Buzz
Perfect the skill of packing for overnight trips, and travel with ease
Heading out for an overnight trip but not sure what to pack? Don’t stress. The beauty of overnight travel is that it's brief. You can focus on enjoying your time, whether with friends, family, or solo, instead of worrying about overpacking. If you're unsure about how to prepare, you've found the right guide. Keep reading for a practical packing list, featuring tips on selecting the right clothes and toiletries. We’ll guide you on how to pack smartly so you can head out with minimal effort!
Overnight Essentials Checklist
- Two outfits—one for the first evening and another for the following day.
- A set of pajamas for a comfortable night's sleep.
- One or two pairs of shoes, depending on your plans.
- Travel-sized toiletries, such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, and any medications you regularly use.
- A compact purse or crossbody bag to carry your wallet, ID, and phone.
How to Pack: Step-by-Step Guide
Choosing Your Outfits
Pack an outfit for the first evening and another for the following day. For an overnight trip, you’ll need three outfits: the clothes you wear when you leave, something appropriate for your evening plans, and an outfit for the next day. It's always good to prepare in case you need to stay longer, but realistically, you can get by with just one extra shirt.
- For the travel day, choose something comfy like jeans or leggings and a T-shirt.
- If you plan on dining out or attending an event, pack a nicer outfit—think a blouse, button-down shirt, slacks, or even a dress.
- Always plan your outfits ahead of time based on the activities you’ll be doing and the dress code for each event.
Pack just one pair of pajamas. Since it’s only an overnight trip, there’s no need to overpack. A long-sleeve shirt and pajama pants are ideal if it's cool at your destination, or you could go for a lighter option like a T-shirt and shorts if the weather’s warm. This helps save space while keeping you comfy during the night.
Wear your travel shoes and pack a second pair. For a short trip, you'll usually need two pairs of shoes: one for everyday use and a second for special activities. Wear your go-to pair while traveling and pack the backup in your bag. If you don’t need a second pair, simply stick with the one you’re wearing!
- The second pair is only necessary for specific dress codes. For example, if you have a formal event, pack a nice pair of shoes—heels or dress shoes would be ideal.
Pack a pair of clean underwear and socks. Since it's only one night, you usually only need one pair of each. If you're worried about travel delays, consider packing an extra pair of underwear for peace of mind. Similarly, if rain is in the forecast, pack an additional pair of socks in case the first pair gets soaked.
Only pack the accessories you'll actually use to avoid cluttering your bag. Do you usually wear accessories such as jewelry, belts, watches, or sunglasses? Feel free to bring those along—but don’t overdo it! Think about your outfits and what accessories complement them best. Pack only those and leave the rest behind.
- Consider accessories based on the weather at your destination. For example, if it's cold, throw in a scarf or wear it while you travel.
- To prevent your jewelry from tangling, pack your jewelry in small plastic bags, pulling a little of the chain out. Close the bag tightly, leaving the chain sticking out for easy access.
Rewear your travel clothes for the return journey if possible. If you don’t have major plans for the next day except for heading home, there’s no need to pack another set of clothes. Simply wear your travel outfit again and save valuable space in your bag. This might even give you room for something extra—like an extra pair of shoes or a hair straightener!
- Whenever possible, bring multi-purpose items on your trips. A soft beach towel can double as a blanket, or you could bring a reusable water bottle instead of a disposable one.
Pack extra items like workout clothes or swimwear if needed. Are you staying somewhere with a pool or gym? Planning to visit a beach while you’re there? Swimsuits are lightweight and take up minimal space, so if swimming is on your agenda, pack one just in case. Workout gear might also be worth bringing, but only if you’re sure you’ll be using it.
Check the weather forecast at your destination before you pack. If you're heading somewhere overnight, it's crucial to check the weather for rain, cold, or heat using services like Weather.com. Then, choose your outfits based on the forecasted conditions. This will help you avoid being caught off guard or unprepared.
- If it’s rainy, pack an umbrella or raincoat, and leave your best leather shoes at home to avoid ruining them.
- If the weather is expected to be hot, opt for light and breathable clothing, and leave your bulky jacket behind to save space.
Prepare layered outfits to stay ready for any kind of weather. While checking the forecast is a great start, it's always a good idea to be prepared for unexpected changes in temperature. The solution? Layers! Pack clothing you can easily layer to adapt to varying conditions. For example:
- If you're bringing mostly warm-weather outfits, throw in a jacket in case the evenings get chilly.
- If it's going to be cold, layer a short-sleeve shirt under your sweater or jacket to easily adjust if the temperature rises or you get warm indoors.
Essential Toiletries & Small Items
Pack a small toiletry bag with just the essentials. You’ll need some basic toiletries like a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and deodorant. If you wear makeup, be sure to bring makeup wipes and your usual facial cleanser. Ask your hotel or host if they provide shampoo, conditioner, and body wash—if not, pack these too. Other items to consider include:
- Mouthwash
- Hairbrush
- Moisturizer
- Contact lenses and solution
- Razor and shaving cream
- Hair ties and bobby pins
- Shampoo, conditioner, and body wash (if these aren’t provided at your destination)
Prepare a small medicine kit. It’s always smart to be prepared for medical needs, even on short trips. Create a personal medicine kit with any prescriptions you take and over-the-counter remedies you might need on the go. For example, bring an antihistamine if it's allergy season or pain relievers like Tylenol if you tend to get headaches during travel.
- You don't need to carry full bottles of medicine for a short trip. Instead, fill a pill organizer with just the amount you'll need—or pack an extra dose if you’re concerned about running out.
Keep a portable hygiene kit handy while traveling. Good hygiene is key to staying healthy while traveling. Pack a small hygiene kit with essentials like hand sanitizer, wet wipes, tissues, a face mask, and—if needed—sanitary pads or tampons. This kit will help you stay fresh and clean during your trip.
- A small bottle of hand sanitizer is all you need—no need to carry a bulky one.
Limit your makeup to 10 products or less. Makeup can take up a lot of space, especially if you’re packing for just one night. Keep your collection minimal by packing only the essentials. If makeup is a part of your trip, stick to the top 10 products in your bag, including:
- Foundation
- Concealer
- Makeup sponge
- Eyeliner
- Mascara
- Lip gloss or lipstick
Pack only travel-size (or TSA-approved) toiletries. Large bottles of shampoo, hair tools, and blow dryers take up too much room. Transfer liquids into smaller, travel-size containers to save space, and check if your destination provides items like blow dryers so you don’t need to bring your own.
- Review the TSA guidelines for liquid, gel, and cream container sizes before flying. Even if you're not flying, using smaller containers can help you save packing space.
Stick to compact electronics unless your laptop is necessary for work. For overnight trips, heavy electronics are usually unnecessary. A phone or tablet can handle all your entertainment and needs, including apps and music. Leave behind gaming consoles, bulky headphones, or laptops unless work requires one. Instead, just bring your phone, charger, and earbuds.
- If you need your laptop for work, go ahead and pack it, but the aim is to travel as light as possible.
- Consider a power bank or portable charger to ensure your phone stays charged throughout your trip.
Prepare entertainment for travel if you’ll be on a plane or in a car for a while. Pack a book (or download one to your lightweight tablet), load some games on your phone, or create a playlist for music while you travel. If there’s space in your bag, you could also add a small book of puzzles like crosswords, sudoku, or word searches to keep you entertained on the road.
- Make sure your devices are fully charged before you head out!
Use a duffel bag, backpack, or large tote for your overnight items. Skip the bulky suitcase and choose a small, lightweight bag that’s easy to carry. A duffel, backpack, or large tote is ideal for an overnight trip. At most, a small roller bag will do. Packing light will help you stay efficient since your bag will only fit the essentials.
- Limit yourself to one travel bag for your overnight stay—more bags will only weigh you down. If you find yourself needing more space, downsize your packing to fit everything into fewer bags.
- For an overnight trip, you’ll want two bags: a purse or crossbody for your essentials and a larger bag for your clothes and toiletries.
Protect your shoes by covering them and placing them at the bottom of your bag. Even if your shoes look clean, they’ve been on the ground (unless they’re brand new). To prevent them from scuffing and to keep your clothes free from dirt, place your shoes inside a shoe bag or a plastic grocery bag before packing them at the bottom of your bag.
- If your bag is already packed and you’re trying to fit shoes in, place them along the side of the bag with the soles facing outward.
Roll each clothing item before packing it. To maximize space in your overnight bag, try rolling your clothes instead of folding them flat. For shirts, lay them out flat, fold the sleeves inward, and roll them tightly from the hem to the collar, smoothing wrinkles as you go. Do the same with pants and skirts—lay them flat, fold them, and roll them up, getting rid of wrinkles as much as possible.
- Folding your clothes works too if that’s your preference, but rolling is the most space-efficient for packing light.
- Save even more room by stuffing socks inside bras or sneakers—they’ll keep the shape of both your socks and your shoes during travel.
Sort your items using clear packing cubes and pouches. Before tossing everything into your overnight bag, organize your items into categories. Pack your rolled clothes in a clear packing cube, then place your toiletries in one clear pouch, medicine kit in another, and hygiene products in a third. This makes it easy to locate what you need quickly!
- Pack your clothes from heaviest to lightest—put jackets at the bottom, followed by pants, dresses, and shirts on top.
- If you’re packing a suit or blazer, keep it in a garment bag to prevent wrinkles and damage instead of tossing it in with everything else.
- If you’re concerned about wrinkles, consider bringing an anti-wrinkle spray to keep your clothes looking fresh.
Pack a smaller purse, crossbody, or foldable bag for easy access. If you’ll be on the go during your trip, you won’t want to carry your overnight bag everywhere. Instead, bring a smaller bag like a purse or crossbody to hold your phone, charger, earbuds, wallet, and ID cards. You can leave your overnight bag at the hotel once you arrive!
- If you have multiple charging cords, keep them from tangling by coiling them up and securing them with a binder clip.
- If there’s a chance you’ll get wet or visit the beach, pack an extra foldable bag to keep your wet clothes separate from your clean ones.
Pack snacks in a gallon-size Ziploc bag for long trips. When hunger strikes, you’ll be glad you’re prepared. If your travel time is long or you’re unsure of food availability at your destination, pack a few easy-to-carry snacks like pretzels, apples, or carrot sticks in a gallon-sized Ziploc bag.
Do your hair and makeup before leaving. For a short trip, save valuable space in your bag by styling your hair and applying makeup before you depart. That way, you’ll only need to bring a few essentials for touch-ups, like a bit of styling mousse or lipstick.
Be honest with yourself about what you’ll actually need versus what’s unnecessary. When packing, it’s easy to get caught up in all the “What ifs” and pack items for activities that may never happen. Keep your trip’s itinerary in mind and only bring what’s necessary for that specific plan. There’s no need to overpack for things you won’t be doing!
- For instance, if you’re attending a business conference overnight, you likely won’t have time for sightseeing, so leave the bulky walking shoes at home.
Overnight Packing Checklist
Sample Overnight Packing List-
If you're worried about missing something, consider creating a checklist and checking off each item as you pack it.
The advice in this section comes from the valuable experiences shared by Mytour readers. If you have any useful tips to offer, feel free to submit them in the field below on Mytour.
- If you're heading out on a camping trip, pack about 5 pairs of socks—even if you're only staying for one night. It may sound like a lot, but hiking or exploring around water could leave your shoes wet, and you’ll definitely want to switch to fresh socks.
- If you're off to the beach or staying at a house with a pool, don’t forget your swimsuit!
Essential Items You'll Need
- Overnight bag (duffle, backpack, tote)
- 2 outfits (evening and next day)
- Pajamas
- Toiletry kit
- Makeup and/or beauty products
- Hairbrush
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Dental floss
- Deodorant
- Clean underwear
- Clean socks
- Shoes
- Charging cables
- Books or travel activities
- Snacks
