need when nature prevails. The list will differ by location, but for our western U.S. road trip, it included mosquito repellant, bear spray, bear bags, sunscreen, headlamps, sunglasses and those beloved baseball and sun hats - as well as hand sanitizer and face masks for indoor activities.
DO: Pack functional footwear
shoes - converse, chuck taylor, photographed at grand teton national park
The term “if the shoe fits, wear it” might have been made for adventure holidays. There’s little more satisfying than knowing that whatever your day may bring, your shoes are up to it. Lots of blogs say you can get away with running shoes on hikes, and that may be true. But for climbing rock faces for a fab photo of the kids or striding confidently up steep hills, I found hiking shoes reassuring.
shoes - merrell, photographed at taggart lake in grand teton natoinal park
Tevas are great multitaskers - rambling: Yes! Getting wet: Yes! Going to dinner: Yes! (thanks, SS2020 fashion gods for labeling functional sandals ‘trendy’). Because our RV had a spare shoe bin, I rounded things out with a pair of crocheted aka airy Converse (perfect for pavements and boardwalks) and some molded footbed sandals for town. Ah, all comfort, all the time 😊.
DON’T: Wait until your trip to break in shoes
pants - columbia, photographed at mammoth hot springs
Sometimes a trip calls for something new. You’ll be hiking in 80-degree temps but only have winter hiking boots. Your strappy sandals are perfect for town but offer zero support off-road. OK, off to the shops we go – but hopefully not too close to our trip. Yes, reviews can help us narrow things down, but they can’t guarantee any one style will suit you.
Taking gear out for a test run is the only way to do that. As you may recall from the pre-trip blog, I wore my Tevas for walks in the woods (to the chagrin of my husband) weeks before donning them in Yellowstone. That assured me I wouldn’t suffer the rubbing some reviewers report – although it didn’t protect me from ribbing by my husband!
DO: Bring some of the comfort and convenience of home
The moment my husband laid down to test our RV bed he sighed, got up and rushed out to buy a mattress topper. Comfy beds are not the crowning glory of camping, so mitigating potential sleep misery is key. Eye masks for bright mornings, ear plugs for noisy nights – even a hot water bottle for chilly nights – can be sleep saviors.
photographed at mocassin springs natural mineral spa, hot springs
While space is at a premium while camping, some comforts of home are worth the RV real estate. What would be your indulgences? Mine included a yoga mat, running shoes, slippers (that RV floor is not so lovely) and kids’ books, art supplies, and toys. This Lego storage bag and play mat, for example, kept bricks under control.
DON’T: Forget to stock your RV
photographed inside our cruise america rv
RV’s come with physical space but nothing more. You even have to rent dishes if you want them. So, it’s helpful to plan which things you can bring from home and which you’ll want to buy ahead of time in a travel or disposible version. Bedding, hangers, toiletries, coolers, paper products, cleaning products, laundry and dish detergent, ziplocks, first aid and emergency kits, flash lights, cooking utensils, and food can all be easily brought from the house. But you may need to add travel or disposable versions of items like towels, glasses, dishware, cutlery, car chargers and power inverters and back-up batteries for electronics.
I hope these tips have been helpful and that, wherever this summer takes you, you feel prepared to have a wonderful time. Please share your own road trip tips or experiences with a comment. Thanks and drive safe!
