We are driving from NJ to Sante Fe, Taos,and parts of Colorado. Leaving late April for a good month. Typically I am a pack rat, so I would love to get some hints from seasoned travellers on how to pack. We like the outdoors, love the good reataurants, and generally are fairly laid back.
any great advice for packing and for MUSTS to have in the car would be appreciated!!! Thanks

I'm a packing rat too, so maybe I'm not the one to answer. I do think you will need to pack for a wide range of temps for late April for New Mexico and Colorado.

Do you have a intinerary or are you just flying..or in your case...driving by the seat of your pants?

Utahtea...I love road trips!

plastic grocery bags for trash
paper towels
Sunscreen (wear it in the car,too)
***Books on tape from the library. A LOT of dead air in rural areas.
Extra bottled water
an insulated cooler.
aspirin
prepaid phone cards in case your cell dies.

We like to pack lunch fixings, snacks, and drinks so that we can picnic anywhere we find a nice spot. We have a cooler and a basket to keep everything nice. Some of the best road trip memories are picnics in the middle of nowhere.

Also, we don't try to cover too many miles in one day. Unless we are really trying to get across some boring country, we plan only around 4 hours of driving or less per day. This way we have the time to stop at any interesting sights we find along the way, take detours, or whatever strikes our fancy.

For clothing, we pack enough for about a week and then hit a laundry mat when we need to. We always pack layers to cover temperature changes. When packing toiletries, remember that there are stores along the way, so if you run out of shampoo, you can buy more.

Pepto bismol tablets for a variety of reasons and an extension cord for inconviently placed motel/hotel room outlets.

Beentheretwice has great ones. Also towelettes or wipes, Picnic blanket, small cloth towels, club soda (for stains) and umbrella. Yes, pain relievers and antacids are a must.

Agree with J Correa...and I'd add this - I take some laundry detergent & dryer sheets so I have them when I do laundry. One outfit will usually suffice for "dress-up" if you need it for a nice restaurant or whatever. That saves room for more of what you will wear most days. You can always buy something if you forgot it or run out of clean clothes. Map, pen, paper, binoculars, camera, tire chains...I never take mine out of the car. If I have them I am hoping I won't need them. Enjoy stopping at local stores and picking up snacks, etc. Have a good trip.

Oh, I do pack small/ appropriate amount of paper plates, plastic wear, napkins and small sharp knife.

Small address book with important telephone numbers (& addresses if you plan on sending postcards..children love receiving postcards). Also write in your CC companies names, a/c numbers and telephone numbers along with your bank info and ATM card info. Keep this address book in your purse, do not leave it in the car. Best if your spouse has the same info in his wallet. I am assuming you are a female as generally fellows do not ask for a lot of advice regarding packing etc.,LOL.

Don't forget to have some good road maps in the car.

I agree with J_Correa, figuring about 4 hours a day travel time, or max 5 hours, gives you time to enjoy places while you take your cartrip. The whole idea of a cartrip is to get to see some of our country.

One nice outfit each and a coat or jacket (what is nice about cartrips is that you are not limited as you are when flying to somewhere). More than once I have been glad I had a coat to put on as suddenly the weather would get chilly. You might want to put a roll or two of toiletpaper in the car, not all public restrooms are properly stocked.

How fun!! Enjoy your roadtrip and have a safe and beautiful time!

You're getting some great advice and just want to add one thing ~

We love road trips and have taken nine across the country ~ from the east to California ~ each between 7,000 - 8,000 miles round trip. One very important reminder: Be sure to get your oil changed at about 3000 miles. Not something i'd have thought of but very important (says DH Clark ) especially when traveling through a variety of elevations and climates in the desert and mountains.

Have a great time ~ you'll definitely have the time of your life.

We are also cross country road tripers. Take your own bed pillows, and a blanket or two. A night light for a strange hotel/motel room. A couple of flash lights will also come in handy. Small plastic garbage bags for use in the vehicle. Clothing that will streach and will not bind while driving. Same with shoes. A cooler and drink a lot of water. Stop often, get off the Interstate Highway once in a while and drive the older highways thru the small towns, this will make time go by quicker, and you will see more. If you belong to AAA get their Tour Books and maps. You can get a 2006 Rand McNally Road Atlas for $4.97 at your local Wal Mart. Last but not least, have your vehicle serviced and checked by a mechanic prior to departing. Don't forget the extra set of car keys.

Tool kit, jumper cable, don't laugh - duck tape. Extra batteries for camera if not the standard AA. Extra film or storage media for digital camera. If taking lot of digital photos a portable harddrive to download them into. Guide books, flower identification book. Hand cream. Research your trip before you take it. Does no good to visit someplace if it is closed the day you had planned to visit it. If you carry a number of electrical items a multi-power strip might come in handy. A journal to remember the trip years from now.