Road trips are one of my favourite ways to travel. They give you the freedom to explore at your own pace, take the scenic routes you can’t reach by public transport and let you discover places you might otherwise miss. But if you’ve never planned a road trip before, knowing where to start can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re planning to travel alone.

I spent thousands of miles on the road learning exactly what makes a great road trip in the best way. In 2020, I spent nine weeks solo travelling around the UK in a self-converted BMW MINI camper, clocking up more than 5,500 miles along the way. It was without doubt the best travel experiences of my life. Since then, I’ve taken more solo trip by road, enjoying road trips through countries including Spain, Portugal and Slovenia. So, if you’re wondering how to plan a road trip, where to begin or whether it’s safe to road trip on your own, you’re in the right place.

In this ultimate road trip guide, I’ll take you through everything you need to know to plan your own adventure, from choosing your destination and mapping out your route to budgeting, finding accommodation, packing, preparing your car and staying safe on the road.

Looking to plan your own solo driving adventure? Here are my top 10 tips for planning a road trip!

1. Plan an itinerary

It may seem obvious, but I cannot stress enough how having an itinerary for a road trip, even if it is a loose one, is so important when planning and keeping safe. Planning where you want to go, what you want to see, and how long you want to spend exploring each place is crucial. This means you can factor in driving time and make sure the drive time is manageable. The last thing you want is to be caught out spending more time behind the wheel and less time exploring because you underestimated how long the drive would take. Use Google maps to plot your route and to gauge your driving time and mileage between destinations.

2. Set a budget

Having a budget is a good idea whenever you travel, but there are extra costs to factor in for a road trip. This includes fuel, car parking fees and toll road fees, along with costs for accommodation, food/drink and excursions. To help factor road trip costs to your daily budget, I would estimate how much fuel you’ll likely need for the journey based on your itinerary mileage. You can monitor your daily spending on the road using budgeting apps like Trail Wallet.

3. Book accommodation in advance

Once you have a road trip itinerary and budget set, I would recommend booking all accommodation in advance rather than on the go. Driving can be tiring and the last thing you want is to be stressing out trying to find somewhere to stay at the end of each day. This is especially important in more rural and remote locations where accommodation options are limited. If you are confident to wild camp, I would recommend using the Park4night app, which shares the best overnight parking hotspots near you.

4. Make sure your car is road worthy

To ensure your car is road trip ready, I would recommend getting it serviced a few weeks before you hit the road. That way any issues that crop up are dealt with before you set off, rather than having to face any setbacks on your trip. It is also a good idea to check your tire tread and pressure, and if you've got a spare wheel, make sure that it's in good condition and fit for use. Whilst on the road, make sure to regularly check your oil and coolant levels, and top up your screen wash when needed too.

5. Get breakdown cover and car insurance

Let’s face it, none of us want to be stranded in an unfamiliar place alone. Getting breakdown cover is the ultimate peace of mind, especially for a solo traveller. Whether you accidently lock your keys in your car, get a flat tyre, or your engine cuts out, breakdown cover is your safety net. Having valid car insurance is essential to make sure you are covered in the event of an accident or unexpected damages to your vehicle.

6. Safety first

As a solo driver it is important to consider personal safety just as you would on any other solo trip. Share a copy of your itinerary with someone from home and check in with them daily so they know where you are. I would also recommend downloading the what3words location app, an accurate location finder in the event emergencies. Be sure to take plenty of rest breaks from driving and know your driving limits (mine was a maximum 3 hours driving time before breaks). Never leave valuables unattended in your car whilst you go off exploring and I would avoid openly divulging you are travelling alone to strangers.

7. Pack emergency items and essential supplies

There are a few essential items I’d recommend packing to cover you in the event of any emergencies. This includes:

important documents (driving license, insurance details)
extra oil and coolant for long journeys
a high vis jacket, warning triangle and a blanket in the event of a breakdown
a torch in case you need to look inside the bonnet
a spare set of car keys
loose change for car parking and toll roads

Other items I’d recommend to pack for a road trip are:

Car Laptop Charger Adapter – allows you to charge phones and laptops simultaneously through the cigarette lighter
A road map (essential if your sat nav loses signal)
Snacks and bottled water
A she wee and a trowl (yes you read that right ladies and gents. Needing to go to the toilet in remote places with no service stations or public bathrooms around is not pleasant)

8. Create a road trip playlist

You’re going to want to keep yourself entertained whilst on the road, so I’d recommend creating a playlist of your favourite tunes. Whether it’s music, an audiobook, or a podcast, having something to listen to other than the constant hum of an engine is only a good thing. There’s something quite special about road trip music. Not only does it lift your mood, but it will also connect you to special moments from your trip. I guarantee you will have a song or two that will make you reminisce about your adventures every time you hear it.

9. Top up your fuel tank whenever you can

One of my biggest worries during my time on the road was running out of fuel, especially in more remote areas like the Scottish Highlands. I’d recommend topping up fuel whenever you can, even if you’re tank isn’t half empty. If you are planning a road trip to a more remote location or off the beaten track, I’d recommend a Google search of fuelling stations in the area beforehand so you know where to go when a top up is due.

10. Embrace spontaneity

The great thing about road trips is that you can never quite prepare for what awaits you on the open road. Allow time to pull over to marvel at the scenery that takes your breath away. Don’t hesitate to stop off in unexpected places that catch your eye from the driver’s seat. It is the places you happen upon by chance that makes road trips so memorable.

Thank you for checking out my blog! I hope this has given you some useful tips when it comes to planning your very own solo road trip.

If you have any questions about my road trip, please feel free to drop a comment below or get in touch via my Instagram page.

How to plan a solo road trip: Ten tips for planning your own driving adventure