Road trip: planning your route, budget and rental

A successful road trip comes down to three choices made before you leave: a realistic itinerary (no more than a few hours on the road per day), a vehicle suited to the terrain and the number of passengers, and the right papers to drive in the country you are visiting. The rest (accommodation, stops, budget) follows from these three decisions.

This guide explains how to plan a road trip step by step: choosing the destination and season, building the itinerary, renting a car abroad or a van, estimating the budget line by line, and checking which license you need. It then offers sample itineraries, each linked to our destination guide, and a checklist to tick before you hit the road.

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What is a road trip, and who is it for?

A road trip is a touring journey by car, van or motorhome where the road is part of the trip. You change stops every one to three days, stop where you like, and reach places poorly served by public transport: nature parks, wild coastlines, inland villages.

It suits couples, groups of friends and families with children who tolerate the car. It suits less well if nobody likes driving, if you mostly want to visit big cities (where a car becomes a parking problem) or if the country drives on the other side of the road or has difficult roads that make you uneasy. For touring trips without a car (train, bus, bike), see our guide to touring trips.

Planning a road trip in 7 steps

1. Choose the destination according to the season. The same country can be ideal in summer and difficult in winter (closed mountain roads, short days). Cross your dates with our « when to go » pages and our Where to go in… section.
2. Set the length and the number of stops. Count the nights, then spread them: one or two nights per stop, with a few longer stops to catch your breath.
3. Draw the route. Loop (start and finish at the same airport, simpler rental) or one-way (more useful road, but possible drop-off fees). Check real journey times on a route planner, not just kilometers or miles.
4. Check the license and the driving rules. International permit if needed, side of the road, vignettes or tolls, compulsory equipment. For UK drivers, the GOV.UK « driving abroad » page is the starting point; for US drivers, AAA issues International Driving Permits.
5. Book the vehicle. Compare the conditions (mileage, deductible, additional driver, one-way) as much as the price; in high season, book early, especially for vans and automatic transmissions.
6. Book the key accommodation. Nights in high-demand areas (national parks, small islands, isolated villages) go first; stay flexible elsewhere.
7. Prepare the car and the apps. Offline maps downloaded, cigarette-lighter charger, cable, first-aid kit, water and snacks: the checklist at the end of the article covers it all.

How many miles per day?

There is no universal rule, but one principle: driving time matters more than distance. A 200 km (124 mi) stage on a motorway and a 200 km stage on mountain roads or tracks are nothing alike. To avoid days spent only behind the wheel, alternate:

Type of day	Target driving time	Use
Transfer day	Half a day of driving at most	Change region, with photo stops and a lunch break
Mixed day	A few hours, split between morning and late afternoon	A visit in the morning, a scenic road in the afternoon
Day on site	Little or no driving	Hiking, beach, exploring a city on foot: the break that makes the trip enjoyable

Add a margin for the unexpected: roadworks, weather, a full ferry, unplanned stops. An itinerary that is too tight is the first cause of a disappointing road trip.

Sample road trip itineraries

These route ideas give you an outline; each destination guide details the stops, distances and best season. Durations are comfortable minimums, not records.

Destination	Recommended length	Type of road	Best period (see guide)
Iceland (ring road)	10 days to 2 weeks	Paved main road; Highlands tracks for 4×4 only	When to go to Iceland
Scotland and Highlands	8 to 12 days	Narrow roads, sometimes single-track, driving on the left	Scotland guide
Ireland (west coast)	8 to 12 days	Winding coastal roads, driving on the left	When to go to Ireland
Norway (fjords)	10 days to 2 weeks	Mountain roads, many ferries	When to go to Norway
Portugal (north to the Algarve)	8 to 12 days	Toll motorways and national roads	Portugal guide
Andalusia	7 to 10 days	Motorways and white-village roads	Andalusia guide
Tuscany, Puglia or Sicily	7 to 10 days	Country roads, historic centers often with restricted access	Italy guide
Corsica	7 to 10 days	Slow, winding mountain roads	Corsica guide
Croatia (Dalmatian coast)	8 to 12 days	Motorway and coastal road, ferries to the islands	Croatia guide
California and the American West	2 to 3 weeks	Long distances, national parks	United States guide
New Zealand	2 to 3 weeks	Mostly two-lane roads, driving on the left	When to go to New Zealand
Australia (one region)	2 to 3 weeks	Very long distances, driving on the left	Australia guide
Costa Rica	10 days to 2 weeks	Some unpaved roads, 4×4 useful depending on route	Costa Rica guide
Réunion	8 to 12 days	Winding mountain roads	Réunion guide
Morocco	8 to 12 days	Main roads and mountain roads	Morocco guide

Car, van or motorhome: what to rent?

Vehicle	Strengths	Weaknesses	Who for
Rental car	Flexible, easy to park, more fuel-efficient	Accommodation to book each night	Couples, families, itineraries with cities
Camper van	Freedom of stops, basic kitchen on board	Limited comfort, overnight parking rules vary by country	Couples, flexible travelers
Motorhome	Independence, space, bathroom depending on model	Hard to handle on narrow roads, higher fuel consumption, campsites to plan	Families, long stays
4×4	Access to permitted tracks	More expensive to rent and to fuel	Iceland (Highlands), tracks in Costa Rica

What to check in the rental contract

• Mileage: unlimited or capped, and the cost of each extra mile or kilometer.
• Deductible (excess): the amount left to you in case of damage, and what the buy-back options cover; some credit cards cover the deductible, so read their terms before buying an option at the counter.
• Exclusions: tracks, fords, undercarriage, windscreen, tires and roof are often excluded from standard cover.
• One-way rentals: drop-off fees if you return the vehicle elsewhere, sometimes high between two countries.
• Border crossings and ferries: permission is needed depending on the rental company.
• Additional driver, minimum age and license seniority: conditions specific to each rental company.
• Fuel: full-to-full or another policy; fuel type or charging for an electric vehicle.
• Security deposit: a credit card in the main driver’s name is usually required; check your card’s limit.

When you pick up the vehicle, photograph or film the bodywork, wheels, windscreen and interior, with the odometer and fuel gauge visible. Have any defect noted on the check-in form.

Driver’s license and driving rules abroad

Rules vary by country: some accept your home license for a short stay, others require an international driving permit (IDP) in addition, or a certified translation. Check the rules of each country on your route before you go.

• UK drivers: GOV.UK says you might need an IDP to drive in some countries, so check for each country you visit. Don’t apply for an IDP if you are moving abroad. You can get one in person at certain shops that have PayPoint; GOV.UK lists the price as £5.50 (checked 12 November 2026). Carry your valid GB or Northern Ireland license; if taking your own vehicle, your log book (V5C) and insurance certificate; for a vehicle hired or leased in the UK, a VE103 certificate; and a UK country sticker and any equipment the destination requires.
• US drivers: AAA issues International Driving Permits only to people who hold a valid US driver’s license (including license holders in Guam, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands). AAA lists a $20 permit fee, plus a $10 passport photo fee if you apply online, with about 5 business days of processing plus shipping; permits cannot be issued more than six months before the desired effective date. An IDP is a translation of your license, « not a license to drive »: carry your US license with it (AAA, checked 12 November 2026).
• Driving on the left: United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Mauritius… If you are new to this side of the road, choose an automatic transmission. US drivers in particular should plan a quiet first day.
• Tolls and vignettes: some countries use a sticker (vignette) or electronic toll; find out before crossing the border.

Road trip budget: the items to plan for

We don’t give an average amount: it depends too much on the country, season, vehicle and number of travelers. The method below lets you build your own estimate from real quotes.

Item	How to estimate it	Don’t forget
Vehicle rental	Quote for your exact dates, options included	One-way fees, additional driver, child seat, GPS
Fuel or charging	Total distance × vehicle consumption × local fuel price	Detours and mountain roads increase consumption
Accommodation	Number of nights × price found for your dates	Campsites for a van or motorhome, tourist tax
Meals	Groceries and picnics vs restaurants, decided day by day	Water and snacks for long stages
Tolls, vignettes, parking	Motorway company simulator or country sheet	Parking in city centers and at natural sites
Ferries and crossings	Vehicle + passenger fare on the operator’s site	Compulsory booking in high season on some routes
Entrance fees and activities	List of the paid sites you chose	National park passes if relevant
Insurance and the unexpected	Deductible buy-back, travel insurance, safety margin	Fines, tire repair, an unplanned night

Sharing fixed costs (vehicle, fuel, multi-bed rooms) makes the formula cheaper with several people. To reduce the bill, see also our tips for finding a cheaper flight and the currency converter.

Safety and insurance

• Leave nothing visible in a parked vehicle, especially in tourist-site car parks.
• Take regular breaks; avoid driving at night on roads you don’t know.
• Check what your travel insurance covers in case of a road accident and repatriation, and whether your credit card covers the rental deductible: our travel insurance guide details the cover.

Road trip checklist

Frequently asked questions

Our sources

• GOV.UK, « Driving abroad », checked 12 November 2026.
• AAA, International Driving Permit, checked 12 November 2026.
• Our methodology

Updated November 2026.