How to Stay Organized When Packing for Vacation

Packing for vacation can be stressful, especially if you save it for the last minute. After our fair share of travel these past couple years, I’ve learned how to best manage that potential chaos. Learn more about How to Stay Organized When Packing for Vacation below!

packing cubes in a suitcase

1. Create a Spreadsheet

Okay, I know you are thinking… Chelsea, chill. Please hear me out. Every time we take a trip I use the same little planner spreadsheet. I write down things like the weather, what we plan to do, when our flights will be, etc. Having this to easily reference while I’m packing makes my life so much easier.

2. Keep a Basket Nearby

Something I do before vacation is keep a little basket in my closet of things I want to take on the trip. As I see items in the laundry or things around the house, I toss them in that basket. Then everything is more consolidated for when I go to pack.

3. Lay Out Clothes By the Day

When I start to pack for a trip, I lay all our clothes out for each day. I might even use little note cards that say “Day 1-Travel” or “Day 4-Beach Day.” I’m a visual learner and processor, so having everything laid out helps me check things off the list.

4. Keep a Vacation Checklist

Last week I finally made a vacation checklist that we will use on all future trips. I’m always forgetting something when I pack, so having a master checklist helps me not forget things like chargers or hair ties or sunscreen.

5. Pack in Advance

I start packing for trips sometimes up to a month early. I just keep my suitcase in the closet or laid out in the guest room and slowly work on it over time. Not only does it keep me excited for upcoming travel, but it saves me the stress of packing everything last minute.

How to Stay Organized When Packing for Vacation

Thank you for reading How to Stay Organized When Packing for Vacation. I hope they will help you on your next family vacation. For more helpful tips, be sure to read the additional content below:

5 Things to Help Plan a Disney World Vacation
How to Create a Relaxing but Fun Family Vacation
How to Entertain a Toddler at Universal Studios Orlando

If you have any questions feel free to send me an email or message on Instagram. Follow @gentryjourneys on Pinterest for more travel tips and tricks and don’t forget to subscribe below for new content every week!

Safe Travels,