How to Plan Out a Road Trip: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide
To plan out a road trip in Australia, you need more than a destination and a playlist. From coastal drives to remote Outback routes, a clear plan helps make your journey safer, smoother, and more enjoyable. This guide covers the key steps to make your journey smoother and more enjoyable.
6 Steps To Plan Out a Road Trip Like A Pro
Step 1: Choose Your Destination and Map Out Your Route
The first step to planning a road trip is choosing a destination that matches your time, vehicle, season, and travel style. A coastal drive along the Great Ocean Road will feel very different from a remote Outback route or a national park camping trip. Once you know where you want to go, map your main route and at least one backup option. Mark fuel stations, rest areas, supermarkets, campsites, and key attractions along the way, especially if you are travelling through regional or remote areas where services can be far apart.
If you are not sure where to start, choosing the right route is one of the easiest ways to plan out a road trip that matches your travel style, driving experience, and available time. Here are some road trip routes for you to choose：
Route | Best For | Trip Style |
Great Ocean Road | First-time road trippers and coastal scenery | Short to medium coastal drive |
Sydney to Brisbane | Beaches, surf towns, and flexible stops | East coast adventure |
Red Centre Way | Outback landscapes and iconic landmarks | Remote adventure |
Perth to Exmouth | Marine life, beaches, and camping | Long coastal road trip |
Food, wine, coast, and national parks | Flexible scenic route | |
Tasmania East Coast | Slow travel, nature, and compact distances | Relaxed island road trip |
Step 2: Set a Realistic Travel Schedule
Australia is bigger than many travellers expect, so avoid packing too much driving into one day. Check the distance between towns, allow time for meals, fuel, rest stops, and sightseeing, and build in flexibility for delays. For longer drives, plan regular breaks and avoid driving when tired. If your route includes rural or remote roads, try to arrive before dark, as wildlife is more active around dawn, dusk, and night.
Step 3: Budget for Fuel, Accommodation, Food, and Activities
A good budget helps you enjoy the trip without unexpected stress. Start with major costs such as fuel, accommodation, food, park entry fees, and paid attractions. Fuel can be more expensive in regional and remote areas, so it is worth checking prices before you leave and filling up when you can. Compare caravan parks, motels, national park campsites, and free camping options depending on your comfort level and route.
Step 4: Pack Smart and Prepare Your Vehicle
Before you leave, check your tyres, spare tyre, oil, coolant, brakes, lights, and wipers. Pack essentials such as drinking water, snacks, sun protection, insect repellent, a first aid kit, a torch, basic tools, and offline maps. For camping, caravanning, or off-grid stops, consider using a dual battery system setup or a portable power station to keep phones, cameras, lights, a portable fridge, or Starlink running without relying on your starter battery.
Step 5: Choose the Right Apps and Tools
The right apps can make your road trip easier to plan, safer to manage, and more flexible on the road. Instead of relying on just one app, it is better to combine navigation, fuel price, camping, and offline map tools.
For everyday navigation: Google Maps is the most commonly used navigation app in Australia, making it a reliable choice for route planning, live traffic updates, local searches, and finding nearby shops, restaurants, and attractions. Recent Australian app usage data shows Google Maps has a much larger share than other navigation apps, with Waze ranking second.
For comparing fuel prices: Petrol Spy is a practical option for checking fuel prices near you or along your route. It covers Australia and New Zealand and helps travellers find nearby service stations and better local fuel deals.
For finding campsites and facilities: WikiCamps Australia is widely used by campers and road trippers to find campsites, caravan parks, dump points, water refill stations, toilets, showers, and other facilities.
For remote travel: Always download offline maps before you leave mobile coverage. For long-distance or outback routes, also check official state road condition websites for closures, flooding, unsealed road warnings, and other travel alerts before setting off.
Step 6: Prepare for the Unexpected
Even the best road trip plan needs room for change. Weather, road closures, vehicle issues, fatigue, and wildlife can all affect your journey. Carry extra water, a first aid kit, jumper leads, a roadside emergency kit, and a reliable way to contact help if you are travelling remotely. Share your route with someone before leaving, check road alerts regularly, and be ready to change plans if conditions are unsafe.
Essential Gear for Your Road Trip
When you plan out a road trip in Australia, packing the right gear is just as important as choosing the route. Long distances, changing weather, limited services, and remote campsites all mean you need to be prepared before you leave. Here are the key essentials to consider:
Food and Drinks
Bring enough drinking water for everyone in the vehicle, especially if you are travelling through regional or remote areas. A reliable cooler or portable fridge can help keep drinks, snacks, and fresh food cold during long drives. It is also worth packing non-perishable food such as muesli bars, canned meals, crackers, and instant noodles in case shops or roadhouses are further apart than expected.
Camping and Outdoor Gear
If camping is part of your trip, pack a sturdy tent, sleeping bags, sleeping mats, camp chairs, cooking gear, and lighting. The weather can change quickly, so bring clothes for both hot days and cooler nights. Sunscreen, insect repellent, hats, and rain protection are also useful, whether you are staying at a national park campsite, a beachside caravan park, or a remote bush camp.
Safety Equipment
A first aid kit, spare water, torch, jumper leads, basic tools, and a roadside emergency kit should always be part of your road trip setup. Before leaving, check that your spare tyre is in good condition and that you have the tools needed to change it. For remote routes, it is also smart to carry offline maps and share your travel plan with someone before you go.
Power Supply
Reliable power becomes especially important on longer drives, camping trips, or off-grid stops. A dual battery system can help keep phones, cameras, lights, portable fridges, laptops, and other essential devices running without draining your vehicle’s starter battery. For remote travel or longer stays, choose a setup with suitable charging options, such as vehicle charging, solar input, or mains charging at powered campsites, so your auxiliary battery can stay topped up throughout the trip.
The EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max + 800W Alternator Charger is a practical option for keeping essential on-board devices powered, from fridges and cameras to phones, lights, laptops, and navigation gear. The DELTA 2 Max offers large-capacity portable power in a durable, easy-to-carry design, while the 800W Alternator Charger uses surplus energy from your vehicle to recharge the power station as you drive, helping you stay powered throughout long drives, off-grid stops, and multi-day road trips.
For travellers with higher power needs on extended road trips, the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus + Alternator Charger Plus 1000 offers a stronger setup for off-grid driving, 4WD touring, and longer camping stays. With a larger capacity and powerful output, it can support more demanding road trip gear, such as cooking appliances, laptops and other essential devices for longer periods. The 1000W Alternator Charger helps recharge the power station quickly while you drive, making it especially useful on long-distance routes where mains power is limited. Its intelligent power management includes multiple operating modes, including reverse charging, to help balance power between your vehicle and your travel equipment while reducing the risk of draining the starter battery.
Comfort Extras
Small comfort items can make a big difference on a long road trip. Portable chairs, picnic blankets, reusable water bottles, travel pillows, books, games, and simple entertainment for kids can make rest stops and campsite evenings more enjoyable.
Road Trip Safety Tips for Australia
Safety should be part of your plan from the beginning, not something you think about after something goes wrong. When you plan out a road trip, always consider the long distances, wildlife, fatigue, weather changes, and limited mobile reception in regional or remote areas. A little preparation can make the difference between a smooth journey and a stressful situation on the road.
Avoid Driving When Tired
Fatigue is one of the biggest risks on long Australian drives. Distances between towns can be much longer than expected, especially in regional areas and the Outback. Plan regular breaks, share the driving if possible, and avoid setting unrealistic daily distances. If you feel tired, stop at a safe rest area, stretch, have some water, or take a short nap before continuing.
Be Careful Around Dawn, Dusk, and Night
Wildlife is more active around dawn, dusk, and after dark, particularly on rural roads. Kangaroos, wombats, cattle, and other animals can appear suddenly and cause serious accidents. If possible, plan your driving schedule so you arrive at your destination before sunset. This is especially important when travelling through country roads, national parks, or remote Outback routes.
Check Weather Alerts and Road Closures
Before setting off each day, check the latest weather forecast and road conditions for your route. You can check the Bureau of Meteorology to help you check forecasts, severe weather warnings, rainfall, flooding risks, extreme heat, and fire weather conditions before you drive. Heavy rain, flooding, bushfire risk, extreme heat, or unsealed road closures can quickly affect your plans. This is particularly important if you are travelling through northern Australia during the wet season or driving on remote tracks where conditions can change quickly.
Carry Enough Water and Emergency Supplies
Always bring more drinking water than you think you will need, especially for long drives through remote areas. A first aid kit, torch, jumper leads, basic tools, spare tyre, phone charger, and roadside emergency kit should also be part of your setup. For remote trips, consider carrying extra food, a paper map, and a reliable way to contact help if mobile reception is limited.
Tell Someone Your Route
If your road trip takes you into remote areas, share your travel plan with a friend, family member, or accommodation provider before you leave. Let them know your route, planned stops, and expected arrival time. This is a simple step, but it can be very important if your vehicle breaks down or you lose reception along the way.
Do Not Underestimate Outback Heat
The Australian Outback can be extremely hot, and heat stress can become dangerous quickly. Avoid travelling in extreme heat where possible, keep extra water in the vehicle, and make sure your car is in good condition before leaving sealed or busy roads. Check your coolant, tyres, and battery before long remote drives.
Stay With Your Vehicle If You Break Down
If your vehicle breaks down in a remote area, stay calm and stay with the car unless there is an immediate danger. A vehicle is much easier for rescuers to spot than a person walking alone. Use shade where possible, conserve water, and contact roadside assistance or emergency services if you have reception. Planning ahead, carrying the right supplies, and knowing what to do in an emergency will help you stay safer throughout your road trip.
Conclusion
Planning a successful Australian road trip is about more than just picking destinations, it’s about preparing for every scenario, staying flexible, and enjoying the journey. With thoughtful planning, the right gear, and reliable power solutions, you can focus on the experiences, scenery, and memories along the way. By following these steps, you’ll be ready to plan out a road trip that’s safe, smooth, and truly unforgettable.
FAQs
Is there a website that helps you plan a road trip?
MyRouteOnline is a multi-stop road trip planner that solves this automatically. Enter all your destinations in any order, and the optimiser sequences them into the smartest route, minimising total drive time while ensuring you visit everything you want to see.
What is the most forgotten item when travelling?
Some of the most commonly forgotten travel items include ID documents, medications, sunscreen, booking confirmations, toiletries, swimwear, cash or payment cards, and phone chargers. For an Australian road trip, offline maps, reusable water bottles, insect repellent, and emergency supplies are also easy to overlook but very important.
How many days do I need for a typical Australian road trip?
The number of days depends on the distance and stops. A short coastal trip like the Great Ocean Road may take 3–5 days, while multi-state journeys, such as Sydney to Cairns via the Pacific Coast, often require 10–14 days. Plan at least half a day per key destination and include buffer time for unexpected delays, rest breaks, and sightseeing. Flexibility is key to enjoying long stretches of road, national parks, and wildlife encounters without rushing.