Twenty
print these · take them with you
The worksheets, packing lists, and daily logs I actually print out and keep in a folder in the van. Paper never runs out of battery!
I've tried the apps. I've tried the spreadsheets. I've tried keeping it all in my head (ha). What actually works for me is a manila folder in the van full of printed pages I can scribble on at gas stations and read at red lights.
These are the exact templates I use. Print them and stick them in the glove box. They fit regular letter-size paper. Tap the tabs below to jump straight to the one you want.
Skip to the one you need
Planner page 1 of 6
Fill this one out before you book a single thing. These questions decide everything else!
If everything else went sideways, what three things would still make this trip a win? Write them down before the planning buries them.
What does everyone in the car agree they don't want? Long drive days? Crowded places? Fancy restaurants? Cold water?
Planner page 2 of 6
Print one for every day of your trip. Fill in the morning, leave the evening blank for the stuff you stumble into along the way.
Fill in the morning and the sleeping plan the night before. Leave the afternoon loose. Some of the best parts of our trips happened because a local told us about somewhere better and we ripped up the afternoon plan.
Planner page 3 of 6
One sheet with every reservation number on it. You will be SO glad you have this when the wifi dies in the lodge parking lot.
| Date | Place | Confirmation # |
|---|---|---|
| Date | What/where | Time slot |
|---|---|---|
Multnomah Falls (May 22-Sep 7), Mount St. Helens, Oregon Caves tour times, Cleetwood Cove (closed 2026-2028, returns 2029) all go here.
| Date | Restaurant | Time · party size |
|---|---|---|
| Date | What | Confirmation |
|---|---|---|
The dates you have to cancel by so you don't get charged. Write them all in one place. Future you says thanks.
Planner page 4 of 6
Built from a decade of real PNW family trips. Check things off as you pack, and whatever you do, don't skip the rain layer!
Planner page 5 of 6
Fill in the budget column before you leave. Fill in the actual column each night so nothing sneaks up on you.
| Category | Budgeted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| Lodging | $ | $ |
| Gas | $ | $ |
| Groceries | $ | $ |
| Restaurants | $ | $ |
| Park fees / permits | $ | $ |
| Activities / tours | $ | $ |
| Souvenirs | $ | $ |
| Miscellaneous | $ | $ |
| Total | $ | $ |
One line per day. Quick and dirty.
| Day | Lodging | Food | Gas | Fun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $ | $ | $ | $ |
| 2 | $ | $ | $ | $ |
| 3 | $ | $ | $ | $ |
| 4 | $ | $ | $ | $ |
| 5 | $ | $ | $ | $ |
| 6 | $ | $ | $ | $ |
| 7 | $ | $ | $ | $ |
| 8 | $ | $ | $ | $ |
| 9 | $ | $ | $ | $ |
| 10 | $ | $ | $ | $ |
The America the Beautiful pass ($80) covers entry to every national park for a year. It pays for itself in 3 visits. Buy it before you go!
Pack a cooler. Breakfast and lunch out of the cooler saves $80-150 per family per day compared to restaurants. Nothing else on this list saves you more.
Camp 1-2 nights between hotel stays. It cuts lodging by 70% on those nights. Even mid-tier campgrounds with hookups run $40-65 compared to $200-350 for hotels.
Costco gas on the way in and out. Saves 30-50 cents/gallon. With a big van, that adds up fast enough to earn the detour.
Planner page 6 of 6
Print one for each kid. Five minutes of writing a day. Trust me, they'll keep these for years.
Each day, fill in these three things. That's it.