Solo Road Trip Planning Guide

Ten Steps To Planning  A Solo Road Trip

Road trips are such a great way to travel. You set your own budget and itinerary that group tours or other ways of travel just don’t let you do.

Even better – with a road trip, the whole trip is your destination. You set the rules, or no rules as to where and when you want to stop.

Travelling solo takes it to a whole new level. You get to see and do exactly what you want to. You don’t have to convince anyone else to join you, and you don’t have to compromise.

Whatever has sparked this trip, you are planning on heading away. Do you just book dates and wing it?

“Road trips require a couple of things: a well balanced diet of caffeine, salt and sugar, and an excellent selection of tunes – oh, and directions.”

~ Jenn McKinlay (American Author)

My head doesn’t work like that. I like to have a plan – allowing room for flexibility.

I’ve now done over 30 trips since 2017 and 15 of those have been 100% solo. The rest have been photography tours and a mix of both. Absolutely finding the balance that works for you is key.

When it comes to planning a road trip, there can be a lot to think about, and it can seem overwhelming. 

But it doesn’t have to be.

That’s the purpose of this guide – to give you a road map (pun intended) for your perfect road trip adventure.

Let’s start with the style of travel you prefer as that will set the ground rules. Will you be camping, caravaning, motels or combination?

I stay in motels and Air BnB’s mostly so that’s what will be covered here.

First up is brainstorming your trip, so let’s start with your endpoint in mind – your goal or theme.

Set Your Goal

There are always so many places to go and so little time, so planning helps to be mindful and time effective with your road trips.

Before we get to the destinations, it can be good to set an overall goal or focus for your trip.

This becomes your starting point for your planning. 

Like everyone, I see amazing photos online and on social media. These inspire me to want to go there and photograph them as well.

This is usually what sets my theme, so I start by saving photos into documents on Google Drive. These then became my base goal for my upcoming trips.

What about you? Is it a set destination or destinations? Is it for photography (that is always my number one)? Do you have a theme? I’m on a mission to photograph as many Silo’s as I can when I do my road trips in Australia. This will take several road trips so is an ongoing goal. But it could be lighthouses, hikes, mountains, lookouts – the options are endless.

A selection of some of the silos I’ve seen so far. They are spread out all over the country. I think it’s going to take me a while to get them all!

Now  you’ve decided on your main goal, you can start mapping out your destinations.

It’s time to research what you want to do and see. This includes along the way, as well as at your main destination if you have one.

Start with a list of places you want to see. For me that is in my saved documents and from searching further on Google, Instagram etc.

I have several documents on my Google Drive for areas that I’d like to visit. I save all sorts of posts, photos and links as a starting point. This can get messy but it’s all there for when I need it.

TIP – using Instagram hashtags for some more ideas on the areas you have prioritised. The first nine posts displayed on your instagram search show the most popular. Then select ‘the most recent’ and this will give you current choices and ideas.

Then make a short list of your top things to do. I create a ‘must do’ and a ‘like to do’. Depending on the locations, this can build some flexibility into your trip, but I digress …

The time you have available will drive most of the planning for your road trip. We are all time limited so prioritising the highlights you must see is crucial.

Map It Out

Google Maps really is my number one recommendation for this. Google Maps allows you to share your route with others and you can sync it with other devices. On top of that you can access it offline as needed. All for free!

Using the lists from the last step, map out your route just starting with your ‘must do’.

Take note of the travel times and distance between your locations so you can plot where you’ll be staying each night.

This will guide how many hours you will need to be driving each day. It’s incredibly important to know your own limits here to manage driver fatigue.

As a rule I like to stick to around 5 hours from one location to the other. Once stops and activities are added along the way this can easily turn into eight or nine hours. It is amazing how the time can go!

I do a Google Docs document for the whole trip breaking down each day. I then copy and paste each day into a Notes App (Mac user here). This automatically transfers to my phone and includes the Google Maps link for each location. Daily Itineraries sorted!

Also consider whether you’re comfortable driving in the dark. This is particularly important when travelling solo. My personal preference is to arrive at my destination during daylight hours. Especially when checking into your accommodation.

TIP – Check your Route can be driven with your vehicle type. If you’re planning on being more remote, some roads could require a 4wd. Some are also closed at certain times of the year.

Setting the pace that works for you is a huge part of a trip’s success. I generally like two nights in a destination. Arriving in the afternoon this gives you set up time, and one full day exploring before heading off again. If you try to fit too much in you may miss out on some key stops. You can also end up fatigued and feel like all you are doing is driving. 

Typically I’m out by 6am (depending if I’m photographing sunrise or not). This way I’m at the next destination early in the afternoon. This allows for check in, a few hours exploring and time for supplies and a refuel.

Always allow more time for each stop than you first think. This allows for random stops along the way if you see something interesting. These can end up being some of your favourite parts of the road trip.

I’ve found that having a daily itinerary planned in advance really helps me if I’m having a down day. These do happen (at least to me from time to time). I find if I have a list it gives me the push to get out the door, and I never regret it.

I’m sure that if I didn’t have a set plan, I could get slack and miss out on some activities. This is something that I would definitely regret later, so don’t let that happen to you.

TIP – Schedule In some Down Time

This will be dependent on how long your trip is – it could be a day or two, or just an afternoon or a sleep in.

If you need it, it’s in your plan. If not, you should have a list of optional activities you can tap into.

Now that you’ve planned your route and know where you want to stay and when, let’s talk about budget – sigh.

Budget Time

Ok, it’s time to talk about the dreaded dollars. This is honestly something that I’m working on.

It’s easy to get into holiday mode and spend way more than you intended. If you do your planning, and include everything you can think of, you will most likely stick to your budget.

I tend to set a budget for my accommodation, booked activities and fuel, and the rest I put down mostly to daily living costs.

Yes it costs more to eat out when you’re away. There are also many ways to keep this to a minimum, so I set an average cost per day. I bulk buy water and snacks and tend to eat at ‘home’ in the evening. This way I can set an estimated daily food cost that I usually manage to come within budget of.

Things to include when calculating your road trip budget – 

• Accommodation
• Fuel
• Meals
• Activities
• Tolls
• Parking
• Souvenirs
• Coffee and Cabernet of Course!

I’m not great at setting an actual budget but I’m a numbers girl so I like to know what a trip costs. I do record how much I’ve spent on accommodation and petrol.  This gives me an idea what to expect on the next road trip.

Accommodation

Where are you going to sleep each night?

I usually stay in a combination of motels and cabin parks when doing a solo road trip. AirBnB can be more suited to couples in regards to price if you also want privacy.

TIP – Check if there’s any events happening in the area when you want to visit. This can have both a positive and negative impact on your trip.

One road trip I did was to regional Victoria to photograph the autumn colours and I wanted to stay in the town of Bright. When I looked at the dates I wanted to book, this was the week they hold their annual autumn festival. 

This was great as it meant I was planning to go at the right time for photography. BUT, it also meant accommodation was very difficult to find, AND very expensive. I ended up booking the following week which worked out great.

It also meant there were fewer people around, which suited me just fine.

I also book outside of school and public holidays if at all possible for the same reasons.

Booking.com is my go to for this and I tend to book in advance for security. Do check their cancellation policy so you have some flexibility if needed.

Also check your accommodation for parking. In smaller towns it’s mostly included I have found. In larger cities it can be an additional cost, so don’t be surprised.

Activities and Supplies

• Look up the opening times of places you wish to see & any relevant timetables.
• Book trips and activities that are popular in advance. You can also sometimes pay less if you book online, so check for discount codes.
• Plan when you will go grocery shopping – supermarket times and costs can vary quite considerably.
• Check laundry facilities at your accommodation. I usually do laundry when staying at least two nights but definitely compare costs. Prices varied on my last trip from $3 to $15 for a load!
• Don’t forget about petrol. I usually fill up at the end of the day as service stations aren’t always open in the morning when I leave.

Safety

When travelling solo, I always make sure someone knows my itinerary and when I’m due home.

With a solo road trip, ensure your Insurance, Roadside Assistance and services are up to date.

Be aware of your surroundings and avoid isolated areas late at night. Try and stay with people around and try to keep your accommodation check in during the day.

Don’t rely on GPS alone. Before you head off for each day, have offline copies of your maps and addresses of where you’re heading to.

All pretty common sense really, and in no way a reason to stop you heading out on your solo road trip.

One of the many advantages of doing solo road trips – you can pull over whenever it takes your fancy. And where it’s safe of course!

House Safety And Maintenance

Things to consider – 

• Bills – I tend to have automatic payments set up for most things
• Mail
• Lawns and garden – you really don’t want your house looking like no one lives there while you’re away
• Organise a neighbour to do an inside check at least once a week in case your power has gone off. Trust me on this, I came home to a fridge full of rotten food once due to a fuse tripping.
• Pets – I’m sure this doesn’t need to be said. My lovely neighbour looks after my three girls whenever I’m away. I’m truly grateful for this and my neighbour loves the different fudges he gets from my travels as a thank you.

Technology

While you shouldn’t rely 100% on internet reception, particularly for navigation, technology is really an important part of any road trip.

Planning Tools

These are my main go to resources when planning any road trip or photography shoot – 

• Google Maps – I’m sure this doesn’t need any introduction
• Photo Ephemeris – app that shows when and where the sun (and moon) will rise at any given location and time
• Trip Advisor – reviews of locations, activities and cafes/restaurants
• Instagram – photo inspiration and locations
• Willy Weather – all things weather, sun, moon and tides, swell etc.
• Cloud Free Night – cloud coverage and fog

Entertainment

As the name says, you will spend a lot of time on the road, so start creating a road trip playlist. It might not be the most important step of this road trip planner, but you will want a good playlist when you spend hours on the road. It’s also a great time to catch up on your favourite podcasts.

As for when you’re in your accommodation, I always take a bluetooth speaker for radio and music. I also like to read so take either books or my tablet.

Consider other forms of entertainment you may like in the event of bad weather, or those chill times you’ve planned.

Packing

Number one – check the weather!

This was a rookie mistake on my first long solo road trip. I headed down to Victoria in the middle of summer and spent New Years Day at our famous 12 Apostles. Being summer I had only packed light clothes, yet it was raining, and the maximum temperature for the day was around 8 degrees celsius!

Lesson learned – always pack a set of layers and rain gear. I tend to pack them in a small bag and leave in the back of the car just in case. You may not need to pack and unpack them every day but you’ll be glad you have them.

As for a comprehensive list of what to pack, check out my complete guide on what to pack for a road trip

I’ve also got a free essentials packing checklist that you can download and print.

This list also includes a complete list of all the photography gear I take on every road trip.

And while a scented candle may not be considered essential, it’s something I always take. Somehow it’s like bringing a little bit of home with you.

Some take their own pillow or blanket and hey, it’s a road trip. The only restrictions you have with what you pack is what you can fit in your vehicle.

I’d love to hear if there’s anything you always take for the same reason.

Finally …

Expect the Unexpected

Road Trips can be absolutely awesome and I do love them – they require a lot of planning to be done right, but some things you just can’t plan for. 

Setting yourself up with the mindset can really set the tone for your trip.

They can be draining, both physically and emotionally. There is no one to step in and drive when you’re tired. Things will go wrong and there’s times when you may feel lost.

You may also get scared and lonely at times and possibly feel overwhelmed. Sometimes just having a friend or family member to chat with can help this.

I live alone so being by myself is not usually an issue. BUT, being solo and away from home can be different. You are out of your normal routine, and for me I miss my 3 cats. I’ve found it can be even more important to stay in touch with family and friends.

Now, I’m not saying these things to put you off. The point is to be aware of these possibilities so have some potential strategies in place.

Know that these are all perfectly normal and such feelings will pass.

I fully believe that the rewards from road trips far outweigh any negatives. They often make great stories once you can step back and hopefully have a laugh. You’ll also be proud of yourself for managing whatever the situation was.

You also may ultimately decide that road trips aren’t for you. 

That’s ok.

You wouldn’t have known that if you didn’t at least give it a go. 

There are so many other ways to travel, you might just have to find your perfect fit. 

Everybody being so different is just one of the things that makes our world a wonderful place.

So, When are you planning for your solo road trip?

I hope you’ve enjoyed these steps that I’ve learned along the way. Every road trip I’ve been on I learn something new. May these steps help you plan your own amazing trips and make less mistakes than I have.

Above all else, relax and enjoy planning your trip. I really enjoy the research and planning part of every trip.

It’s a great cure for those post trip blues that happen when you get home. My instant reaction when that kicks in is to start planning the next trip.

Is there anything else you do when you plan a trip that I’ve missed? Please let me know in the comments below – I’d love to hear them!

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That’s it for now – Keep clicking and stay caffeinated

Here’s some more articles and resources I think you’ll like:

• Essential Packing For Your Photography Road Trip
• Planning Your Next Photograph Shoot
• Solo Travel Lessons

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Note – This post does not contain any sponsored or affiliated links. All suggestions and opinions are mine. Unless otherwise stated, all photos are mine and remain my copyright images – Sam Wilson Photography.