A Step-by-Step Guide to Planning an Epic Road Trip Itinerary
Creating the perfect road trip itinerary is a craft, and one that we’ve worked to perfect after years of planning them. From planning quick weekend getaways in the mountains to building 3-month long journeys across several countries, we’ve done it all – and want to help you do the same.
Some of our favorite road trips were visiting Georgia, driving around Cyprus, and car camping on an 8-week-long Southern Africa road trip. We’ve done road trips where we based ourselves in one place and explored by region, and we’ve also done some trips where we sleep in a different place each night. Each trip taught us something different, and we want to share all of our road trip tips with you so that you can also have an amazing trip to look back on.
In this guide, we’re sharing how to create an epic road trip itinerary, so that you maximize your time on the road, and also leave room for the little moments so you don’t burn yourself (or the car) out.
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The Basics of Planning a Road Trip Itinerary
Before you start building your road trip itinerary and mapping out every stop, let’s first explore the first steps to making sure you’re on the right path.
🚗 Renting a Car for Your Road Trip
Knowing which kind of car to rent is the first and most important step of planning a road trip! Your road trip itinerary will greatly depend on where you’re allowed to drive, how much mileage you get, and what kind of terrains your vehicle can handle.
We’ve written a full guide with tips for renting a car, so that you have a solid foundation for building an epic itinerary.
The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Road Trip You’ll Never Stop Talking About
Our step-by-step road trip guide helps you decide whether a road trip is right for you, how to plan one, and gives practical tips for organizing yourself and being on the road.
⭐️ Things to Consider for Your Road Trip itinerary
Every road trip itinerary requires some different ways to prepare, depending on the destination, the route, and the type of experience you’re looking for. These are the main you should think about when planning your road trip itinerary.
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How to Plan Your Road Trip Itinerary Step-by-Step
Now that you know the basics for renting your car and some things to consider, here is our step-by-step guide for building the ultimate road trip itinerary.
1. Choose Your Dates
Your dates chosen for a road trip will drastically change what your road trip itinerary looks like! If you’re visiting in spring, you’ll want to save room for stops at flower fields, or if you’re visiting during fall you’ll want to leave a lot of open time in your itinerary for enjoying foliage or making random stops and capturing stunning fall photos.
The amount of time you’ll be away will also greatly determine your route, and how far you can venture out on your journey.
Once you have the dates you’re able to go away, you can then better choose the anchors for your road trip itinerary, and plan accordingly.
2. Decide Where You’ll Base Yourself
Some destinations are great for moving from one place to another and staying somewhere new each night, while others are better for giving yourself a home base and doing long day trips each day.
Smaller islands and countries that have capitals centrally located for example can be better suited for having one base. This way you’re not losing time on checking in and out of places. This is particularly more ideal when there are a few areas with consolidated places to see, or if your road trip is on the shorter side.
If you have more than a week, you’re probably better off staying in a few different places. We’d recommend choosing larger towns or cities as bases, or places where you have activities scheduled that are specifically for the evening or very early in the morning. We tend to choose our bases depending on nightlife and sunrise, as those are two thing we love to incorporate into our road trip itineraries.
3. Save Your Activities & Destinations on Google Maps
Once you have your bases decided, you can then start to build out the places that you absolutely want on your road trip itinerary.
Do some research through social media and blogs to find beautiful places, cool restaurants, and unique activities that interest you. Write them all in a giant list.
Then make an ABC list (3 lists categorized by how important they are to you), and figure out what’s important to you, and what can be a bonus if you have time. This is where using Google Maps to plan your itinerary will be super useful, and help you visually be able to start making a road trip itinerary that makes sense.
4. Check Opening Hours, Road Conditions, and Info for Each Place
Now that you have everything pinned on the map, let’s make sure to check opening hours and specific dates that activities tend to run. If there are certain places you can only visit on weekends, that open late, or only run on specific dates, WRITE THAT DOWN! Those are what are going to anchor your timetables.
If an activity is only available on a Saturday and is really important to you, make sure to hit that area on Saturday. From there, you can move your road trip itinerary around to fit the things that matter to you the most.
Most importantly though, book your tickets or make reservations! There’s nothing more devastating than carefully planning out a road trip itinerary around an activity to only find out that you needed tickets and can’t experience it. (Ask me how I know 😩).
5. Book Your Hotels
Once you have a general idea of your bases and main activities, book your hotels! Make sure that there is availability if you had your heart set on a specific hotel, and also account for your budget.
You might notice that one city is far more expensive than a nearby one. Once you find your hotels, then you can adjust your road trip itinerary accordingly.
If your hotel is a bucket-list experience and is very important, then this step should be prioritized. On our 6-week trip through South America, we had Sky Lodge Adventure Suites on our bucket list and they were only available one day during the six week stretch! We ended up having to change the entire road trip itinerary to fit it in, so don’t forget to make this a priority!
6. Prepare for the Places You’ll Visit
Now it’s time to make sure you’re prepared for your road trip! Check weather conditions, activity requirements, and other details that might make a difference in how you should pack for your road trip.
When we did our road trip in Georgia, we were visiting destinations with all wildly different climates. In one day we experienced summer, fall, and even snow! So make sure you pack accordingly, and keep in mind special gear you might need for things on your itinerary.
For example, a waterfall might be on your list of places to visit, but you might have to hike there! So you’ll want to account that in your schedule for timing, as well as bringing the proper footwear for the hike itself.
💡 Make sure to check the weather in all areas of your road trip itinerary, not just where you’re basing yourself.
7. Leave Room for Flexibility & Have a Back Up Plan
One of the most important things to keep in mind for your road trip itinerary is to hope for the best but expect the worst. We’re not saying things will go wrong (and hopefully they won’t if you prepare for your trip with our guides), but things happen, and you should be ready to adjust without it ruining your whole trip.
Whether it’s a flat tire, hurting yourself, bad weather, or somewhere not being open like it stated, truly anything can happen, no matter how much you plan.
Keep a rough Plan B schedule, and give yourself plenty of time in your road trip itinerary for unexpected occurrences, unplanned activities, and spontaneous decisions. Sometimes the best memories from our travels are from the moments that we actually didn’t even plan for at all!
8. Say Yes to Adventure
Like we said, some of our favorite travel moments were from the things that weren’t on the road trip itinerary at all!
When I was road tripping Wyoming with my brother and friends we met some strangers at the bar. We ended up spending the night with them and we all got breakfast in the morning. Sure our breakfast plan went out the window, but that moment was one we’ll always cherish.
When we were in Switzerland we have plans to leave for Zermatt. We met a Swiss couple while hiking to the giant swing in Adelboden, and they invited us to their home for Swiss fondue. While Zermatt is gorgeous, we didn’t know when we’d have an invite like that again. Now we have an excuse to go back to Switzerland for Zermatt, and have a long-lasting memory with our new Swiss friends! Absolutely zero regrets.
Frequently Asked Questions About Designing a Road Trip Itinerary
Now you know how to build an amazing road trip itinerary! But in case you missed anything or still have some questions, here are some faq with answers we’ve prepared for you.
How do you plan a road trip itinerary?
Start by choosing your travel dates and deciding how much time you have. Choose your main destinations and overnight bases, then save your must-see places and activities on Google Maps. Check opening hours, road conditions, and booking requirements before arranging your daily schedule. Once you have your hotels and main activities booked, prepare for the weather and leave room for spontaneous stops and unexpected changes.
How many stops should you plan for each day of a road trip?
This depends on the distances you’re driving, how long you want to spend at each destination, and what activities you have planned. Rather than trying to visit every place on your list, prioritize your must-sees and treat the rest as bonuses. Remember to account for driving time, hikes, meals, and any activities with fixed schedules so you don’t spend the entire day rushing from one stop to the next.
How do you choose where to stay on a road trip?
Some destinations are best explored by moving between different towns, while others work well as a single base with day trips. For shorter road trips, staying in one place can save time otherwise spent checking in and out of hotels. For longer trips, consider using several bases in larger towns or cities, particularly if you have early-morning activities or evening plans in specific areas.
How do you use Google Maps to plan a road trip?
Save your destinations, restaurants, activities, and other places of interest to Google Maps so you can see how they’re positioned relative to one another. Start with a broad list, then divide the places into three priority groups: must-sees, things you’d really like to do, and optional stops if time allows. This makes it easier to build a realistic route and avoid spending unnecessary time driving back and forth. You can also read our guide on how to plan an itinerary with Google Maps.
Should you book hotels before finalizing your road trip itinerary?
It’s best to have a general route and your main activities figured out before booking your hotels. Check availability and prices in the areas where you want to stay, as accommodation can be much more expensive in one town than in a nearby destination. Once you know where you’ll be sleeping each night, you can fine-tune your route and daily plans around those bases.
How far in advance should you plan a road trip?
The ideal timing depends on your destination, travel dates, and the activities you want to do. Start early enough to research your route, check seasonal conditions, and secure accommodation or tickets for experiences with limited availability. If you’re traveling during a popular season or planning around a specific event, booking earlier can give you more options.
How do you make a road trip itinerary flexible?
Separate your must-see destinations from optional stops, and avoid filling every hour of every day. Leave time for scenic detours, unexpected discoveries, and activities that take longer than expected. It’s also helpful to have a rough backup plan for bad weather, closures, or other changes, so you can adjust your route without losing an entire day.
What should you check before visiting places on a road trip?
Check opening hours, seasonal schedules, road conditions, ticket requirements, and whether reservations are needed. Some attractions only open on certain days or offer activities at specific times, so these details can determine which day you visit an area. Also check the weather and any activity requirements, such as hiking distances or appropriate footwear, so you can plan enough time and pack accordingly.
What should you do if something goes wrong on a road trip?
Leave room in your itinerary to adjust if bad weather, a flat tire, an unexpected closure, or another issue changes your plans. Have alternative activities or destinations in mind, and avoid scheduling every day so tightly that one delay affects the rest of the trip. A little flexibility can help you stay relaxed and sometimes leads to the most memorable travel experiences.
Final Thoughts and Tips for Planning Your Road Trip Itinerary
Planning a road trip itinerary can feel like a lot of work, but there’s no such things as a bad road trip! Chances are you won’t get to do every little thing on your trip. But that’s okay! It just gives you a reason to go back.
The most important thing to remember is soaking up the small moments, paying attention to your surroundings, and being in a mindset where you embrace flexibility.
⭐️ Our final tips for making a road trip itinerary:
Happy travels, and enjoy the drive!
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👀 What’s Next?
How you know how to create a great road trip itinerary, which is an important part of planning your road trip.
Here are some other driving guides we have:
🇦🇿 Renting a car in Azerbaijan
🗺️ Azerbaijan road trip
🚗 Southern Africa road trip
🇵🇪 Renting a car in Peru
🛣️ How to drive from Namibia to Botswana
🗿 How to drive to Machu Picchu
🇳🇦 Driving through Namibia
🇿🇦 South Africa Panorama Route
🇳🇴 Complete guide for driving in Norway
🇮🇸 Roadtripping Iceland
🤠 Roadtripping Texas
💧 Route of the Seven Lakes in Patagonia
🇲🇦 Should you rent a car in Morocco?
🇸🇳 Renting a car in Senegal
🇨🇾 Driving in Cyprus
🇸🇻 Renting a car in El Salvador
🇵🇷 Road tp in Puerto Rico
🇲🇽 A guide to driving in Mexico
Ready to start planning an epic road trip itinerary? We hope you enjoyed this guide and that it helps make your planning process a lot easier!
Looking for some travel inspo for particular road trips? We have different driving guides for a variety of destinations that you can check out. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for our weekly article updates, and for exclusive discounts on our shop!
Need more help planning your road trip? We can plan your travels for you, or you can sign up for a one-on-one consultation.
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