Road Trip Planner

Optimizes driving routes with scenic detours, strategic gas stops, local food recommendations, roadside attractions, and rest-stop planning for safe multi-day drives. This skill creates a complete road trip itinerary that balances efficiency with adventure, factoring in driver fatigue, vehicle range, passenger preferences, and seasonal road conditions. Works with route knowledge from Google Maps, Roadtrippers, GasBuddy, and regional travel guides across North America, Europe, and Australia.

Supported Platforms & Integrations

Platform	Integration Type	Features
Google Maps	Route planning	Turn-by-turn directions, ETA calculation
Roadtrippers	Attraction data	Roadside attractions, scenic viewpoints
GasBuddy	Fuel planning	Gas prices along route, station locations
Yelp	Food stops	Highly-rated restaurants near planned stops
iOverlander	Camping spots	Free camping and overnight parking locations
Weather.com	Conditions	Road weather and seasonal pass closures

When to Use This Skill

• Use this when planning a multi-day driving trip and need structured daily driving segments

• Use this when you want to discover interesting stops along a route rather than just driving point-to-point

• Use this when calculating fuel costs and optimal refueling points for a long-distance drive

• Use this when traveling with kids and need regular rest stops and entertainment breaks

• Use this when driving through unfamiliar regions and need safety-aware route suggestions

• Use this when choosing between the fastest route and the most scenic alternative

• Consider alternatives when planning a single-city trip without driving (use a city guide)

• Consider alternatives when booking flights between destinations (use a flight search tool)

• Consider alternatives when planning an RV trip with hookup requirements (use an RV-specific planner)

Quick Start

Copy
# roadtrip-config.yml
trip:
  start: "San Francisco, CA"
  end: "Portland, OR"
  duration_days: 3
  vehicle:
    type: "sedan"
    mpg: 30
    tank_gallons: 14
  priorities:
    - "scenic coastal route"
    - "local seafood"
    - "redwood forests"
  daily_driving_max: "6 hours"

First run example:

> Plan a 3-day road trip from San Francisco to Portland via the coast.

Day 1: San Francisco → Mendocino (4.5 hrs driving)
  9:00 AM — Depart SF via Golden Gate Bridge (stop for photos)
  10:30 AM — Muir Woods (1 hour, reserve timed entry)
  12:30 PM — Lunch at Bodega Bay (fish tacos at Fishetarian)
  3:00 PM — Point Arena Lighthouse (30 min stop)
  5:00 PM — Arrive Mendocino, check in
  Dinner: Cafe Beaujolais (reserve ahead)
  Gas: Fill up in Bodega Bay (cheapest on this stretch)

Day 2: Mendocino → Eureka (4 hrs driving)
  ...
Day 3: Eureka → Portland (6 hrs driving)
  ...
Total: 720 miles | Est. fuel: $95 | 14.5 hrs driving

Advanced Configuration

Copy
# Vehicle details
vehicle:
  type: "SUV"
  mpg: 22
  fuel_type: "regular"
  tank_gallons: 18
  ev: false

# Preferences
preferences:
  route_style: "scenic"
  food_type: ["local", "diners", "bbq"]
  accommodation: "motel"
  budget_per_day: 150
  kid_friendly: true
  dog_friendly: false

Parameter	Type	Default	Description
start	string	required	Starting city or address
end	string	required	Destination city or address
duration_days	number	required	Number of driving days
route_style	string	"balanced"	Options: fastest, scenic, balanced, backroads
daily_driving_max	string	"6 hours"	Maximum driving hours per day
vehicle_type	string	"sedan"	Options: sedan, SUV, truck, van, RV, motorcycle
mpg	number	28	Vehicle fuel efficiency
accommodation	string	"hotel"	Options: hotel, motel, camping, airbnb, car
food_style	string	"local"	Options: local, fast-food, packed-lunch, fine-dining
rest_stop_interval	string	"2 hours"	How often to plan rest stops
must_see	array	[]	Mandatory stops to include in the route
avoid	array	[]	Roads or areas to avoid (tolls, highways, etc.)

Core Concepts

Concept	Description
Drive-Time Budget	Total hours behind the wheel per day, including buffer for traffic
Range Anxiety Buffer	Planning fuel stops at 75% tank capacity rather than near-empty
Scenic Detour Ratio	Time added by scenic routes vs fastest path (aim for under 30%)
Fatigue Segments	Breaking drives into 2-hour blocks with mandatory stops
Shoulder Stops	Brief 15-minute stops at viewpoints that barely add time but add value

+------------------+     +-------------------+     +------------------+
| Route Endpoints  | --> | Route Generator   | --> | Stop Planner     |
| (start, end,     |     | (fastest vs       |     | (gas, food,      |
|  waypoints)      |     |  scenic options)  |     |  rest, sights)   |
+------------------+     +-------------------+     +------------------+
                                                          |
                                                          v
+------------------+     +-------------------+     +------------------+
| Day-by-Day       | <-- | Schedule Builder  | <-- | Segment Divider  |
| Itinerary        |     | (times, durations |     | (daily driving   |
| (printable)      |     |  meal slots)      |     |  segments)       |
+------------------+     +-------------------+     +------------------+

Workflow Examples

Scenario 1: Family Road Trip with Kids

Input: "Drive from Denver to Yellowstone with 2 kids (ages 6 and 9). 2 days. They like dinosaurs and swimming."
Output:
Day 1: Denver → Casper, WY (4.5 hrs + stops)
  9:00 AM — Depart Denver
  11:00 AM — Stop at Fort Collins for stretching and snacks
  12:30 PM — Lunch in Cheyenne (Terry Bison Ranch — kids can see buffalo)
  2:00 PM — Dinosaur exhibit at Tate Geological Museum, Casper (free!)
  4:30 PM — Check in, swim at hotel pool
  Gas: Fill up in Cheyenne (cheapest prices on route)

Day 2: Casper → Yellowstone (4 hrs + stops)
  8:00 AM — Early start, breakfast at hotel
  10:00 AM — Thermopolis Hot Springs State Park (swimming in hot springs, kid-friendly)
  12:00 PM — Lunch in Cody (Irma Hotel, built by Buffalo Bill)
  2:00 PM — Enter Yellowstone East Entrance
  Kid fatigue plan: Audiobook or tablet time for highway stretches over 90 minutes

Scenario 2: Motorcycle Trip on Blue Ridge Parkway

Input: "Motorcycle ride on Blue Ridge Parkway from Asheville to Roanoke. 2 days. Love twisty roads and mountain views."
Output:
Day 1: Asheville → Blowing Rock (4 hrs riding, many curves)
  Best morning light section: Craggy Gardens (mile 364) — stop at overlook
  Fuel warning: No gas stations on the Parkway — exit at MP 355 for fuel
  Lunch: Famous Louise's Rock House Restaurant (Linville Falls exit)
  Afternoon: Grandfather Mountain — highest point on Parkway, worth the detour
  Accommodation: Blowing Rock — multiple options, walk to town for dinner
  Rain backup: Section MP 350-380 has tree cover, rideable in light rain

Day 2: Blowing Rock → Roanoke (5 hrs riding)
  Must-stop: Mabry Mill (MP 176) — most photographed spot on the Parkway
  Twisty highlight: Section MP 230-260, tight switchbacks through forest

Scenario 3: Budget Cross-Country Move

Input: "Driving from NYC to LA in a loaded Camry. 5 days. Minimize cost, sleep cheap, see one thing per day."
Output:
Route: I-70 through Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California
Daily budget: ~$80 (gas $35, food $25, motel $20 with Motel 6)
Day 1: NYC → Pittsburgh (6 hrs) — Free: Andy Warhol Museum exterior, Strip District walk
Day 2: Pittsburgh → St. Louis (9 hrs) — Free: Gateway Arch grounds, Ted Drewes frozen custard ($4)
Day 3: St. Louis → Garden City, KS (7 hrs) — Free: Dodge City Boot Hill Museum
Day 4: Garden City → Moab, UT (8 hrs) — Free: Arches NP viewpoints from road
Day 5: Moab → LA (10 hrs) — Early start, arrive evening
Total gas estimate: $185 (2,800 miles at 30 mpg, $2.95 avg)

Best Practices

Front-load your driving each day. Start early while you are fresh and the roads are empty. Plan your most interesting stop for mid-afternoon as a reward for getting the miles done. Driving four hours in the morning feels easy.

Never pass a gas station below half tank in rural areas. In the western US, Australia, and rural Europe, gaps between stations can exceed 100 miles. The skill calculates fuel stops using a 75% tank threshold rather than waiting until near-empty. It flags stretches where the next station is more than 50 miles away so you can plan accordingly.

Book accommodation by 3 PM in peak season. During summer months on popular routes (Pacific Coast Highway, Route 66, Blue Ridge Parkway), motels in small towns sell out by late afternoon. The skill recommends making a reservation for your overnight stop in the morning or the night before, especially for towns with fewer than five lodging options.

Plan one highlight per day, not five. The best road trips are about the driving experience and spontaneous discoveries, not a checklist of attractions. The skill suggests one anchor stop per day — a national park, a quirky roadside attraction, a legendary restaurant — and leaves room for unplanned detours. Over-scheduling turns a relaxing drive into a stressful schedule.

Check seasonal road closures before committing to a route. Mountain passes, national park roads, and coastal highways can be closed for months due to snow, landslides, or construction. The skill flags known seasonal closures — Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier NP (closed October through June), Tioga Pass in Yosemite (closed November through May), and similar — so you are not surprised by a closed road.

Common Issues

Problem: Estimated drive times seem too short. The skill uses base driving times without traffic. Add 20-30% for urban areas during rush hour, 10% for mountain roads, and 15% for construction zones. Also factor in that you will drive slower than GPS estimates on scenic routes because you will be stopping for photos and viewpoints.

Problem: Cannot find accommodation in a small town. Expand your search radius to 30 miles from your planned stop. In truly remote areas, consider free camping options via iOverlander or rest area overnight parking (legal in many US states for one night). The skill flags towns with fewer than 3 accommodation options so you can book ahead.

Problem: Kids are restless after long driving segments. Set rest_stop_interval: "90 minutes" and kid_friendly: true. The skill will find playgrounds, rest areas with grass, and interactive stops (visitor centers, animal farms) every 90 minutes. Download audiobooks or podcasts for in-car entertainment during unavoidable long stretches.

Privacy & Data Handling

• Local processing: All route planning, fuel calculations, and itinerary generation happens locally in your Claude Code session. No location data is sent to mapping services.
• Data retention: Trip plans exist only during the active session. Export your itinerary to a local file before ending the session.
• Export options: Export as markdown document, printable day-by-day cards, CSV waypoint list for GPS import, or JSON for programmatic use.
• Sensitive data: The skill does not access your vehicle's GPS, odometer, or fuel gauge. All vehicle and location data is provided by you manually.
• No tracking: Your route information and travel dates are not stored, shared, or used for any purpose beyond generating your itinerary.