In this guide
Choosing your type of road trip
The first thing you need to do is decide where you’re going, how long for and who’s coming. This is your starting point that shapes everything from your route to your packing list. Do you fancy a solo trip or do you want company?
Who’s coming on the road trip?
- Solo trip: Travelling alone gives you more freedom on the road and allows you to go at your own pace. For safety, especially when driving abroad, it’s always best to share your travel plans with someone close to you so someone knows where you are
- Couples trip: Travelling with your partner makes it easier to split the cost of the trip between two people. It also means you can take it in turns driving to reduce fatigue. And it’s often more fun with a travel buddy
- Friends trip: As they say, the more the merrier. Bringing friends can make it fun and you could share the costs of things between each other
- Family trip: Going with the family may need more flexibility and stops on the road, especially with young children. Build in time for toilet breaks, snacks and short activities so children don’t get restless
- Group trip: There might be a milestone like a big birthday, stag party or hen do to celebrate so you’ll want to bring a group of both family and friends with you. You could hire a minivan or share the passenger load with another driver and their car
- Pet trip: Bringing your dog or cat will mean you won’t have to worry about them being left at home. But you’ll need to research pet-friendly accommodation, places to eat on your road trip and have a secure carrier or dog seat for safety. If you’re doing a road trip to Europe, you will also need to have a pet passport in date
Road trip cost and budget planning
You’ll also need to decide on your budget and consider all the costs likely on your road trip. There’s more than just the cost of fuel to consider. Using the Post Office Motoring on the Continent Report will show you the average prices of fuel across Europe to help with your budget planning. And don’t forget you’ll need foreign currency for whatever countries you plan to visit.
These are the main things you should factor into your budget.
- Food: Service stations can be good for food and convenience, but they tend to be more expensive than supermarkets. Mapping out supermarket stops on routes will give you better choice and value. You could also bring some of your own food and snacks ahead of the road trip to limit spending
- Accommodation: There are a few options to consider. Camping can help keep costs low and offer flexibility around checking out times while hotels and B&B’s offer more comfort and hot breakfast. You could even do a combination of both: some camping and some hotels, to balance your budget
- Tolls: Tolls can really add up if you don’t account for them upfront. You could try an alternative route to avoid major roads with tolls, but sometimes it’s unavoidable for the route you’ve planned. France, Italy, Denmark and Sweden have some of the highest tolls in Europe
- Parking: You’ll want to factor in parking costs, whether you’re parking in the day to explore towns or cities, or overnight for layovers. Generally, in the UK and Europe, you have to pay for public parking. Remember to check parking restrictions and consider park and rides for better value trips into urban centres
- Insurance: It’s essential to check you’re covered before you set off. Make sure your car insurance policy covers you for driving abroad in Europe (or wherever you take your car). And you’ll also want to safeguard yourself and your passengers. Travel insurance can help with medical costs (outside of the UK), cancellations or other unexpected problems during your road trip
Add a prepaid travel card to your checklist
Calculating road trip journey times
If you forward plan your journey in Goggle Maps, it will only calculate the full drive time without factoring in other things like rest breaks, refuel and unexpected delays with traffic, road works or detours. So always allow at least 20% extra time along with Goggle Maps calculation.
You’ll want to calculate realistic journey times for your trip by taking some things into consideration. Always add buffer time to avoid rushing so you can enjoy the experience:
- Refuelling or charging an EV car
- Roadworks, traffic, diversion and toll delays
- Buying food or eating your prepacked snacks
- Breaks for resting in between driving
- Toilet stops, not all service stations have facilities
How long should you drive for?
You should consider the length of your trip whether it’s a week or two or a few days, and the distance to the places you’re visiting. Driving for long periods of time isn’t advisable, and driving with a family will need more breaks than a trip on the road solo or as a couple. It’s also best to avoid night driving where possible, where fatigue increases.
Recommended guidelines
- It’s recommended you drive for no more than two hours without a taking a short break for safety and alertness. The longer you stay at the wheel, errors and misjudgement can increase (source: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-highway-code/rules-for-drivers-and-motorcyclists-89-to-102)
- A total of seven and a half hours driving per day is advisable as a safety rule of thumb, alongside breaks in between driving to avoid fatigue (source: https://roadsafety.scot/road-user-advice/driver-fatigue/)
Tips for managing fatigue and staying alert
- Share the driving with the other person you’re travelling with. Sharing the load keeps everyone fresher
- When you take breaks, get out of the car, stretch, walk around and get fresh air to reset your mind and body
- Avoid drinking too much tea, caffeine or energy drinks, drink water or healthy juices instead to stay hydrated and full of energy
- Eat light meals as heavy food can make you drowsy, along with snacks including nuts, fruit and granola bars to keep your energy stable without sugar crashes
- Get sufficient sleep the night before you set off on your drive and avoid driving late at night
- Don’t try drive through exhaustion, if you feel drowsy, pull over and take a 20-minute power nap
Roadside pit stops and tips
Where can you stop for services?
Road trips aren’t just about the destination. The journey’s also important: from the scenic roads you take to the music playlists you prepare.
You’ll also need to find some pitstops for breaks. You might need to choose a kid-friendly location or be inspired to find a scenic stop.
- Scenic viewpoints: You might want to embrace a scenic spot, especially a mountain backdrop or rolling countryside hills. This keeps the journey fun and gives you a chance to take photos. A scenic spot could be located at a service station, local restaurant or a picnic area
- Service stations: Great for providing essentials and choice of food, snacks, drinks and even toys for the kids, plus refuelling your car. Some can be expensive, depending on where you’re driving in the UK and in Europe, but are reliable and usually have plenty of options for everyone
- Local cafes and restaurants: This gives you the chance to sample some of the local food and can be better value than service stations. It also gives you the chance to sit down for food and switch off before your next leg of the journey
- Play and picnic areas: These are ideal for families with children for more flexibility and space to move around. It’s also more cost-effective once you’ve got your food and drink. Some might even have food vans or huts on site too
Even though most places in Europe accept contactless and mobile payments, some smaller places still prefer cash, it’s always a good idea to bring some foreign cash with you if you’re planning a European road trip.
Bringing a prepaid travel card like the Post Office Travel Money Card is a great idea. You can lock in rates before you go, add 22 currencies and top up using the free travel app when you need extra money.
Road trips with electric and hybrid vehicles
Taking a road trip with an electric or hybrid car in the UK or Europe will require an extra bit of planning. But once done carefully, it can be easier than you think. Enjoy the freedom of the open road driving smoothly, cleaner and more comfortably, while knowing you’re travelling sustainably.
It’s often cheaper per mile than petrol or diesel. Plus, if you’re planning a road trip in Europe, some electric cars can qualify for access to low-emission zones in certain cities, where older petrol or diesel cars might face restrictions or daily charges.
Electric car planning tips
These are the main considerations before you set off on your road trip to ensure it runs smoothly:
- Range: Before you drive off, check how far your car can go on a full charge. Consider driving speed, terrain, temperature and weather along with how much heating and air conditioning you think you might use. This will also depend on how many passengers you’ll have in the car
- Charging facilities: In the UK, there are over 80,000 charging points and over a million in Europe, with them continuing to grow. You’ll find them at service stations, hotels and other tourist spots. Some facilities can be small with limited plugs while others can be large but very busy. It’s best to research plug types and charging facilities in advance and consider the location and demand in that area
- Apps and websites: Using tools like Pod Point, Zapmap, PlugShare, Chargemap and A Better Routeplanner will show you charging points by plug type, average speed and availability across the UK and Europe, so you can plan convenient stops and find compatible charging stations along the way
- Costs: Deciding on how much you’ll pay for the charging for your road trip. You might already be a member of a network, want to join a new subscription with a new provider, or use paid or free public charging. There are different options so it’s best to decide what is most budget friendly and manageable for your car trip destination
Road trip planning: we can help with that
For whatever type of road trip, you’re planning in the UK or across Europe, The Post Office can help you get all those important admin tasks ticked off your to do list in no time, so you’re ready to drive off happy and prepared.
- Foreign currency: Preorder the currency you need before you head off to avoid higher exchange rates abroad. Order your choice of over 60 currencies online or at selected branches. Collect from any branch on the next working day. You can get euros and US dollars on demand in some branches, too. Plus, we offer delivery to your home using Royal Mail Special Delivery, free if your order values over £500
- Post Office Travel Money Card: Taking this convenient, prepaid and reloadable travel card means you can pay contactless. Load it with euros or any other 21 supporting currencies and benefit from fixed exchange rates whenever you top up via the travel app
- Travel insurance: Get Post Office Travel Insurance to help cover with unexpected things including medical costs and cancellations. You can choose from single trips to multiple trips in a year for yourself and other passengers, across Europe and around the world, so your road trip is protected
- Passports: Apply for or renew adult or child passports, and get your application right first time with our Passport Check & Send service
- Travel eSIMS: Choosing a travel eSIM can help you save money on your roaming charges when you travel. This digital SIM card connects you to local networks so you can use your favourite apps and mobile data just like at home. Whether it is a European city break or a long-haul adventure, an eSIM will help you stay connected without paying expensive roaming fees
Read more: How prepaid currency cards work?
Key takeaways
- Plan your road trip by first deciding who is coming whether it’s a solo trip or a family affair. Then decide on your budget and work out costs for accommodation, food, tolls, parking and insurance
- If you’re doing a road trip in Europe, go cashless and take a Post Office Travel Money Card. Pay contactless, load up to 22 currencies and secure fixed exchange rates. It’s also a good idea to bring some foreign currency to cover things like tolls that might not accept card payments
- Break up your road trip with breaks to avoid fatigue, for safety and to enjoy the journey. Don’t drive for longer than nine hours a day and avoid driving at night where possible
- When calculating your journey time in Google Maps, remember to consider extra time for fuel, food, toilets and breaks. If you’re driving electric, plan station availability on your route and how far you can travel until your next charge
- Check if your car insurance policy is covered for trips outside of the UK and don’t forget about travel insurance for everyone. It can help with medical costs, cancellations or other unexpected problems during your road trip
Order a Travel money card for your road trip
Common questions
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Multiply your car’s miles per gallon (MPG) by average fuel prices along your route where you’ll need to stop and refuel. You can also use an online mileage calculator to calculate the fuel cost of your road trip.
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In the UK, use websites including Highways England, RAC, and The AA for a planned road trip. In Europe, use websites like Tolls.eu and ViaMichelin.
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In the UK and Europe, there’s no fixed law for private drivers. It's recommended that you drive no more than seven and half hours per day to avoid fatigue and making mistakes.
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Yes, you may need to add on cover for driving in Europe, so check what your current car insurance policy covers. Also consider travel insurance to help with health, cancellations and belongings coverage.
- Read more
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Yes, if you choose official campsites or safe parking areas. Always lock doors, keep warm clothing, and plan toilet access.
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Taking foreign currency in cash is useful for things like tolls, cafes, service stations who might not accept cards. You might also need cash to pay tips.
Using a travel money card provides flexibility, being accepted almost anywhere. For example, prepaid travel cards allow you to lock in exchange rates when you top up to avoid currency changes and can also be easily frozen or blocked if they get lost or stolen.
Credit cards are great for bigger expenses, offering purchase protection and rewards like travel points or cashback. They’re widely accepted, offer convenience and security, but watch out for foreign transaction fees and notify your bank of your travel plans to avoid declined payments.
Read more on choosing the right card for spending abroad.
Other travel products
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Travel money
Order foreign currency online or in selected branches. Pick up in any branch or get it delivered to your home
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Travel money card
Get your prepaid Mastercard® that stores up to 22 currencies for convenience
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Travel insurance
Find the right cover for your road trip whether it’s a short or long adventure
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