Use this free universal packing list for any trip, including road and city trips or lengthier hiking, international, or beach getaways.
I am on a constant quest to streamline all the prep that needs to happen before travel. And am a fan of getting there and having fun, not of all the tiresome things that need to happen before we leave.
So, I created this family-friendly universal packing list, ideal for carry-on or checked-bag travelers. Find the downloadable and printable list below.
Put away the panic of pre-trip prep with this printable packing list. I love reusable and comprehensive checklists because they let me turn my overloaded brain off and go fully automatic when getting ready for a trip.
Download or print the easier-to-read packing list plus a medical kit with a larger font size that prints to three pages. Or opt to download and print the same list with a smaller font that prints to two pages.
Download and print the list. Write the number of each item needed. Check off the items as you pack them. Because I designed the list to include several types of travelers—solo, business, family, and long-term—depending on which type you are and whether you plan to travel light or check a bag, you may not need every item listed.
love to travel?Which camp you fall into—carry-on or checked bag—when you fly depends heavily on your travel preferences and priorities.
Most frequent travelers I know are strictly carry-on only for these five reasons:
However, we are firmly a checked-bag family. We choose to check bags for these reasons:
Although we have experienced complications with delayed or damaged checked bags over the years, the issues have yet to be insurmountable. And sometimes, baggage delays when they happen—lead to unexpected shopping trips and memorable souvenirs.
Plus, since we always carry valuables and essential items with us, avoid problematic connecting flights, and always buy trip insurance, which includes lost baggage coverage, we feel comfortable continuing to roll the dice and taking a chance checking our bags.
When I travel independently with friends, especially on shorter trips, I almost exclusively fly carry-on. My preferred TSA-compliant bag is the hybrid wheeled Osprey 36 Fairview. I like the flexibility it offers, to pull it along or carry it like a backpack. The men’s version is the Osprey Farpoint 36. Also viewable on the Osprey website.
The type and number of clothes, pairs of shoes, and accessories you will want to bring depend on the duration of your travel, the expected forecast at your destination, your planned activities, and whether you plan to carry on or check a bag.
See a list of items to consider bringing in each category below, with some suggestions for my preferred high-performing travel brands.
I am not a big cruiser, but I know plenty of travelers who are. When I need to remember what to bring on a ship trip, especially in the Caribbean, I rely on this list from another blogger.
Athleta and KÜHL are my two favorite high-quality travel and fitness apparel brands I can interchangeably wear with everyday non-performance clothing items. Check out this review of several men’s and women’s KÜHL items. Or shop for items here.
In addition, I like to shop at the sister-owned athletic boutique, Lively Athletics, which is local and carries several independent activewear and footwear designers in-store and on its website.
To maximize your packing space, consider using compression packing cubes. I love this National Park set from Tripped, or this transparent cube set for easy viewing. Or opt for this less expensive non-compression alternative.