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Most road trips don’t fail because there aren’t enough great destinations, but because distances and breaks are misjudged. A realistic daily stage of 200 to 400 kilometres, with planned stops and flexibility, makes the difference between feeling worn out and really enjoying yourself. That’s how you build a route that’s not only doable, but also leaves room for surprises along the way.
Why the right daily distance makes or breaks your trip
Many travellers underestimate how much energy long hours of driving require. Technically, 800 kilometres a day is possible, but you’ll spend most of your time behind the wheel instead of exploring. A daily stage of a maximum of 4 to 6 hours’ driving gives you enough time to visit highlights, enjoy a relaxed lunch and arrive at your overnight stay without stress.
For a weekend road trip it’s best to stick to about 4 hours of driving a day. That works out at roughly 200 to 300 kilometres, depending on the type of road. On a longer trip of a week or more you can stretch stages to 5 to 6 hours, but then plan a rest day with no driving every 2 to 3 days. That way you prevent the journey from becoming an obligation instead of a break.
‘ Add at least 20 per cent on top of that for unexpected circumstances. ’
How to build a realistic route
Start with an overview map of your destination. Mark 3 to 5 top locations that you absolutely want to see: national parks, coastlines, historic cities or natural areas. These places become the anchors of your route. From there, you fill in the stops in between, paying attention to logical connections. Avoid driving back and forth by planning your route in one direction or as a loop.
Calculate the travel time between each point. Add at least 20 per cent on top for unexpected circumstances. Think of traffic jams, roadworks, bad weather or simply a slower road than you expected. Many navigation systems assume ideal conditions. In reality, you rarely have those.
Make a distinction between must-see stops and bonus stops. The first category are locations you really want to visit and for which you reserve time. The second category consists of nice places you include if you have time left, but that you can skip without disappointment if it doesn’t work out.
Smart stops that make your trip more comfortable
Plan a break of at least 15 minutes every 2 to 3 hours of driving. Use that time to fill up, stretch your legs and have something to eat or drink. Don’t just look for petrol stations, but also for scenic rest areas along the way such as viewpoints, city parks or nature reserves. These stops make the journey itself extra special.
Also think about practical stops for toilets, especially if you’re travelling with children or driving remote routes. Download offline maps in advance and mark interesting stops. That way you don’t have to search on the road. Many apps allow you to build your route in layers. You then create one layer for overnight stays, one for sights and one for practical stops.
- Plan fuel stops before your tank drops below a quarter full
- Look for stops with facilities such as toilets and picnic areas
- Combine breaks with short walks or viewpoints
- Check in advance whether attractions are open on the day you pass by
The choice between out-and-back or a loop
A loop route prevents you from driving the same road twice and maximises what you see along the way. This works well if you’re planning a longer journey and have enough time to explore several regions. The downside is that you’ve got less flexibility to stay extra days in one place.
An out-and-back route offers more peace of mind. You can use the same overnight stops, which saves planning and costs. On the way back you make different stops. If you’re tired, you simply drive further in one go. This works especially well for shorter trips or if you have one specific destination as your main goal.
‘ This prevents stress on departure day and gives you the space to sort out anything you’re still missing. ’
Apps and maps that help you plan
Use a combination of digital and paper maps. Paper maps give you a good overview of the region and help you find logical routes. With digital tools such as Google Maps, Roadtrippers or ViaMichelin you can calculate exact distances and travel times. You can also use them to discover interesting stops along your route.
Many apps allow you to plan your route in advance and save it offline. That way you’re not dependent on mobile internet while on the road. Also check camping apps if you’re travelling by motorhome, or parking platforms if you’re stopping in cities. That way you know in advance where you’ll be spending the night and what it will cost.
Prepare with a timeline
Two months before departure, decide on your budget, the length of the trip and the key points on your route. A month beforehand, check whether your car is in good condition or arrange a hire car. Book accommodation for popular spots, especially in high season. Two weeks before departure, buy essentials such as snacks and a first-aid kit, and load your navigation apps with offline maps.
A week in advance, do a trial packing run to see whether everything fits in the car and whether you’ve forgotten anything important. This prevents stress on the day of departure and gives you the space to sort out any missing items.
Leave room for flexibility and unexpected finds
A tightly packed schedule leaves little space for spontaneous detours or unplanned stops. So don’t plan every stop to the minute. Deliberately leave room for unexpected discoveries: a local festival, a recommendation from locals or simply a beautiful spot where you want to stay longer than planned.
Also take changeable weather and seasonal influences into account. In winter, days are shorter and roads can be more difficult to drive. In summer, popular routes and campsites are busier. Adjust your daily distance and number of stops accordingly.
- Keep time free for spontaneous stops and local tips
- Maintain a B-list with bonus locations
- Check cancellation policies for accommodation
- Plan rest days to recover from long drives
The balance between driving and experiencing
The aim of a road trip is not to rack up as many kilometres as possible. It’s about travelling consciously and enjoying what you come across along the way. A well-planned daily stage gives you control over your journey without taking away your freedom. You know where you’re heading, but you still have room to deviate if something more interesting comes up.
Adapt your route to your travel party. With children, keep the stages shorter and plan more play stops. With a group of friends you might drive longer, but want to schedule more nightlife options or active stops. Tailor the plan to what works for you and your fellow travellers, not to what an average traveller would do.
On the Traveler Tips website you’ll find more information about routes, packing lists, regulations and practical tips for car journeys across Europe. Discover useful articles about toll roads, campsites, sights and everything else that makes your road trip even better. Dive in and plan your next journey with confidence.
Frequently asked questions
Aim for daily stages of ideally 4–6 hours of effective driving time, so you have enough time left for stops and sightseeing. Plan a break every 1.5 to 2 hours for rest, meals and possibly a short walk. When planning, factor in potential delays due to traffic, weather and detours via scenic routes. On longer trips, it’s sensible to schedule an (almost) driving-free day every 2–3 days.
Key criteria are that a stop offers both practical facilities (fuel, food, toilets, possibly accommodation) and access to an attractive cultural or natural highlight. Choose places that lie logically within realistic daily stages of 4–6 hours, so there is enough time left to actually experience something. Ideally, combine infrastructure (villages, towns, campsites, RV areas) with nearby viewpoints, hikes, national parks or cultural sites. Also take opening times, crowds and the option to add spontaneous extra stops into account.
Use apps such as Google Maps or Waze to optimise your route based on traffic, roadworks and driving time. To discover hidden gems, apps like Roadtrippers, Atlas Obscura and Yelp or TripAdvisor are useful for finding unexpected sights and local hotspots. Combine an overview map (for example in Google My Maps) with saved favourite places to divide your daily stages logically. Download maps offline so you can still follow your route and stops in areas without signal.
Plan shorter driving blocks (4–6 hours) and leave a (half) rest day without compulsory travel every 2–3 days. Work with a list of must-see stops and a B-list of ‘bonus spots’ that you only visit if there is time left. Book accommodation with flexible cancellation policies so you can shift plans in case of delays or unexpected discoveries. In your daily planning, allow extra time for traffic, photo stops and spontaneous detours.
Use large booking sites (such as Booking, Airbnb, Hostelworld) with filters for budget, type of accommodation and location, and combine these with reviews on Google Maps. Also consult road trip and camping forums or subreddits (e.g. r/roadtrips) for other travellers’ experiences with specific routes and places to stay. For campsites and RV spots, specialised platforms and apps (such as park and campsite finder apps) are useful to compare facilities, prices and availability. Always check recent reviews and cancellation conditions to see whether a place matches your road trip style and budget.