A Winter Cabin Packing List For A Cozy Cold Weather Getaway

Are you looking to get away for a while and cozy up in a dreamy winter cabin? Before you pack up the car to head to your cabin in the snow, check out our complete winter cabin packing list to make sure you’ve got everything you need for winter adventure and cozy cabin vibes.

If you’ve never been to a cabin in the winter and you’re wondering what to pack, we’ve got you covered. From the best winter clothing, winter gear, and fun entertainment for the times you sit in front of the crackling fire ALL DAY, here’s what to bring to a winter cottage so you’re completely prepared.

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THE ULTIMATE WINTER CABIN PACKING LIST

When creating your winter travel packing list, it’s essential to know what the cabin already supplies beforehand. If you’re doing a cabin rental through Vrbo or Airbnb, chances are the cabin will have most of the basic necessities. Be sure to read the listing thoroughly to see what they supply. You can also check with the cabin host if you have any questions about what they provide in the cabin.

If you’re doing cabin camping at a National Forest or National Park, you’ll most likely need to bring everything from blankets to cookware. We went cabin camping in Grand Teton National Park, and it’s essentially tent camping, but in a log cabin. You’ll need to bring in everything from cooking supplies to bedding.

For this post, our winter cabin packing list is best suited for cabin rentals that will have supplies rather than cabin camping.

Okay, let’s break down our winter cabin packing list!

COZY WINTER CABIN CLOTHING

• WARM JACKET: A warm jacket for any outdoor activities or for when you roast marshmallows outside is a must-have on your winter cabin packing list. I love the Mountain Pile Fleece Coat from L.L. Bean because it keeps you warm while still being stylish and well-fitted. For men, L.L. Bean and REI have excellent winter jackets.

• HEAVY PARKA: If your cold-weather travel plans include time in the snow, you’ll want a heavier jacket that is both water and wind-resistant. For women, the L.L. Bean Winter Jacket has a nylon shell that protects you from the elements and keeps you warm when temperatures drop below freezing. For men, the REI Co-op Stormhenge Hybrid Jacket will keep you warm and dry, plus it’s stylish and perfect for snowy winter weather.

• RAIN JACKET: If your winter cabin won’t have snowy conditions, but it will be wet and rainy, you’ll want to pack a rainproof or rain-resistant jacket. REI’s Rainier Rain Jacket is an excellent choice for its stylish colors and waterproof design.

• THERMAL LAYERS: For frigid days and nights, slip into a thermal underwear set or Merino wool base layers from Kari Traa or Smartwool so you can stay warm on all your outdoor outings. Trust me, you’ll be glad you brought these.
  
  FLEECE SWEATER: A fleece sweater is a great layer to wear under a warm jacket or when you’re hanging out in the cabin playing games and need a layer that’s not too heavy. The fleece pullovers and hoodies from L.L. Bean are high quality and, with proper care, will last you for years. You can look through women’s fleece wear here and men’s fleece wear here.

• SWEATPANTS: Perhaps the most important item on your winter cabin packing list is a cozy pair of sherpa-lined sweats to lounge around in while you enjoy a warm drink of mulled cider.

• FLANNEL-LINED JEANS OR LEGGINGS: A pair of flannel-lined jeans or fleece-lined leggings is the perfect winter wardrobe staple for exploring. Stylish outdoor brands like Eddie Bauer, Stoic, and L.L. Bean offer flannel and fleece-lined jeans.

• SLIPPERS: Cozy slippers for when you lounge around the cabin will help to keep your feet warm and clean and give you a sense of home while you’re away. We’re a slipper family, and by far, our favorite slippers are from Ugg. I wear the Women’s Ansley Slippers and love how soft they are and that they come in various stylish colors. I love them! My husband wears the Men’s Ascot slipper.

• WOOL SOCKS: Wool is the best material for keeping your feet dry, warm, and odor-free. If you want to elevate your winter sock game, we are in love with Darn Tough socks. They are thick, durable, and perfect for anyone embarking on outdoor adventures in the snow. They even offer a lifetime guarantee!

• GLOVES: Gloves to keep your digits warm will go a long way when you’re outside exploring. If you love to take photos on your phone, you’ll want to bring leather gloves or gloves with a touchpad on the pointer finger. It’s much better than having to remove your gloves whenever you want to use your phone! You can browse through those types of gloves here.

• WARM HAT: A hat to keep your head and ears warm is a no-brainer. Britt’s Knitts has excellent and affordable plush-lined hats for extra warmth.

• SCARVES – Pack up your favorite scarf or oversized pashmina to keep your neck warm and cozy.

• SNOW BOOTS – You’ll want a great pair of waterproof snow boots for when you’re trekking through wintery conditions. If there is a lot of snow, I suggest bringing boots that go above the ankle. We live in snowy conditions and prefer boots from Kamik.

• BATHING SUIT—A bathing suit in the winter? Yes! If your cabin has a hot tub, don’t forget to pack a bathing suit. Cupshe is the way to go for cheap bathing suits. For a high-quality suit that fits all body sizes, there’s nothing better than TA3.

• PACKING CUBES – Packing cubes are the hallmark of a seasoned traveler. The verdict is out on whether it actually saves you room in your bag, but it definitely makes packing more convenient and organized. Some people choose to pack their cubes and separate clothing items by packing cubes (underwear, shirts, pants), while the super organized will pack their cubes according to daily outfits. That’s a level of organization and planning I do not have! Either way, once you arrive at your cabin, you can take your cubes out and place them directly into the drawers to keep things neat and organized. Check out these highly rated packing cubes here.

WINTER CABIN GEAR

• DUFFEL BAG – While wheeled luggage is more convenient, a duffel bag can be a better travel choice when dealing with a cabin that may have muddy, wet, or icy walkways. Bring a bag you can carry! We’re a duffel bag family, and we love the duffel bags from REI and L.L. Bean. I also love the Herschel Duffel Bag with its rose gold color and faux leather accent pieces.

• HANGING TOILETRY BAG – A hanging toiletry bag that you can hang in the bathroom is a godsend for travel. It keeps you organized and super convenient. You can opt for a utilitarian black one, like this one (which can be useful for hiding the inevitable spill that always happens), or you can choose more stylish options, such as the toiletry bags from Mossio.

• FLASHLIGHT – A light source that you can use when you’re sitting outside or walking in the dark will come in handy. We bring our flashlight with us whenever we travel, and we always end up needing it!

• REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE—A water bottle is on our go-to list of travel necessities. It’s better for the environment and better for your wallet. We always use stainless steel insulated water bottles, since they can keep your drink ice cold or piping hot for 24 hours.

• HAND WARMERS -We always bring rechargeable hand warmers when traveling to a cold destination. Slip them into your pockets to keep your hands warm or put them next to your feet if you get cold feet.

• YAK-TRAX – If you’ll be doing outdoor adventures in the snow, then you might want to add traction devices to your winter cabin packing list. When we visited Arches National Park in the wintertime, we used Yaktrax, and it helped us to feel secure on icy trails.

• TREKKING POLES – In addition to a traction device, you may want to consider high-quality trekking poles like these to enhance stability in winter conditions, particularly if you plan to trek through snow.

• LIGHTER – How else are you going to light up your campfire for your chocolate and bacon s’mores? The cabin might supply a lighter, but it’s an easy thing to throw into your suitcase. If you’re flying on an airplane, make sure not to pack it in your carry-on.

• BINOCULARS – For anyone who wants to sit out and take in the wildlife, a good pair of binoculars can help you spot what’s just out of sight. A great, high-quality pair for the casual user is the Nikon Prostaff.

• SUNBLOCK – Yes, even in winter, you’ll need sunblock! As evidenced by my husband’s numerous sunburns in winter wonderlands. If you’ll be visiting a cabin at a higher elevation, you’ll want a high SPF sunblock like Supergoop, as higher elevations can cause you to burn quickly.

• CHAPSTICK – Winter equals chapped lips. Be sure to pack your favorite lip moisturizer to prevent chapped lip agony. My go-to lip moisturizer is Weleda. Affordable and better than any high-end lip balm I’ve tried.

WINTER CABIN ENTERTAINMENT AND FOOD

• S’MORES – Personally, I think S’mores should be number one on everyone’s winter cabin packing list. It’s a classic cabin activity. You can use regular marshmallows from an already prepared S’mores kit like this, or you can get decadent and use flavored marshmallows from Hammonds. Combine those marshmallows with unique chocolate flavors like Bacon Chocolate or Salted Toffee, and you’ll never do regular S’mores again. Also, don’t forget to pack these awesome Marshmallow roasting sticks. They extend up to 34 inches for a more comfortable S’mores-making experience.

• HOT DRINKS: You’ll want to bring your favorite hot beverages to enjoy so you can sit out on the porch and stay toasty warm. I love the pumpkin hot chocolate mix from Silly Cow Farms. Other warm drinks you could make are tea, mulled cider, hot buttered rum, and eggnog.

• FIREWOOD—If your cabin doesn’t supply firewood, make sure to grab some so you can enjoy a wood-crackling fire. We also like to bring our all-natural fire starters to help get the fire going. You might not be able to find paper or dry twigs at your cabin, so it’s nice to have an easy fire starter.

• GAMES – The best part of cabin life! Having some fun board games at your disposal is a must-have on your winter cabin packing list. You can go simple and bring a deck of cards, or opt for tried-and-true classics like Scrabble, Clue, Scattergories, or Monopoly. Personally, we love Cranium, Trivial Pursuit, and Exploding Kittens. You can browse here to find the right board games for you.

• KINDLE – Your dreamy winter cabin could have no wifi, so having books or already downloaded e-books on your Kindle is perfect for winding down in the cabin.

• JOURNAL – A journal for those who want to sit in a winter wonderland and write the day away.

• SPEAKERS – Whether you want ambient music or want to rock out in your cabin, having speakers that you can connect to your Amazon Music or Spotify account is essential cabin entertainment. We love our Ultimate Ears Speaker because it’s compatible with Alexa, wireless, waterproof, and has amazing sound quality.

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Now that you have your winter cabin packing list, you’re ready to enjoy a fully stocked winter trip. Happy travels!

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