U.S. Domestic Travel Planning & Preparation

You want to make sure you leave plenty of time for packing, as waiting until the last minute will increase your chances of forgetting important items. We recommend packing over the course of a week, if possible, and you should have a checklist on hand the whole time to make sure you have everything needed. Make sure to double or even triple check that list before leaving.

Before you start packing, look at where and when the school trip is taking place. Traveling to New York City in May is very different from going in January. Make sure you pack based on the weather patterns of your destination.

• Clothing: Pack just enough clothes for the trip, plus one or two extra outfits in case of delays or bad weather, and make sure you have an extra outfit in your carry-on luggage should your checked luggage get delayed. You should have a mix of short- and long-sleeved shirts, pants, shorts, jeans, etc to accommodate different needs. You should also pack one set of nice, dressy clothing for a special night out, such as going to see a Broadway show in New York City.

• Shoes: One pair of comfortable walking shoes, such as trainers/sneakers, should be ideal, plus you should bring one pair of dressier shoes for nicer events.

• Plenty of socks and undergarments: This is one case where it’s better to have too many over too little.

• Pajamas: Don’t forget your cozy pajamas!

• Raincoat/umbrella: You never know when it’s going to rain, so we advise bringing at least one if not both of these in order to make sure you stay dry when the sky opens up.

• Bathing suit (if applicable): If your group is going on a trip to Orlando or Savannah, the beach is only a hop, skip, and a jump away, not to mention that most hotels have pools. It’s not a bad idea to bring a swimsuit to enjoy some fun in the sun or a dip in the pool.

• Lightweight jacket: Museums, libraries, and other popular educational destinations are sometimes kept at cooler temperatures, so it would be wise to be prepared with a lightweight jacket for these situations.

• Toiletries: You’ll need your toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant, hairbrush, and hand sanitizer, and these things may be cheaper and easier to get at home in little travel sizes, depending on the length of your trip. You may also want to bring sunscreen, aloe, lip balm, and hand lotion, depending on the hot or cold weather and your needs. Insect repellant is also a good idea if you’re going to an area where mosquitoes are common since you don’t want to spend your trip focusing on itchy bug bites instead of the fun.

• Extra set of glasses or contact lenses (if applicable): If you wear contacts or glasses, you want to make sure you have an extra set handy in case you lose them. These should be kept in your carry-on luggage, along with any cases you have for them. This will make for easy access during the flight as well; this way, you can sleep comfortably without worrying about losing/breaking your contacts or glasses.

• Medications: Do not forget to pack any needed medications and inform group leaders about them.

• Identification: It’s important to have a valid form of identification on you for safety reasons as well as for flight reasons, especially if you are over 18 years old. Check here for TSA’s accepted forms of identification.

• Money: Make sure you have some money set aside for emergencies and for souvenirs and snacks. You may want to have a bank/ATM card for this and/or a personal credit card, but you may also want to carry no more than $50 in cash.

• Electronics and chargers: We recommend bringing as few electronics as possible since you won’t have a great deal of time to use them when you’ll be absorbing everything you are seeing and doing. If you do bring electronics, make sure you bring the chargers/batteries for them and keep them at the surface of your carry-on luggage in order to make security checks faster and easier. Some examples of electronics that you may want to bring include smartphones, cameras, or tablets.

• A journal: You’re going to be going on an amazing educational trip with all kinds of new experiences. Even if it is not required by your teacher or group leader, we do recommend bringing a journal to take notes and/or write down your thoughts and experiences each day.

• 3-1-1 Bag: If you’re carrying any liquids in your carry-on bag, make sure to have your 3-1-1 bag ready and towards the surface of your carry-on for easy removal during security checkpoints. A 3-1-1 bag is a clear, quart-size plastic bag that carries any liquids, gels, aerosols, pastes, or creams in 3.4-ounce containers (or smaller). The easy way to remember this is 3 ounces or smaller, 1-quart-size bag, and 1 bag per traveler, as permitted by TSA rules, or 3-1-1. Anything over three ounces will have to go into your checked luggage.

• Select Your Clothing Carefully: Make sure the clothes you bring are comfortable and suitable for the climate and activities of the trip. Avoid purchasing new clothes just for the trip if possible, as you’ll be more certain that clothes you already have fit properly and comfortably. Also, make sure to bring layers in order to adjust for changing weather and activities.

• Pack in Layers: If you are bringing a carry-on bag, make sure that any electronics, medications, and your 3-1-1 bag are close to the surface layer of this bag so that they can be easily removed and inspected without delaying you or other travelers.

• Separate Medications and Medical Equipment and Inform TSA Officers When You Arrive: You should pack medications separately from your other luggage, preferably in another clear plastic bag, and make sure each medication is in its original container and has its prescription label so that TSA can verify them easily.

• Keep Any Valuables in your Carry-On Luggage: You have more control over your carry-on luggage, so it’s better to keep your valuables in your carry-on as opposed to your checked bag(s).