What Luggage Do You Need for a Road Trip?

For a summer holiday by car, flexible, soft travel bags that adapt to the irregular shape of the boot work best, complemented by packing cubes for order and structure. Unlike air travel, there's no strict weight limit in the car, nor the 100 millilitre rule for liquids – all the more reason to make good use of the available boot space.

Why a Road Trip Is the Perfect Alternative to Flying

The typical restrictions of air travel simply don't apply on a road trip. Anyone travelling by car can pack full-size toiletries, bring along more clothing on a whim, avoid extra baggage fees, and stay independent of flight times and connections when it comes to the route.

Cost also speaks in favour of the car for many families: precisely because flight tickets have become noticeably more expensive, a road trip only involves fuel and, where applicable, toll costs instead of a per-person ticket price, shared across everyone travelling. To keep the road trip relaxed, one thing pays off above all: a well-thought-out packing system for the boot.

What Belongs in the Boot for a Summer Holiday?

How much clothing and gear you bring depends on trip length and family size – the overview below shows what belongs in each category and how best to pack it:

The Right Travel Bag for the Car

For air travel, shape-stable hard-shell suitcases are often the better choice, since they protect contents from knocks on the baggage carousel. Different rules apply in the car: what matters most here is how flexibly travel bags adapt to the irregular shape of the boot.

• Soft travel bags can be squashed down and adapt to gaps between other pieces of luggage – ideal for making use of every centimetre of boot space.
• Empty weight plays a lesser role in the car, though lightweight material is still worthwhile so nothing becomes unnecessarily heavy when loading and unloading.
• Sturdy, water-repellent outer fabrics protect the contents if the bag briefly stands outside during a stopover or it rains while loading. For camping or outdoor trips, a duffel in this material is especially hard-wearing.
• Sturdy carry handles and optional wheels make it easier to transport the bag from the car to the hotel room or campsite.
• Travel bags with backpack function: with pull-out padded shoulder straps, you can comfortably carry the travel bag on your back when needed
• Weekender or backpack: for overnight stays or day trips during the holiday, a lightweight weekend bag or backpack is handy for leaving the main luggage in the car or at your accommodation.

Packing Cubes: Order in the Boot Instead of Chaos

Packing cubes are at least as useful for car trips as they are for flying. They save a lot of space through compression and optimise organisation within travel bags and the boot. Thanks to the modules, you never lose track of things, your clothes stay crease-free, and you can pull out exactly what you need without turning the rest of the luggage upside down.

• Sort by person: one set per family member means nothing needs to be rummaged through when unpacking.
• Sort by category: alternatively, separate packing cubes for swimwear, underwear, and shoes.
• Separate worn from fresh clothing: a dedicated cube for already-worn items keeps the rest of the luggage clean and odour-neutral.
• Roll clothing instead of folding it: rolled clothing makes better use of the space in the cube and also picks up fewer creases than folded items.
• Mesh panels: packing cubes with a mesh viewing window show the contents at a glance without having to open the cube.
• Compression packing cubes have two zips: the first closes the cube as normal, the second, outer one compresses the contents further and creates more space.
• Colour coding by person or category speeds up finding things again without having to open every cube.

Toiletry Bag for the Car Trip

One big advantage of car travel: the 100 millilitre rule for liquids in hand luggage disappears entirely. That means full-size toiletries can go straight into the toiletry bag, so decanting into small travel sizes isn't strictly necessary.

• Wet-dry separation: a toiletry bag with a separate, waterproof compartment keeps damp items like a toothbrush or razor away from dry things.
• For hanging up: models with a hook are especially handy when the washroom surface at a campsite or holiday home is limited.
• Sturdy, wipeable materials forgive a leaked shampoo bottle without stains spreading onto other pieces of luggage.
• Clear compartments for small items like contact lenses, plasters, or medication save time searching while on the go.

For families, a larger toiletry bag per adult plus a more compact model for children is recommended.

Loading the Boot Correctly: Order and Weight Distribution

Even the best kit does little good if the boot is loaded incorrectly. Following this order keeps everything securely stowed and within reach:

1. Place heavy equipment barely needed during the drive (e.g. travel bags with clothing) at the very bottom, ideally centred over the rear axle.
2. Stack packing cubes on top – their uniform shape allows for especially space-efficient arrangement.
3. Plan for the cool bag and food to be in an easily accessible spot.
4. Place toiletry bags, a change of clothes for stopovers, and rain jackets on top, or in a boot net pocket.
5. Always keep emergency equipment and the hi-vis vest on top and within reach, never letting them disappear under other luggage.

Avoiding Traffic Jams: How to Arrive More Relaxed

The ADAC observes a recurring pattern year after year: traffic on the motorways is at its densest on the first and second weekends after the start of the holidays, when several federal states begin their summer break at the same time – especially heading south and towards the coasts. The weekends shortly before the end of the holidays, when the wave of returning holidaymakers sets in, also count among the most congested dates of the year.

• Travel day: according to the ADAC, Tuesday to Thursday are usually noticeably more relaxed than Friday afternoon or Saturday morning.
• Time of day: set off early in the morning or later in the evening to avoid rush-hour traffic and midday heat.
• Route: check current traffic forecasts and roadworks information before setting off, for example via the ADAC traffic information service or a navigation app with live data.
• Breaks: plan a break every two hours – this eases the load not just on the driver, but also on restless children in the back seat.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Road Trip Luggage