It’s hard to believe that I’ve been back from my Alabama road trip for over a month now (and since then I’ve traveled to two other states and one other country!).
Back in March, Michael and I made the trek through Alabama from North to (mostly) South, stopping in Scottsboro, Huntsville, Birmingham, and Montgomery. The trip was nearly spur-of-the-moment; Michael injured his leg just days before, which caused us to cancel our flights to snowy Boston and immediately try to salvage Spring Break. We quickly decided on a road trip, and the rest is history.
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We had practically zero time to plan our trip, but mutually agreed that it would be very relaxed, and very budget. I packed my bag the night before our trip with very little idea of what the following days would include, other than a shopping day at Unclaimed Baggage, a visit to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, a few museums and memorials, and (hopefully) lots of BBQ.
In all honesty, I was glad to be free of the trappings of a “must-visit” fancy restaurant and the clothes (and shoes!) that sort of outing requires. Chilly temps in the late winter forecast meant only the coziest clothes would be suitable, and I was all too happy to oblige. I filled my suitcase with my most comfortable, easiest-to-wear options and kept my outfit formula and color palette simple: dark colors and an easy equation of tee/sweater + skinny jeans + shoes with a coat on top.
Black skinny jeans are truly the unsung hero of any packing list; they move stealthily from crummy motel breakfasts to city trekking to dinner out at any restaurant worth its salt. Sneakers are great for exploring during the daylight hours while low-heeled ankle boots are perfect for the evening. The forecast included rain as well, so in went both a wool coat and a water-repellent winter coat (although later I switched to the coat I purchased from Unclaimed Baggage, shown here, because I was way too excited about my new coat to leave it sitting in its shopping bag).
Michael had to work from the road during our trip, so I packed a set of workout clothes and brought my YMCA pass as well. Very little of this packing list is exciting, but all of it was practical for time spent in the car and walking city streets – and most importantly, it all fit right into my carry-on suitcase and travel tote:
PACKING LIST FOR A ROAD TRIP THROUGH ALABAMA
Tops & Sweaters
Ballet Neck Tee*
Alpaca Sweater
Crop Mockneck Sweater*
Embroidered Sweater*
Cashmere Sweater
Bottoms
Innerwear
Outerwear
Shoes
Pajamas
Workout
Tech & Accessories
Sunglasses*
Beanie*
Tech Gloves*
Scarf*
Socks*
iPad and Keyboard Case*
Digital Camera
Crossbody Bag*
Tote
ALABAMA ROAD TRIP OUTFITS
FINAL THOUGHTS ON PACKING FOR A WINTER ROAD TRIP THROUGH ALABAMA
Because comfort was key to this trip I spent very little time documenting outfits, other than a few quick snaps in our hotel rooms before heading out for the day/night. The temperatures dropped even lower than originally predicted, which meant I spent a lot of time in my alpaca sweater. There’s a reason Michael and I refer to this sweater as my “cat-tummy sweater” – it really is that light, soft, and warm.
Looking for more packing list inspiration? Discover what's in my suitcase each season: Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter
I could get used to this kind of travel – road trips are inherently a little grimy, which makes throwing on yesterday’s outfit perfectly sensible. Putting less thought than usual into my outfits made getting dressed faster than usual and gave me the mental break I needed (besides – whatever I wore was immediately covered by my coat). That being said, driving longer distances in a day, or traveling during the humid summer months would have made things a little more uncomfortable and reduced the likelihood of being able to wear a garment twice.
Packing with this sort of ease is only possible, though, because I’ve spent time in advance evaluating my closet’s gaps and filling them with items I love. Without this foresight and effort, it’s easy to fall into that trap of needing to buy new outfits for a specific trip. My advice? Take a good look at your wardrobe and think about all of the places you might visit before you have any trips on the books. You’ll be able to fill in any holes in your wardrobe at a more comfortable pace with items you truly adore.
*This item is no longer available and I've linked a similar product
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Do you pack differently for road trips than for air travel? Are there any current gaps in your wardrobe?
Absolutely a fantastic road trip through Alabama! I appreciate you giving your warm wardrobe ideas and packing advice. You seem to have had a great time traveling to new locations. Keep sharing your adventures!