A weekend road trip should feel easy and carefree, but packing often becomes a mini-puzzle you didn’t sign up for. Clothes, snacks, chargers, jackets, toiletries, shoes, more shoes, the “just in case” items... suddenly your cabin looks like a traveling yard sale.
That’s why packing cubes (especially when paired with a hitch cargo bag or rooftop cargo carrier bag) are a total game-changer. Mockins offers several hitch carrier and hitch bag sets that come already bundled with packing cubes, which means you get structure, weatherproof protection, and instant organization without buying everything separately.
Whether you’re loading a hitch rack and bag combo, a standalone hitch cargo bag, or a rooftop carrier, this guide gives you the perfect weekend checklist and smart ways to pack cubes so everything fits neatly and stays accessible.
🧳 The Ultimate Weekend Road Trip Packing Checklist
This covers the essentials for a 2–3 day getaway to mountain cabins, beaches, festivals, family visits, or anywhere you decide to escape for a bit.
Clothing & Personal Items
- 2–3 outfits
- Easy layers like a hoodie or flannel
- Pajamas
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Trip-specific footwear
- Toiletries
- Medications
- Sunglasses or hat
- Swimsuit (you’ll regret not bringing one)
Tech & Electronics
- Chargers for everything
- Portable battery pack
- Car USB splitter
- Bluetooth speaker
- Camera or GoPro
Food & Cooler Gear
- Snacks
- Reusable water bottles
- Small cooler
- Coffee supplies
- Quick-grab breakfast items
Adventure-Friendly Extras
- Beach towels
- Hiking pack
- Sports equipment
- Books, cards, or games
Vehicle Essentials
- Registration + insurance
- First-aid kit
- Roadside emergency kit
- Blanket
- Offline maps
How to Use Packing Cubes for Stress-Free Weekend Packing
Packing cubes don’t just make your stuff look organized, they also make everything easier during loading, unloading, and the actual trip. And they shine even more when used inside a Mockins Hitch Cargo Bag, which keeps everything weather-protected and secured with room to spare.
Here’s how to maximize them:
1. Pack Outfits Together Instead of Sorting by Type
Rather than packing one cube of shirts and another cube of pants, pack complete outfits in each cube.
This saves you from digging through multiple bags at your destination and helps keep your hatch or hitch bag organized when you’re trying to find “that one shirt.”
2. Use Large Cubes for Bulky, Compressible Items
Large cubes are perfect for:
- Hoodies
- Jackets
- Towels
- Blankets
- Pajamas
Soft gear compresses easily, making it ideal for the bottom layer of your hitch cargo bag or rooftop bag.
This is especially useful in the Mockins Hitch Rack + 30 Cubic Ft Bag combos, where stacking cubes is incredibly efficient thanks to the oversized interior space.
3. Use Medium Cubes for Clothing
Medium cubes keep things from becoming overpacked, and they stack cleanly inside both hitch bags and rooftop bags.
Great for:
- Shirts
- Shorts
- Travel outfits
- Swimsuits
- Kid clothing
Mockins offers several hitch carrier & bag sets with built-in packing cubes, and the medium sizes are intentionally designed to fit the shape of the bag for maximum space efficiency.
4. Use a Small Cube for Tech and “Easy-to-Lose” Items
Think of the small cube as your save-the-day kit.
Perfect for:
- Chargers
- Batteries
- Keys
- Toiletries
- Cables
- Travel documents
Place this cube near the top of your hitch bag or keep it inside the cabin for easy access.
5. Use a “First Hour” Cube You Don’t Hide Under Everything
This is one of the most underrated packing strategies.
Fill it with the things you’ll want immediately when you arrive:
- Pajamas
- Toiletry bag
- Phone charger
- Medications
- One clean outfit
Instead of unloading half your hitch carrier in a dark parking lot, you can grab one cube and be done.
How to Load Packing Cubes Into Hitch Carrier Bags vs. Rooftop Bags
Mockins sells multiple hitch rack + bag sets that pair perfectly with packing cubes including a XL high rail hitch carrier with 45 cubic ft bag, compact raised hitch setups, and hitch-only cargo bags that include their own perfectly matched cube sets.
Here’s how to load them correctly:
Hitch Carrier + Waterproof Cargo Bag
This is the easiest way to haul cubes because the bags are:
- Weatherproof
- Oversized
- Structured for stacking
- Mounted low for easy loading
- Secured with straps and a cargo net
Best way to pack:
- Put your heaviest or largest cubes closest to the vehicle
- Stack medium cubes in a clean grid
- Slide small cubes into open spaces
- Use the hitch bag’s straps to compress the load
- Add the cargo net for stability
- Install your hitch stabilizer to eliminate wobble and noise
This setup is ideal for families, couples, and anyone who needs a lot of gear for a short trip.
Rooftop Cargo Bags
If your vehicle doesn’t have much trunk space, a rooftop bag + small cubes work wonders.
Best way to pack:
- Place the cubes flat across the bottom
- Stack them neatly
- Add soft items around the edges
- Tighten down compression straps
- Double-check zipper flaps for weather protection
Packing cubes help maintain structure and prevent the “mound of stuff sliding forward” issue that sometimes happens with rooftop cargo bags.
Extra Pro Tip: Bring One Empty Cube
This is your wildcard cube.
Use it at the end of the trip for:
- Dirty clothes
- Wet towels
- Extra snacks
- Road trip purchases
- Kid “souvenirs” that magically appear
Your drive home becomes clean and stress-free.
Ready for Your Next Weekend Getaway?
Whether you’re loading a hitch rack and 30 cubic ft bag combo, using a compact 15 cubic ft hitch bag set, or packing a rooftop cargo bag to free up cabin space, packing cubes make every trip smoother.
They keep gear separated, easy to find, and perfectly organized inside the weatherproof protection of a Mockins cargo bag.
No mess. No digging. No stress. Your weekend getaway just got a whole lot easier.
Explore our full lineup of hitch carrier sets, hitch cargo bag sets, and travel-ready packing cube bundles.
