Packing camera gear for a road trip gets complicated fast, especially when one leg of the trip is a kayak camping expedition through the Florida Keys, another is a beach vacation on Sanibel Island, and the third is a landscape shoot in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. That’s exactly the challenge I faced recently, and it forced me to think carefully about how to balance coverage, weight, and security.

Here’s the framework I use.

The Core Lens Range You Actually Need

I prefer having lenses that cover 16mm to 400mm in the field, but realistically, the majority of my shooting happens in two ranges: 20–35mm and 100–200mm. Those are the ranges I protect first when making cuts.

Three Road Trip Setups (Choose Based on Your Trip)

1. Light and Compact (Full Frame)

When weight is the priority, I strip down to three lenses::

• 20mm f/1.8 — Sharp, wide, and small.
• 24–120mm f/4 — Not quite the 24–70 f/2.8, but the extra reach and VR make it more practical for travel.

2. Versatile and Compact (Full Frame)

More flexibility, with a slight compromise on reach. I avoid super zooms here — the image quality tradeoff isn’t worth it.

• 16–35mm f/4 — Sharp and wide, but not light. Can be left home if you have the 24–120.
• 24–120mm f/4 — Not quite the 24–70 f/2.8, but the extra reach and VR make it more practical for travel.
• 100-400mm — An excellent compact lens that covers a wide range of focal lengths.

3. Full Photo Trip (Full Frame)

My standard setup when photography is the primary purpose of the trip. Except for the 105mm macro, every lens here takes 77mm filters — which simplifies filter management considerably.

• 16–35mm f/4
• 24–120mm f/4 VR
• 70–200mm f/2.8
• 1.4x teleconverter — Pairs with the 300mm to give you 400mm at f/5.6, and holds sharpness well.
• 105mm f/2.8 macro

Filters: What I Brought vs. What I’d Bring Next Time

I traveled with only two ND grads — a 3-stop reverse and a 2-stop soft. It wasn’t versatile enough for the varied conditions in Florida and the Smokies. Here’s my updated filter kit for all future road trips:

Standard road trip filters:

• 3-stop reverse ND grad
• 3-stop medium ND grad
• 3-stop soft ND grad
• Haida 4×4 filter holder
• 10-stop ND filter
• Polarizer
• Remote release cord
• Bubble level
• Lenspen

What I Actually Packed (And What I Regretted)

On this trip I went with the Versatile and Compact setup, plus a compact APC-S mirrorless body with kit lens for shooting from the kayak. Security concerns in the Keys meant I couldn’t safely leave high-value lenses in the car, so I left anything longer than 200mm behind.

That decision cost me in the Smokies. There were shots I simply couldn’t get without the reach. If you’re heading somewhere with wildlife or compressed landscape shots, don’t leave the long glass behind.

Coming to a Photography Workshop?

If you’re joining one of my workshops, bring everything. The Full Photo Trip or Versatile and Compact setup is ideal, and you’ll want options when we’re out in the field.