How to Pack Like a Minimalist: 10 Tips for Traveling Light

Before minimalism, the mere mention of travel invoked one response: stress. 

A road trip involved our family of four stuffing every “just in case” possession into oversized, difficult-to-maneuver suitcases that barely fit in our limited trunk space and then exploded upon opening at our destination. 

An overstuffed suitcase became a pending cascade of stuffed animals, diapers, library books, accessories, umbrellas, umpteen pairs of shoes… all ready to overtake the confines of our small hotel room the minute we arrived. 

It was chaotic. It was stressful.

The vibe was far from vacation-esque. 

But being that travel is one of my first loves, this never sat well. I’d spent some of my twenties “country hopping” with just a small suitcase—from Egypt to southern Spain to Northern Ireland. 

How had travel come to this?

As our family gravitated toward minimalism, we began to realize we could pack lighter. Much lighter. 

First, we stopped overstuffing our large suitcases. Then, we began traveling with only carry-ons. Now, each member of our family of six travels with only his/her own backpack.

Traveling with less stuff has freed us to enjoy the destination—and each other’s company—more. Travel now feels less like work and more like leisure thanks to minimalist packing.

And it can for you too.

Here are 10 ways to pack like a minimalist:

1. Shift your perspective

The first step to packing like a minimalist is to believe that you can. If you identify as a chronic suitcase-overstuffer, only you can change that. Whether you are single or have seven kids, you can travel light. 

Truth is, you need less than you think you do to be happy. Traveling with fewer possessions in tow is a powerful way to experience this truth.

2. Think ahead realistically 

Packing like a minimalist requires intentionality and planning. Ask yourself what you will actually need on your trip. I used to think of every hypothetical travel situation before deciding what to bring. Like, what if we get stuck in the car and need to survive on the side of the road for three days? 

While planning serves a purpose, planning for every worst-case-scenario does not. If you go down the “what if” spiral, tell someone your thoughts aloud. Should I bring the thermometer in case our kids get sick? Yes. Should I pack an umbrella for every person in our family in case it’s raining and we want to be outside? No.

Decide what you need, and then trust that you will have what you need when you need it.

3. Rent or purchase needed items at your destination

Consider what you can buy or rent when you get to your destination. 

Reconsider strapping the kayak on your car if you’re only going to use it one hour and have the opportunity to rent one. Think twice before checking a bag full of diapers on a flight if you can easily grab some near your destination. 

Call ahead to where you’ll be staying (or check an amenities list) and see what they already provide. A bit of planning ahead in this way can save you valuable space.

4. Use what you already have

Before minimalism, I used to think I needed new outfits or purses before a trip. As though my current wardrobe and accessories wouldn’t support me in a different place. The day before leaving, I’d often hit Target and browse clothing racks while thinking, “This would be cute to wear on vacation.”

Truth is, whatever you currently wear at home is the perfect outfit for your vacation. You don’t need anything new to enjoy your trip. 

The only exception would be purchasing travel-sized toiletries if you don’t already own them. They are a must for flying with a carry on and save significant space on road trips.

5. Set boundaries 

Travel comes with built-in boundaries. A carry on or backpack can only contain so much. Choose the bag you will bring and then commit to packing within these boundaries.

Maintain these boundaries when traveling, as well. If you’re planning to buy a souvenir, then designate space in your bag for that ahead of time. If your bag of choice is stuffed, don’t plan on buying more.

Photos are my favorite souvenirs. Print one and display it instead of buying another coffee mug or kitchen magnet.

6. Experiment with packing a smaller bag 

On a recent, week-long road trip to an Arkansas state park, I packed four backpacks for five people (our youngest two kids shared a backpack and my husband did his own packing). The benefits were amazing. Our children could carry their own bag and could find their own outfits without digging through a shared suitcase. 

I prefer to roll clothing instead of using a compression packing cube when packing backpacks. Packing cubes make the backpacks heavier, and I haven’t found them necessary. If clothes arrive wrinkled, most hotels have an iron, or I can dampen clothing and hang them up to release wrinkles.

7. Consider outfits

Packing like a minimalist requires versatile outfits. When all of your tops and bottoms go together, a few items result in multiple outfit combinations. Last trip I packed five tops, running shorts, hiking shorts, a skirt, a swimsuit, pjs, running shoes and Teva sandals. Bring shoes that go with any outfit and wear the bulkiest ones during travel. 

Be ready to repeat outfits if needed. Truth is, no one cares if you’re wearing something you wore two days ago (or yesterday!). Studies show the most someone thinks about you is usually 10 seconds. Then they often resume thinking about themselves. 

8. Have a laundry plan

If you’re packing lightly, you’ll need a plan for washing your clothes. Will there be a washer and dryer at your destination? When there’s no washer and dryer, I pack a travel clothesline and a bar of castile soap and wash a few pieces in the sink each morning as needed. 

9. Observe rather than expect

Packing like a minimalist means you’re not bringing items for every possible scenario. This allows you to approach travel in observation mode—a mindset that makes travel even more of an adventure. You see what is instead of calculating what could be.

You don’t know what will come your way during travel, but you trust you can problem-solve your way through it. Letting go of expectations helps you stay in the moment, which is where life is enjoyed. 

10. Let traveling light inspire you 

Packing like a minimalist and thriving with less stuff while away from home teaches you that life-giving lesson mentioned in point #1: you need less than you think you do to be happy. (And so do your kids). 

How could this translate to your home environment? If you didn’t need all that stuff on the road, it’s likely you don’t really need it all at home. Let traveling light lead to questioning your belongings and jettisoning the excess in your life.

Author Antoine de Saint-Exupery said, “He who would travel happily must travel light.”

In my experience, this is true. Traveling with less stuff frees you to more fully enjoy the journey, destination, and people traveling alongside you.

Life parallels a road trip; it’s a journey. But unlike annual excursions, when it comes to life, we just get one.

Here’s to traveling through it lightly. With less stuff, less stress, more presence, and more adventure.