How to Pack an Overnight Bag

Co-authored by Sarah McDonald

Last Updated: February 16, 2023 References Approved

The great thing about overnight trips is just that--they’re only overnight! You spend less time packing and more time working, or relaxing with friends and family. There are a few essentials you’ll need, like fresh clothes and some key toiletries, and by packing efficiently and lightly you’ll be on your way in no time. You might be thinking that that's easy, let's just not read the article but this article is actually very useful. You don't want to forget something necessary. Do you?

Packing List

Sample Overnight Bag Packing List

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Choosing Your Clothes

1
Look up the weather at your destination. If you’re traveling to a different city, see if rain, cold, or extreme heat are in the forecast. Tailor your clothing decisions to the conditions you’ll be in. This is extremely important because nobody wants to end up sick when travelling.
- If it’s raining, plan on bringing an umbrella or raincoat, and leave behind your best leather shoes if you’ll be walking around outside. If the temperatures look high during the day and night, you can save room in your bag by leaving behind your heavy jacket.
2
Choose what to wear the first day. Wear something comfortable if you’ll be traveling on the plane or in a car, like a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. Pack something nicer for the first night if you have an event or will be going out to dinner, like a dress for women or slacks and a button-down shirt for men.

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3
Pack one pair of night shoes and one pair for the day. To save extra space, wear your day shoes the first day, while traveling. If you have a fancier event that night, pack a pair of nicer shoes, such as heels for women or dress shoes for men. You can wear your day shoes the next day to travel in.^{[1]
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4
Wear your travel clothes the next day if possible. If you plan to get up and travel the following day, save space by wearing the casual clothes you travelled in yesterday. This might give you room to sneak in a second pair of shoes, or a hair straightener.
5
Bring a nicer outfit if you’ll be going out to lunch or brunch.^{[2]
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Expert Source

Sarah McDonald
Certified Stylist & Image Consultant
Expert Interview. 26 August 2021.} Women can bring along a pair of capris and a blouse. Men should opt for a polo shirt and slacks.
- When it comes to packing, planning is essential. Be mindful of the events you have coming up and make sure your dress code is right for the occasion. ^{[3]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Sarah McDonald
  Certified Stylist & Image Consultant
  Expert Interview. 26 August 2021.}
6
Pack a pair of clean underwear and socks. This is a must for obvious reasons! Since you’re only staying for one night, there’s usually no need to bring more than one extra pair of each. If you anticipate rainy weather, throw two pairs of socks in your bag in case one gets wet.
7
Choose some lightweight pajamas. Bring a long-sleeved shirt and pants if your destination will be chilly, otherwise opt for something smaller and thinner, like a nightgown or a T-shirt and boxers. This will save space and keep you cool while you sleep.^{[4]
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8
Slip in some accessories. Jewelry is lighter and smaller than clothes and can dress up a plain outfit in a heartbeat. For a colder climate, throw in a scarf, or wear it while traveling.^{[5]
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- To keep a jewelry chain from knotting, place it in a plastic bag and pull just a bit of the chain out. Zip up the bag tightly around the piece of chain, but leave it sticking out of the top.
9
Bring a bathing suit if you’ll be doing any swimming. Will you be staying at a hotel with a pool, or nearby a beach? Your swimsuit is lightweight and doesn’t take up too much room. If there’s a chance you’ll be swimming, bring it along to be safe.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Choosing Toiletries and Small Items

1
Include only toiletry must-haves. Bring your toothbrush, toothpaste, floss and deodorant for sure. If you’ll be wearing makeup, bring along some makeup wipes and your normal facial cleanser. Ask your hotel if they provide shampoo, conditioner and soap, or, if you’re staying with a friend, ask to borrow some of theirs.^{[6]
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2
Do your hair and makeup before you leave. If your travel time is short, save space in your bag by styling your hair and putting on makeup before you head out. Bring only what you need to touch up, like a bit of styling mousse or some lipstick.
3
Avoid packing larger beauty items. Big bottles of shampoo, hair straighteners and blow dryers will take up lots of room in your bag, so leave them behind if you can. Call your hotel and ask if blow dryers are included in rooms, or, if you’re staying with a friend, ask if they own a straightener or curling iron you can use. Transfer liquid products into smaller containers to avoid bringing large bottles.
4
Tuck away other small items in a separate bag. Use an extra makeup bag or plastic bag to avoid losing phone chargers, headphones or keys.
- Keep cords from tangling by rolling each one into a circle or oval, then clipping it together with a binder clip.
5
Bring activities if you’ll be on a plane or in a car for a long time. Grab a book or a lightweight tablet if you’ll be traveling for a while, or charge up your phone to play games or music. Grab a thin book of crossword puzzles, sudoku or word searches for boredom-banishing activities you can take on the go.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Fitting It All In

1
Choose a small bag. You’ll only be gone for the night, so keep your bag small, lightweight and easy to carry, like a backpack, small duffel or roll-aboard bag. Many luggage retailers sell “weekend” bags for both men and women, which are small but roomy and have thick straps for carrying.^{[7]
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2
Place your shoes at the bottom or along the side of the bag. Make sure the soles of the shoes are facing the side of the bag so you don’t get dirt on your clothes.
3
Roll or fold your jeans, shirts and dresses. Your have a couple packing options with your clothes: you can roll them into cylinders, or fold them flat at the bottom of the bag. Stack a heavy jacket first, if you have one, followed by jeans, dresses and finally shirts.
- If you're packing a blazer or a suit, try to keep it in a garment bag to avoid wrinkles and damages.^{[8]
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  Expert Source
  
  Sarah McDonald
  Certified Stylist & Image Consultant
  Expert Interview. 26 August 2021.}
4
Check if your shirts or dresses will need to be ironed. Dressier shirts made of a starchy material often need to be ironed out after being folded. Call ahead to your hotel to see if irons will be provided in rooms. If not, bring along an anti-wrinkle spray.
- If possible, pack a wrinkle spray to avoid problems with wrinkled clothes.^{[9]
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  Expert Source
  
  Sarah McDonald
  Certified Stylist & Image Consultant
  Expert Interview. 26 August 2021.}
5
Stuff your socks in bras or sneakers. Use your socks to keep the shape of bra cups or stuff them into the toes of sneakers or high heels.^{[10]
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6
Pack toiletries in a small bag. If you don’t have a small makeup bag or toiletry kit on-hand, use a ziploc bag. If you’re bringing liquids, like shampoo or hairspray, transfer just a bit of product into an empty travel-size container to save space in your luggage.^{[11]
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- Seal your liquids away so they won’t ruin your clothes if there’s a spill.
7
Fill a gallon-size ziploc bag with snacks. If you’ll be traveling for a while or aren’t sure what food will be available upon arrival, bring a couple easy-to-pack snacks, like pretzels, apples, or carrot sticks.

Community Q&A

Question

What should I bring if I'll be sitting outside, or swimming in a pool?

Community Answer

Check the weather at your destination and pack accordingly. If it's hot, you'll want lightweight and light-colored clothing to keep you cool, like a tank top, shorts, or a loose sundress. You may also want sunglasses, a hat, or sunscreen. If the weather looks chilly, or if it often cools down at night, bring a jacket, light sweater or cardigan to pull on. If you'll be swimming, of course be sure to bring your swimsuit, sunscreen, a hat, and a pullover to wear over your suit. Ask if there will be towels at your destination, and if not, grab one before you go.
Question

We are taking our car on the trip. Should I bring snacks, a pillow or a blanket?

Community Answer

If you'll be driving for more than an hour and a half and don't plan on stopping for meals, it's a good idea to bring along some travel-friendly snacks, like trail mix, pretzels, or fruit. If you or a passenger will be sleeping on the drive, throw in a pillow and blanket if you have room--you can always leave it in the car once you get to your destination. If you don't have space, use a sweatshirt as a pillow and a jacket as a blanket.
Question

What do I bring if I am an 11 year old?

Community Answer

Some essentials include pajamas, toilet and entertainment like board games, crafts, etc. If you are staying for longer, you can also bring a change of clothes for the next day. If there are other circumstances, like if you are going to sleep in a sleeping bag, on a mattress, etc., you could also consider bringing a pillow and blanket. Be sure to ask for information ahead of time, so you have specific information.