Traveling Light: A Packing List for a Weekend in the Mountains of Southern West Virginia

Unpacking everything that went in my carry-on for a weekend in Southern West Virginia

Who doesn’t love a good road trip?

The open road, the excuse to eat all the snacks you want, a great audiobook, and the ability to detour as your heart pleases…

Driving certainly offers benefits over flying, in some instances. And best of all, your only packing limitations are what can reasonably fit in your vehicle.

Except – things can get messy and overwhelming when you can just toss it all in the backseat.

Perhaps it’s just that I’m so used to flying, but I can’t shake the habit of packing only a carry-on bag or smaller for any weekend trip, no matter the activities.

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Near-triple-digit temps left us fleeing to the mountains of West Virginia last month, and despite an itinerary that consisted of both active and leisure activities, I still felt inclined to contain everything I’d need within my mini carry-on suitcase.

It’s not often you see such an adventurous packing list on the blog (most of my packing lists tend to be a bit more indoorsy!) – so I couldn’t skip sharing my West Virginia packing list with you today.

Here’s everything I packed in my carry-on for three days/two nights in West Virginia (well, except for my hiking boots – living in NC, those live in my trunk for impromptu excursions!):

WEST VIRGINIA SUMMER PACKING LIST

Cropped Athletic Top | Athletic Tank* | Cotton Tank℅ | Cotton Tee | Midi Dress | Bike Shorts | Wool Leggings℅ | Wool Culottes℅ | Shorts℅ | Light Jacket* | Maxi Dress℅ | Hiking Boots | Leather Sneakers℅ | Leather Sandals℅ (Save 20% with code WAYWARDBLOG) | Sunglasses | Leather Belt | Crossbody Bag

SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA OUTFITS

Alyssa wears a white tank, tan shorts, and sneakers — Cotton Tank℅ | Shorts℅ | Leather Belt | Leather Sneakers℅ | Socks℅ (save 10% with code WAYWARD) | Sunglasses | Necklace | Hoop Earrings | Stud Earrings | Crossbody Bag

Alyssa wears a set of athletic wear and hiking boots — Cropped Athletic Top | Bike Shorts | Socks℅ (save 10% with code WAYWARD) | Hiking Boots | Light Jacket* | Sunglasses | Hoop Earrings | Stud Earrings

Alyssa swings on an Almost Heaven swing at Bluestone Lake — Maxi Dress℅ | Leather Sandals℅ (Save 20% with code WAYWARDBLOG) | Sunglasses

Alyssa wears hiking gear at Turkey Spur — Athletic Tank* | Wool Leggings℅ | Socks* | Hiking Boots | Sunglasses

Alyssa wears a green top with brown shorts — Cotton Tee | Shorts℅ | Leather Belt | Leather Sneakers℅ | Sunglasses | Necklace | Hoop Earrings | Stud Earrings | Crossbody Bag

Alyssa wears a black Quince dress — Midi Dress | Leather Sandals℅ (Save 20% with code WAYWARDBLOG) | Sunglasses | Crossbody Bag | Necklace

*this item is no longer available and a similar one is linked

WHY I CHOSE THESE ITEMS

Beautiful summer weather in this region meant it was such a treat to be outdoors, feeling the warmth of the sun and the cool breeze on my skin. I chose to lean into the comfort with my day outfits (shorts and culottes – reviewed here) and to embrace the ease in the evening with some one-and-done dresses and sandals (reviewed here).

Looking for more packing list inspiration? Check out my packing lists by season: Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter

Beyond the day-to-day outfits, I needed technical clothing that could handle all the time we spent out on the trails and the water. A matching top and shorts moved swiftly between the two, and a pair of odor-free wool leggings were a smart choice for a morning hike in the mountains. A warranty-guaranteed pair of sunglasses offered a little peace of mind on rugged hikes. And surprisingly, packing a light jacket was a great idea – I wore it more often than I expected (and was happy to tuck it in my crossbody bag when I warmed up!).

FINAL THOUGHTS ON PACKING FOR A WEEKEND IN WEST VIRGINIA

I shared my clothing, shoes, and accessories in the graphic above, but a few other items should be on your packing list for West Virginia, too:

Bug Spray | The bugs were pretty chill during our visit, but you can never be too careful.
Sunscreen | It turns out that splurging on a nicer brand of sunscreen makes me more likely to wear it – but no matter your favorite brand, toss a tube in your bag. You’re going to want to be in the sun as much as possible!
Hat | I skipped over my packable straw hat in favor of a sporty cap to keep the sun out of my eyes, and highly recommend keeping one in the car with you on any road trip.
Waterproof shoes | My hiking boots are waterproof, but it’s handy to have a pair of lightweight sneakers on hand for any water activities (these are my favorite – they’re budget friendly and look like regular sneakers).
Beyond these outdoor essentials, you might also consider packing an action camera to capture your memories!

Overall, packing for a highly outdoorsy trip like this is easy, so long as you pack clothing that is appropriate for each activity. Re-wearing active clothing isn’t as good of an idea as re-wearing sightseeing clothing, so make sure you either have enough outfits on hand or access to laundry facilities during your time in West Virginia. Style-wise, comfort and function are prioritized above aesthetics – and frankly, I think that makes all of your activities even more enjoyable.

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Questions for you:

Do you prefer to fly or drive to a destination?

How does your packing process change for a road trip vs. flying?

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