Opening my suitcase and sharing everything I packed for a long weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina:
It’s not often you see a long-distance road trip packing list on Wayward!
A few weeks ago we visited our friends in Charlotte, North Carolina, and to be honest, I fretted over what to pack. Michael and I had a few must-dos on our agenda, but we left the rest to our hosts.
No matter what they would end up recommending, the weather had firmly made up its mind: it was forecasted to be hot and it was going to rain. In the end, our long weekend away ended up consisting of checking many of Charlotte’s breweries off our list and spending a little time out of doors once the clouds disappeared.
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When packing for a road trip, it’s easy to throw extra items in our bags (and bring extra bags!), because personal cars don’t typically have luggage allowances.
And indeed, Michael and I probably could have shared a single carry-on bag, but we took the easy route and packed separate bags. In mine, I included a top for each day we’d be gone (and I’m glad I did because we sweated a lot just walking a few blocks) and a jumpsuit in case we went out to dinner, but thankfully we never visited any restaurants that required fancy dress.
Looking for more packing list inspiration? Discover what's in my suitcase each season: Spring | Summer | Fall | Winter
So, my risk to keep things low-key paid off! Here’s everything I packed for Charlotte:
Packing List for Charlotte, North Carolina
Tops
Black Silk Tank*
Geometric Silk Tank*
Windowpane Silk Tank*
Linen Top*
Ballet Neck Top*
Bottoms
Denim Shorts*
Light Denim*
Wide Leg Pants*
Jumpsuit*
Outerwear
Shoes
Leather Sandals*
Leather Sneakers*
Pajamas
Accessories
Bandana*
Folding Panama Hat
Digital Camera
Belt Bag*
Crossbody Tote*
*This product is no longer available from the retailer and I've linked a similar product
Thoughts on Packing for Charlotte, North Carolina
I don’t really subscribe to any form of a “capsule wardrobe” but it feels a bit like I’ve found my favorite travel pieces for this summer. When the mercury soars, I tend to avoid anything with sleeves, but I brought along a white linen tee to wear on July 4th and a ballet-neck sleeved top to wear in the car.
A jacket is a must in the South, especially in the summer months when the air-con is on blast (plus mine is made of a waxed canvas, making it a great help in case of rain!). Because of the heat, the only clean item remaining at the end of the trip was my jumpsuit, which I wore on the ride home. Sure, going to the restroom isn’t necessarily a treat, but that’s a price I was willing to pay to wear an outfit that more or less feels like pajamas.
Not pictured is a set of workout gear (which included my favorite compressive leggings, naturally), which I packed separately in a tote bag for easy changing at the facility if needed, as well as a tote bag full of items to help make our road trip as low-waste as possible.
Update: I loved Charlotte so much that I moved here! If you're planning a visit to the Queen City, be sure to check out all of my Charlotte posts here.
Style in Charlotte is relatively laidback but with a fair amount of sundresses and Southern ruffles in the mix. Still, I felt easily at home in each of these looks and wouldn’t hesitate to pack it all up and do it again!
Planning a trip to the Queen City? You may also enjoy these related posts:
- Charlotte Weekend Guide
- 10 Great Meals in Charlotte for Under $10
- 10 More Great Meals in Charlotte for Under $10
- A Review of Every Charlotte Brewery
- 2024 Carowinds Guide
- Charlotte Restaurant Review: Kindred
- Charlotte Restaurant Review: Supperland
- A Romantic Staycation at the Dunhill Hotel
- Every Essential Day Trip from Charlotte, North Carolina
- 10 Charlotte Shops You Should Know About
- My Favorite Charlotte Thrift Stores
- Charlotte’s Best Coffee Shops
- All of My Packing Lists
- All Personal Item Packing Lists
- All Travel Guides by Destination
- Checking In: Hotel Reviews
- Shop My Closet
- Exclusive Promo Codes + Discounts
What are summers like where you live? Do you also constantly have to carry a jacket to wear indoors wherever you go?
