{"id":21119,"date":"2023-06-15T00:00:02","date_gmt":"2023-06-15T04:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/?p=21119"},"modified":"2023-12-08T16:35:58","modified_gmt":"2023-12-08T21:35:58","slug":"storage-and-packing-how-tos-for-your-summer-road-trip","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cubesmart.com\/blog\/your-space\/organization\/storage-and-packing-how-tos-for-your-summer-road-trip\/","title":{"rendered":"Storage and Packing How Tos for Your Summer Road Trip"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Free Image via Pexels<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Planning on hitting the road this summer?\nYou\u2019re not alone. The AAA predicts that millions of Americans<\/a> will be foregoing the ever-rising expense of\nair travel in favor of four wheels. And why not? Road trips can be a relatively\nlow-cost option to see the country \u2013 and enjoy the ride while you\u2019re at it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019re planning on making road trips from NYC<\/a>, Chicago, Atlanta, or another big city \u2013 or just rambling from your small corner of the USA<\/a>, it\u2019s critical to be prepared\u2026and that includes properly packing and storing your belongings for the duration of the trip. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summer Car Storage Tips<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first step in deciding how to pack your vehicle for any upcoming journey is figuring out who\u2019s going to be on the trip. Driving for miles on your own is obviously going to look quite different than including your partner, kids, or pets. Every additional passenger adds more complexity \u2013 and more stuff \u2013 to the equation. Below, we\u2019ll tackle a few common scenarios. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Solo\nRoad Trip<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s\nface it: a solo road trip is your easiest option. Just you, your vehicle, and\nthe wide open road. As far as storage goes in the car, you\u2019re going to want to\nmake sure you have any items you might have immediate need for riding shotgun.\nAfter all, there\u2019s no one there to hand you a bottle of water, a snack, or a\nphone charger. We like this type of seat organizer<\/a> to keep everything nice and orderly, though\nyou can definitely DIY your own to save costs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep\nyour trunk well-sorted by packing light<\/a>. Try to keep it limited to one bag you can carry in and out of\nhotels, along with items like a first aid kit, emergency car kit, and extra\ncords, batteries, etc. to help ensure your safety.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Road Trip with Kids<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Free Image via Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Road\ntripping with kids really ups the intensity. All of a sudden you\u2019ve got to find\nroom for car seats, snacks, stuffies, you name it. There are a bunch of\ndifferent storage options on the market (check out this piece from The Container\nStore<\/a> for a great\nlist), so shop around to find one that best fits your family\u2019s needs and\nvehicle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When traveling with kids, it\u2019s important to have a first aid kit, toys, activities, wipes, paper towels, trash bags, wet bags, sick bags, blankets, pillows, entertainment, and more<\/em> at the ready. As far as summer car storage tips go, we recommend cleaning out your glove box and adding as many \u201cimmediately accessible\u201d items as possible to it. The last thing you want to do is be fumbling around on the side of the road for a band aid while your kid screams. Also, be sure to invest in seat protectors. Ask us how we know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Road\nTrip With Pets<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Free Image via Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When\nit comes to road trips, pets are, in many ways, similar to kids \u2013 except a lot\nhairier and more prone to peeing and pooping in the great outdoors. Note we\nsaid \u201cmore\u201d prone. You\u2019re going to need to pack and store your items\nthoughtfully to make sure that they (and you) have everything necessary for the\ntrip \u2013 and are comfortable throughout it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pets\ncan\u2019t tell you what they need, so be prepared with food, water, treats, toys,\nblankets or beds, and crates if necessary. Don\u2019t forget bowls to feed and water\nthem, as well as a leash and plenty of plastic bags for waste. Car leashes<\/a> are also an important investment to keep dogs\nas safe as possible in the event of an accident. Last but not least, it may\nalso be a good idea to get your dogs a dental cleaning before trips of any\nlength. Being in a closed space with a panting dog can quickly remind you of\nthe importance of canine dental hygiene. Ask us how we know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\nto Pack\u2026and What to Store<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Free Image via Pixabay<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019re taking a motorcycle, car, or RV, summer storage tips need to include advice for\nyour vehicle and<\/em> the home you\u2019ve left\nin the rearview. Following are some suggestions for both although, as with\nanything, your mileage may vary. Be sure to take your individual situation into\naccount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Road Trip Must-Haves<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Make\ncertain the following are up to date and easily located in your vehicle.\nThere\u2019s also a great list here<\/a> that includes more suggestions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n