Plan a Road Trip – Route, Costs & Tips for the Perfect Trip

No idea which route, who drives and what it costs?

Plan your road trip with friends: route with multiple stops, costs at a glance & everyone on the same page.

Plan your road trip now – free

Why plan a road trip?

Freedom on four wheels

No fixed flight schedule, no hotel constraints – stop wherever you like and discover places off the beaten path.

Travel cheap as a group

Gas, tolls and accommodation split by the group – road trips are often cheaper than package holidays.

Unforgettable experiences

The best memories happen on the road: spontaneous stops, sunsets and shared adventures.

Sound familiar?

Route unclear

Everyone has different ideas about the route, nobody knows where to go and planning drags on forever.

Cost chaos

Who pays for gas? Who pays tolls? In the end everyone owes everyone – and nobody has an overview.

Organized in 5 apps

Route in Google Maps, costs in Excel, packing list in Notes, voting via WhatsApp – everything scattered, nothing together.

Holiplan solves this

One app for everything: plan routes, split costs, vote together and stay connected on the road. Everyone sees the same thing, in real time.

Why not Google Maps, Excel or WhatsApp?

Google Maps: Great for navigation, but no group planning or cost splitting
Excel: Messy, not synced live, no mobile access on the road
WhatsApp: Important info gets lost in the message flood
Holiplan: Route + costs + voting + live tracking – all in one app

5 steps to the perfect road trip

1. Plan your route

Choose your stops on the map, calculate driving times and plan breaks. With Holiplan you see the entire route at a glance.

2. Plan your budget

Calculate gas, tolls, accommodation and food. With cost splitting in Holiplan everyone keeps track.

3. Create a checklist

First aid kit, warning triangle, snacks, playlist – create a shared packing list so nothing gets forgotten.

4. Vote together

Which stops are a must? Where to stay? Vote together and avoid endless discussions.

5. Stay connected on the road

Share your live location, save memories in your travel diary and keep everyone in the loop.

Pro tips for your road trip

Don't plan more than 4-5 hours of driving per day – leave time to explore.
Book the first and last night in advance, stay flexible in between.
Fill up in cheaper countries (e.g. Luxembourg, Austria instead of Germany).
Download offline maps – there's not always cell service.
Take turns driving and plan driver changes in advance.

Road trip checklist – don't forget these

Vehicle check: oil, tire pressure, first aid kit, warning triangle
Documents: driver's license, registration, insurance card, vignettes
Navigation: offline maps, charging cable, phone mount
Supplies: water, snacks, gum to stay alert
Entertainment: playlists, podcasts, road trip games
Emergency kit: flashlight, blanket, cash for tolls

What does a road trip cost? Estimates per person

Gas / charging: €15-30 per day (with 4 people in the car)
Tolls & vignettes: €5-20 per day (depending on country)
Accommodation: €15-50 per night (camping to Airbnb)
Food: €20-40 per day (cooking to restaurant)

Total: approx. €50-100 per person per day – often cheaper than a package holiday with a group

Popular road trip routes

🏔️

German Alpine Road

From Lindau on Lake Constance to Berchtesgaden – 450 km through Bavaria's most beautiful Alpine landscapes.

🌊

Côte d'Azur

From Nice via Monaco to Saint-Tropez – pure Mediterranean vibes along the coastal road.

🍋

Amalfi Coast

From Naples via Positano to Ravello – Italy's most dramatic coastal road with breathtaking views.

Frequently asked questions about road trip planning

What do I need for a road trip?
A roadworthy car, valid documents (driver's license, registration, insurance card), a planned route and a packing list. With Holiplan you can organize everything together.
How do I plan a road trip route?
Start by defining your start and end points, then the highlights in between. Calculate driving times realistically (max 4-5h/day) and plan breaks. In Holiplan you can add all stops to the map and adjust together.
How much does a road trip through Europe cost?
Rough estimate: €50-100 per person per day incl. gas, tolls, accommodation and food. With 4 people in a car, costs become very affordable. Holiplan helps you split all expenses fairly.
Which app is best for road trip planning?
For route planning alone Google Maps works, but for group planning (shared route, cost splitting, voting) you need a tool like Holiplan – built specifically for road trips with friends.

Ready for your road trip?

Plan the perfect route with friends, split costs fairly and keep everything organized.

Plan road trip now
Holiplan – Plan Trips with Friends | Free Group Travel App