The short answer
Cap driving at 5–6 hours per day, book the first and last nights only, budget fuel as distance ÷ mpg × price plus 15%, and service the car before you leave. Everything else can be decided en route.
Over-planned road trips are miserable and under-planned ones strand you. Fix the ends, leave the middle loose.
Step by step
- Set the route as a rough loop and measure total distance.
- Divide into days of no more than 5–6 driving hours.
- Book only the first night, the last night, and anywhere genuinely scarce.
- Calculate fuel: total distance ÷ mpg × fuel price, then add 15%.
- Service the car: tyres including the spare, oil, coolant, wipers, brakes.
- Download offline maps for every region on the route.
- Pack a car kit: water, snacks, first aid, jump pack, phone mount, cable.
- Check tolls, low-emission zones and parking rules for every city on the route.
What it costs
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Fuel | distance ÷ mpg × price, +15% |
| Pre-trip service | $80–$250 |
| Mid-range motels | $70–$140 / night |
| Tolls and city zone charges | $0–$120 total |
| Roadside cover | $50–$120 / year |
Common questions
How far is too far in a day?
Above 7 hours, arrival quality collapses and so does the next morning.
Book ahead or wing it?
Wing it midweek and off-season; book ahead for weekends and national parks.
Is roadside cover worth it?
For any trip over 500 miles in an older car, yes.