The summer holiday car pack is one of those tasks that looks simple in theory and then, somehow, takes three hours and two repacks. Towels on top of the boogie boards, sun cream nowhere to be found, someone's wellies sticking into someone else's leg space. We have all been there.
This is the packing guide we wish we had had years ago. It covers what goes where, what order to load it in, and the things that most families forget until they need them urgently on a Devon dual carriageway.
The Core Principle: Journey vs Destination
Before you pack anything, separate your kit into two categories: what you need during the journey, and what you need when you arrive. These two things should not be mixed together, and they definitely should not both be in the boot.
Journey essentials live in the cabin, within reach. Destination essentials go in the boot, ideally loaded last so they come out first when you arrive.
Cabin Packing List (Within Reach During the Journey)
🚗 In the Cabin
- Drinks — insulated bottles or cartons, one per child. The CheekyBoo organiser's insulated holders keep drinks cool for hours.
- Snacks — portioned in a divided container. Not loose bags, not a carrier bag from the supermarket. Portioned snacks last longer and cause less mess.
- Entertainment — tablet (charged, with downloaded content), sticker book, small activity set. In the organiser pockets, not the boot.
- Sun cream — keep one bottle in the cabin. Do not leave it in a hot boot; heat degrades it and it will be exactly the wrong temperature when you need it at a service station.
- Sun hats — accessible, not at the bottom of a bag in the boot.
- One change of clothes per child — for spills, sea water, or the unexpected. In a small bag on the back seat, not buried under the luggage.
- Wipes — a full pack, within reach.
- Car bin — the CheekyBin keeps wrappers contained rather than under the seats. Emptied at every service station stop.
- Portable charger — glovebox or door pocket. Tablet battery anxiety on a long journey is a very specific kind of stress.
- Car sick bags — if your children are prone. In the side door pocket.
- First aid kit — small one, glovebox.
- Spare plastic bags — nappy sacks or small carrier bags for emergencies.
Boot Packing List (Destination Essentials)
🧳 In the Boot
- Main luggage (load first, deepest in)
- Beach towels and swimming kit
- Beach toys (bucket, spade, bodyboard — deflated if possible)
- Pop-up sun tent or windbreak
- Wellies and waterproof jackets (UK summer: always pack these)
- Buggy or pushchair if applicable
- Boot liner or tray
- Emergency breakdown kit (reflective triangle, hi-vis, jump leads)
- Dog bed and leads if relevant
💡 The loading order rule: Pack the boot in reverse order of what you will need. The first thing you want when you arrive (usually towels, beach kit, or the bags for the accommodation) should be the last thing loaded and therefore on top. Whatever you do not need for two weeks goes in first, deepest, lowest.
What NOT to Pack
The things that cause most car chaos on summer holidays are things that were packed without thinking about where they would actually live during the journey.
- A separate snack bag for "the journey" — gets destroyed in the first 45 minutes, then the empty bag takes up space for the whole holiday. Use a proper divided container instead.
- Every toy they own — three or four specific activities plus the tablet. More than this creates chaos without increasing happiness.
- Heavy liquids in the top layer of the boot — sun cream, water bottles, and other heavy items shift on corners and damage other luggage. Pack them at the bottom or in the cabin.
- Anything that needs to stay cold without an insulated bag — packed lunch items in an uninsulated bag on a hot boot are not safe after a few hours.
CheekyBoo Car Seat Organiser
The organiser that keeps everything your child needs during the journey within their reach. Tablet pocket, insulated drinks holders, 8 compartments. Perfect for summer holiday driving.
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