How to Plan The Perfect UK Road Trip

The summer holidays are close, so it's time to start planning that road trip.

A good road trip is one of the most loved types of holidays there is - but road trip planning can be tricky - especially if you don't know where to start or what to do.

Before you set out on your road trip, make sure that you have carefully planned everything and thought through all aspects of your journey for a stress-free adventure.

The Overall Plan

The first thing you need to think about when planning your road trip is deciding where exactly you want to go.

Think about all the places that you really like and would like to visit - note these down in a list

Now narrow this list down to the best road trip destinations - choose only places that are within a day's drive or less from where you live to avoid road rage, road fatigue or road sickness!  

Next, note everything about these places that appeal to you - things like the activities you could do there, sights you could visit and whether they would be of interest to everyone else who will be travelling you.

Once you have decided on the final destination of your road trip, get online and check websites about your chosen location.

You can find out all the main tourist attractions in just one click, book tickets online if possible (for castles, museums etc.) and tourists boards may even offer road trip ideas and pre-planned road trips for you to take inspiration from.

Plan For The Unexpected

Now that you have decided where to go on your road trip, planned the attractions and mapped out the route, it is time to think about road tripping. Put together a list of anything that could go wrong.

These include things like flat tyres (which can be prevented by regular checks of tyre pressure), breakdowns (sign up for breakdown service cover before you set off), road rage (make sure everyone in your car is relaxed and agreeable before setting off; avoid stress inducing music; wear sunglasses) and road sickness.

Once you have your road trip route all planned out with some stops planned to along the way so you can get out the car and stretch your legs, it's time to think about packing.

Packing For A Road Trip

Pack items that are essential for road trips. The best way to make sure you don’t miss anything vital is to make a list ahead of time of what you will need to take.

You can take it a step further by making a checklist, broken down by category – and prioritised by level of importance. If you just ‘wing it’ there is the chance you will forget something valuable or important to the trip.

Some essential items you will need to take for the car include:

• Charger for your phone
• Bottles of water
• Pair of sunglasses (especially for the driver)
• Some items to clean up any potential spillages – such as tissues, hand gel and wet wipes.
• An up to date sat nav system (or road map… for the retro touch 😉)
• An emergency road kit (warning triangle, reflective jacket, tyre inflator, etc.)

It’s also a good idea to pack some snacks for the road. Ideally in a separate bag you can keep close to hand when in the car. This is especially important when you have young mouths to feed! Or keep quiet.

When traveling you’ll inevitably need to stop for fuel or to charge so make sure you're always travelling within close proximity to either a petrol station or electric charging point, where possible.

Once you are all packed up and ready to go, make sure that everyone in the car knows the route before setting off on your road trips – it will make it easier to share information if you need to change plans due to unforeseen events, such as road closures and diversions.

Road Trip: Before you set off

On the morning of your journey, it is a good idea to check the latest information regarding your route. This can be done via Google Maps, which has up to date traffic information, or other web services which track traffic such as:

• Traffic Scotland
• Traffic England
• Traffic Wales

This quick check can save you from any potential frustrations – as it gives you the best chance to avoid any nasty surprises – such as road closures or heavier than usual traffic. In these instances, you can make changes to the route, if appropriate.

Boredom can often come into play on long journeys. As such, it makes sense to plan ahead and curate the perfect road trip playlist. You can either create your own – using whichever music system you prefer or make use of curated playlists on services such as Spotify or YouTube music.

It’s also important to prepare your car for the journeys. We have a whole article dedicated to this subject – detailing the checks you should make before you travel.

The Boring But Important Stuff

If you don’t already have breakdown cover in place, organise it before you go. Research the market and find the best deal for your needs.

Come up with a trip budget and try to stick to it. This can be an important number to keep in mind whilst you are travelling. Although try not to let it ruin the spontaneity of a last minute decision.

By booking places to stay in advance, you can account for a large chunk of your money – and then only concentrate on the money you will need for food, days out, parking, etc.

Enjoy The Trip

When it’s all said and done – and your trip is planned – you can relax and enjoy the trip.

Some of the planning beforehand may seem like a chore, but it will go a long way to help you create an amazing holiday, full of happy memories and experiences.

p.s. don’t forget to pack wellies and an umbrella. It is the UK, after all.