These are our top 9 road trip tips to help you plan the adventure of a lifetime—and yes, you can do it without breaking the bank!
After all, nearly 10 years of road-tripping through Europe, has taught us some tricks that have really upped our road trip game.
7 bonus budget tips at the end to make your road trip more cost-effective!
1. Pick Fewer Destinations
Europe is beautiful. And it’s huge. Picking out the best road trip destinations can be extremely overwhelming, it’s so tempting to try and see everything in one trip. But trust us—rushing from place to place leaves you feeling more stressed than fulfilled. Instead, slow down.
Pick fewer destinations and really savor them. Over the years, we’ve adopted a slow-living mindset, and it’s made all the difference in how much we actually enjoy our trips.
2. Pack Road Trip Food in Advance
Food can be one of the biggest expenses on the road. In the beginning, we relied on pricey rest stop meals along the way, which quickly ate into our budget. We live in Madrid and often drive for many hours to get to the country we want to travel around. Now, we always pack our own snacks—it’s a simple way to save money and eat better. Whether it’s a supermarket run for fresh produce or making sandwiches the night before—everyone has their own version of the best snacks for a road trip.
Here are some road trip snack ideas we love:
- Caesar salad tortilla wraps
- Cherry tomatoes and other cut up fruits and veggies
- Nuts and dried fruit
- Yogurt that we keep in our electric cooler box
The Ultimate Road Trip Planner makes planning your trip easy and stress-free. It helps you organize your route with interactive Google maps, pit stop tacker, toll booth tracker, budget tracker and so much more! Whether it’s a weekend getaway or a long adventure, this digital planner keeps everything on track, so you can enjoy the journey.
3. Create an Essentials Packing List
Ever forget something crucial on a road trip? We have, too—more times than we care to admit! The best way to avoid this is to keep a fixed packing list of essentials you bring on every trip.
That way, you’ll always have your must-haves ready to go. We’ve even created a handy road trip planner with packing lists and tons of other resources to plan the perfect road trip, so check that out if you need a little extra help!
4. Beat Europe Weather
Weather in Europe can change quickly! We once packed for a sunny picnic on the French Riviera, only to end up huddling in the car during a surprise thunderstorm. Lesson learned: always check the weather forecast in the days leading up to and during your trip. We like to use Meteoblue for the most reliable updates.
5. Take The Scenic Route
Europe’s beauty is unmatched, and one of the best things about a road trip is the flexibility to explore its scenic routes. Sure, it might take a little longer, but the memories and photos are worth it. Bonus: these routes often avoid tolls, so you’re saving money too!
6. Keep the Kids (or Teens!) Entertained
If you’re traveling with kids, you’ll want to keep them involved. Whether it’s letting them choose a lunch spot, create a road trip playlist, or start their own travel vlog, keeping them busy adds a layer of fun to the trip. And if you’ve got teens, like we do, trust us—keeping them entertained makes for a smoother ride. No more “are we there yet?” Or “I’m bored!”.
7. Pack Entertainment for Everyone
It’s not just the kids who get bored on long stretches of road—adults do too! Be sure to have plenty of entertainment options, from downloaded Netflix shows to podcasts or a audio books (to avoid getting car sick). It’ll make those endless highways more bearable, especially after you’ve had your fill of family bonding time.
8. Create a List of Travel Must-Haves to Stay Comfortable
Long road trips can be tough on the body. We always make sure to switch drivers when possible, stop to stretch, and pack travel must-haves things like neck pillows to stay comfortable. It might seem small, but comfort really matters when you’re on the road for hours.
9. It’s All About the Journey
One of the best things about road trips is that they’re not just about the destination—it’s the journey that counts. Make unscheduled stops, explore those charming European villages you pass by, and soak in the moments weather it’s a family trip or a solo trip. After all, the whole point of a road trip is to enjoy the ride!
Bonus: Budget Road Trip Tips!
Now that you’re prepped for your dream European road trip, here are a few tips to make sure it stays within budget:
– Travel during the off-season: Europe is beautiful year-round, and you’ll save loads by avoiding peak travel seasons.
– Stay outside touristy areas: Book accommodation and restaurants a little further from the city center—you’ll find better prices and sometimes even better quality.
– Pack light: The heavier the car, the more fuel you’ll use. Every little bit helps!
– Budget for tolls: Avoid them when you can by selecting the “no tolls” option on Google Maps. On the plus side, by choosing this option, it usually takes you through the scenic route.
– Know the local road rules: Fines can really mess up your budget, so brush up on speed limits, road signs and parking rules.
– Get the right data plan: Make sure your phone plan covers you in the countries you’re visiting to avoid crazy roaming charges, especially in non-EU countries like Switzerland or Monaco.
If you are travelling from outside of Europe, you might want to check out Airalo. It offers travelers the convenience of eSIMs, allowing them to stay connected in over 200 countries without the hassle of buying local SIM cards or facing high roaming fees.
Watch Our Ultimate Road Trip Guide on YouTube!
Check out our Ultimate Road Trip Guide: Top Tips & Must-Have Essentials YouTube video for a complete summary of this info! Let us know in the comments where your next road trip will be!
More Travel Inspiration for Your European Road Trips!
If you’re planning a road trip through Europe, you might also enjoy some of my other blog posts for more travel inspiration and tips. Check out 9 Road Trip Tips: Plan a Road Trip Around Europe for essential planning advice, or dive into Paris in Autumn: Your Complete Travel Guide for a seasonal look at the City of Light. Looking to save while exploring? Boujee on a Budget: A Day in Granville, Normandy, France shares tips for a chic but affordable visit. And if you’re deciding where to go next, Best Places to Go in Autumn in Europe has some great suggestions!
Amazon Travel Road Trip Essentials
No road trip is complete without the right essentials to keep you comfortable, organised, and prepared for anything along the way. I’ve put together a list of my favourite Amazon road trip essentials, from must-have travel gadgets to practical items that make the journey easier and more enjoyable. These essentials have been lifesavers on my own trips, and I’m sure they’ll help you make the most of yours! For more ideas, check out my full list of Amazon Budget Travel Essentials.
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