There are two ways to ruin a road trip: plan everything, or plan nothing. The art lies in between: a fixed framework, free content. Here is how it works in seven steps.
1 to 3: budget, route, stages
Budget first: break fuel, tolls/vignette, overnight stays and food down to a daily rate, and the length and radius of your trip will almost work themselves out. For groups, a shared travel kitty or a bill-splitting app is worth it. Rough route: fix your start, your destination and two or three must-sees, and let the rest unfold along the way. Short stages: more than 250 to 300 kilometres per driving day turns a holiday into work. The golden camper rule: better to stay longer than to drive further.
4 to 5: secure your nights, build in buffers
Spontaneity is wonderful, until everything is full at 9 pm. The compromise: book the first and last night as well as weekends in hotspot regions in advance, and stay flexible in between. And plan one buffer day a week with nothing on the programme, for the village that turns out lovelier than expected, or the pitch you just don't want to leave.
6 to 7: use weather windows, slow down your arrival
The biggest advantage a camper has over any hotel booking: you can chase the weather. A good weather app and a loose route are worth more than any rain gear. And finally: plan to arrive at your pitch before dark, so you can set up, settle in and enjoy the evening light. The best hours of a road trip are rarely the ones spent on the road.
🗺 Overnight stays along your route: at parknsleep.app you will find pitches right along your way. Book the first and last night, and decide the rest as you go.
Background research including the roadsurfer blog and guides from TCS, VanSite and other camping magazines; text and analysis: Parkn'Sleep editorial team.
