Plan Your Dream Road Trip

How to Plan the Perfect Road Trip in 12 Steps

1. Determine the Length of Time

Do you want to take a mini road trip along the coast for a spontaneous weekend? Or are you fed up with everyday life and ready to cruise for a longer time? A few days won’t require much planning, meanwhile, for a longer road trip, we would definitely recommend making some bookings in advance to organise the trip better.
If you are travelling in summer during the high season, it is definitely advisable to reserve a place for you and your vehicle in advance. The most popular places are often booked out weeks in advance. If you were also thinking about hopping on the ferry, again, you may have to plan and make reservations a few days in advance.

Maybe you’re the spontaneous type and prefer to just go with the flow! If you’re not planning for a longer trip, then one day or the other doesn’t really matter. This way you can truly ignore a schedule and see what surprises the day brings. The more you leave unplanned, the more opportunities you have for spontaneous adventures!

2. Choose a Travel Destination

In order to plan your road trip, you’ll want to have a rough idea of ​​which region you want to go to so you can pack the necessary equipment. After all, it makes a big difference whether you’ll be driving out to the mountains or to the sea. If for some reason you are not able to arrive at your planned destination, you can simply drive in another direction or discover the nature hidden in your own backyard.

If you’re more of the schedule-loving type, look at a map and decide which destinations you really want to see. Depending on how much time you have, it can be useful to create a priority list and if a destination takes you too far off the planned route, save it for next time! Mark your favourite route and calculate the travel time between each stop to ensure you travel comfortably and stress-free. Also, think about whether you want to spend time mainly immersed in nature or if you want to visit a large bustling city and plan this into your route.

3. Travelling with Your Best Friends

Countless friendships have formed and deepened through crazy adventures on the road. However, you will get up close and personal with your travel partner, whether you like it or not. You don’t want to end the trip early, so think carefully about who you’re taking with you for a longer trip. Although it is way more likely that you and your friends will have the time of your life. What is better than sharing all the beautiful and exciting moments of a road trip with your best friends?

© roadsurfer GmbH / Rebecca Worbs

No one has time, but you still want to go? We dare you to take on a unique adventure and set off on your own. It takes a bit of courage to travel alone, but you will definitely be rewarded with unique experiences, meet new mates faster than usual and you’ll be proud of yourself for doing it. Even as a solo woman traveller, you shouldn’t have to worry, you can also enjoy camping adventures alone. We have a few helpful tips so you can enjoy a carefree road trip camping and travelling solo .

4. Find the Right Motorhome for Your Adventure

The most important thing when planning a road trip: the right vehicle! At roadsurfer you have the choice between compact camper models and small mobile homes – depending on your preferences and type of trip. All our camper models offer one big advantage: They are compact, maneuverable, and allow you to organise your trip with maximum flexibility. If you want the classic Bulli vibes, choose our Surfer Suite or for an extra comfortable lovers getaway, choose the Couple Cottage. Take a look at all the features and differences between the roadsurfer models available in the UK and Europe here.

5. Book a Unique Camping Experience

Thanks to the internet and GPS, you no longer have to fumble around with canvas-sized maps or plan out all the stops in advance. We have put together a list of the best apps for finding campsites and car parks that will make your holiday planning easier. From large campsites to private campsites to wild camping, you will find everything you’re looking for here. Do you want to stay somewhere particularly cheap, particularly sustainable, particularly luxurious, or particularly unique? With a campsite app, you can easily filter according to your personal criteria and find the perfect dream campsite.

Want to avoid crowded campsites and are looking for a legal alternative to wild camping? You can find them here. On roadsurfer spots, you’ll find private parking spaces with friendly hosts that you can easily book online.

Check out our spots

6. Organise the Travel Fund

In order to plan a road trip, you first need an overview of your finances. Determine your budget and consider in advance how much you want to spend per day. Calculate the expected expenses for fuel, tolls, campsites and supermarket purchases – this way you can roughly determine your expected daily costs and adapt the travel duration, route or choice of campsite to your budget. If you’re travelling with friends, you can set up a travel fund for shared expenses along the way, everyone pitches in the same amount and then you go shopping with that money. The free Splitwise app is also very useful to create groups, add up all expenses and settle them individually at the end. Thank heavens, no more annoying calculations required.

7. Stock Up on Supplies

You’re not you when you’re hungry? Make sure to stock up on supplies while planning your trip, prepare some food and don’t forget the snacks! Snacks are so important, they make your trip comfortable! You have several options for your daily food supply. The luxury variation: if your budget allows, you can go out to eat every day and feast your way through the entire menu of your favourite travel destinations. No cooking or cleaning does save you some time so you can laze around as you please.

The cheaper option: You cook for yourself. Eating out is of course the most convenient method, but you lose a bit of the adventure budget. With the built-in kitchen and the roadsurfer kitchen box, you finally have everything you need to enjoy cooking on the road. Although you can buy provisions for the trip at many rest stops or petrol stations, it is cheaper if you shop in local supermarkets and in smaller towns along the way.

8. Provide Entertainment

Does a song still remind you of a specific holiday? Like when you hear it you are instantly transported back to the beach with a smile on your face. The right soundtrack is essential! Create a shared playlist of the songs you love to listen to while road tripping – it’ll remind you of your greatest times better than anything else. Also, remember to pack a connecting cable so you can listen to music from your smartphone on the go. On Spotify, you will find a ton of pre-made playlists perfect for the van life. Pack your guitar for long cosy evenings outside by the campfire or a travel journal, where you can record your exciting experiences. In case it rains, bring a good book, games or a puzzle with you – camping in the rain can also be a lot of fun.

If you ‘re travelling with kids, you’ll do the little ones and yourself a favour by providing entertainment to combat boredom on the long drives. A few books, colouring books, games or a film device will keep the little passengers in the back seat entertained. Nonetheless, make sure they don’t miss out on the whole adventure. Providing the kids a few extra stops and breaks to run off some energy outside can work wonders.

© roadsurfer GmbH / Luis Zeno Kuhn Fotografie

9. Documents and Cash

A little paperwork can make your travel planning easier. Scan and copy important documents such as your identity card and, if applicable, booking confirmations. Keep the copies in a different location than the original. Do the same with your cash, separate it into different pockets. In the case that you lose a piece of luggage, it won’t all be gone at once. Best tip: send yourself an email with all the important information such as campsite addresses, telephone numbers, bank contact information, etc. If you lose your wallet or cell phone, you’ll be glad you took the time to do this beforehand.

10. Preparing for Your Family Holiday

If you are planning on travelling with children, you should certainly clarify whether your desired destinations and campsites are also suitable for them. It’s definitely great for the kids when they make new friends on holiday, and child-friendly campsites with children’s entertainment and playgrounds offer plenty of opportunities to do so. In addition, it is particularly important to plan enough stops on the outward and return journeys, so that the journey can be enjoyable for parents and children.

11. Camping With Your Dog

Can’t seem to part with your furry friend even for a short holiday? Understandable! You don’t have to. You can take your dog with you in all of our roadsurfer models!

When planning your trip, find out whether dogs are allowed at your selected campsite and whether a daily flat rate is required. Also, take a look at the surroundings. Are there enough dog exercise areas, walkways, or beaches where dogs are allowed? With a little preparation, you can avoid any unpleasant surprises and can fully enjoy your holiday with your pet. You can find tips and tricks for camping with a dog here.

© roadsurfer GmbH / Robert Bohnke

12. Get to Know Your Campervan

If you rent a camper or mobile home from roadsurfer, you can sit back and relax. All the necessary checks and maintenance are carried out regularly and you don’t have to worry about anything other than driving your camper. If you are the proud owner of your own camper, don’t forget to regularly check the TÜV and gas sticker, tire pressure and tread depth as well as the vehicle lighting. In the interior, you should ensure that all cupboards are closed and latched after loading so that nothing moves around or loosens while driving. You will be shown everything you need to know about your camper and will have plenty of time to familiarise yourself with the van or ask questions when we hand it over. Get an overview of each campervan’s equipment at roadsurfer models.

Planning a road trip can be that simple! Most important, plan for things like your finances, travel documents, and provisions. After that, it’s helpful to have a general idea of your route and a few campsites. But don’t plan too much! Let yourself end up somewhere new and be spontaneous! Go offline and ask for directions – you’ll be surprised how often you get great tips from locals. Deviate from the planned route and be open to surprises, because you can’t plan the best stories, they just happen!