What to Wear on a Long Road Trip

I have taken several long road trips. For the purposes of this blog post I am going to break it down into two different types of long road trips. The first one is what to wear on a long road trip in terms of a road trip that lasts several days. The other list that I will include is what to wear if you are planning to spend a long time in the car in one particular drive. Both of these lists will be geared towards comfort.

You can find other packing lists on my website. This includes a list of items that you can in a road trip gift basket, a list of road trip essentials, and also a list of road trip must haves. Travel safe my friends!

What To Wear of a Long Road Trip (Several Days on the Road)

Underwear

Make sure that you bring at least one pair of underwear for everyday that you are going to be one the road (within reason). I usually pack a few pairs beyond that. There are a few reasons for that such as surprise periods that traveling can sometimes invoke. You could end up spilling something and have to change your clothes. Overall this is just a sanitation issue and you want to be clean. If you plan to be gone for several months I wouldn’t suggest packing 90 pairs. Just wash every week or so.

Slip on Shoes

I often have a pair of flip flops or slides with me. This is especially useful for those long stretches on the road where you aren’t really stopping. This way you can easily pop them on and off.

T-Shirts

I like to layer my clothes and T-shirts are really good for that. They are also super easy to pick up on the road if you don’t want to over pack. They easily will fit over an undershirt if you get hot and also under a jacket if you get cold.

Jackets of Different Thickness

I will often include a rain jacket for if the weather changes, a hoodie, and also a zip up jacket. There are times in the middle of the day when the sun starts coming through the windows and even air condition can’t keep you cold. There are also temperature drops at night, different temperatures in restaurants, and just overall comfort. I will even include a couple of those light sweaters from Old Navy.

A Pair of Sneakers

There are a few reasons why you will want sneakers. If you plan to do a lot of walking then you will want a good pair of close toed shoes. There are also cities that I have walked around that aren’t the cleanest and I try to keep my feet covered. If you are like me and you have a membership to a gym that is in several locations then you may want to work in a workout.

At Least One Nice Outfit

Seriously, you never know when you might want to go to a sit down restaurant. During these times I will typically opt for a dress, light sweater, and a pair of flats. You can wear heels if that is your thing but I’m not trying to impress anyone.

What to Wear on a Long Road Trip (6 of More Hours in the Car)

I have done up to 15 hours in the car in one shot. It was miserable and I would not recommend it, but I made it work. The goal for any road trip where you are going to be in the car for a long time is going to be versatile comfort. What I mean by this is that you want to be comfortable in the car but also be able to walk into a store and not look like a full disgrace.

I would not recommend you driving in your pajamas, in a head scarf, or anything else that you wouldn’t normally wear in public. You have to get food to eat, you may want to do a little bit of shopping, and also get gas. Let’s start at the base level, your underthings.

I travel in a sports bra over a wired bra. This way I can stay in it for a long time without it cutting into my sides. There are few things worse than a bra burning your skin right off your body. I also go for soft underwear that is breathable and isn’t going to cause chafing or dig into my inner thighs.

Your Outer Things

I typically travel in workout clothes. This is a great option because it is comfortable but also decent enough that you can go into a store and not look a complete hot mess. When you are traveling there is a good chance that you will stumble upon a place that is dirty in some way.

For these instances I make sure that I always have some closed toed shoes on. Infection is a thing. I really try to avoid flip flops or any other type of shoe where my toes are exposed to trash, glass, or anything else that I don’t want to travel with me.

When I am driving for long stretches, then I will take my shoes off and keep a pair of slides with me just in case I have to jump out the car real quick. I will also try to keep some sort of hoodie/ sweat shirt in close proximity. The trick to long travel, in the car or otherwise, is to layer. I will often wear a thin camisole, t-shirt, and then have a jacket on standby. I like to wear leggings and will have a thicker pair of sweats if I am traveling in Winter.

The temperature drops will hit different when you are traveling in remote areas. It’s the same thing with the wind. Think about it, cities have buildings and paved roads that increase the temperature. When you get out in mountain areas, the plains, or the overall countryside, it can feel quite cold at night or early in the morning.

Tips to Make This Easier

If you are strapped for room then there are a few ways that you can make the most of your space. For one, you can always use packing cubes. If you can’t afford them then you can always use ziplocks and press the air out like a poor man’s space bags.

You can roll your socks and underwear up and stick them in your shoes to save room. I would suggest you grab a couple of those laundry soap travel packs. This way you can wash some clothes on the road. If you wash on the road then you can pack less. It is super easy to be able to find a laundry mat or to find lodging that has an available washer and dryer. You can also let your clothes dry on the back seat while you drive.

There you have it! A few tips about what to wear on a long road trip. Travel safe my friends! There is so much world out there to be seen.