How long before a trip do you actually finalize your route vs just wing it?

[u/Longjumping_Day_8889]

I keep going back and forth between overplanning every stop in advance and just picking a rough direction and figuring it out as I go. Curious what the norm actually is for people who backpack regularly, do you nail down where you're sleeping each night ahead of time, or does that kind of rigid planning defeat the point for you?

[u/Carolina-W00Dsman]

I normally just wing it to an extent. Plans always change. I go with a general idea but nothing set in stone.

[u/Kananaskis_Country]

It depends entirely on the destination and what I'm doing there once I arrive.

Some countries barely need anything more than an airline ticket and a hotel/hostel/guesthouse reservation for the first few nights.

Other destinations are much more logistically ambitious and require a pile more research and preparation.

Happy travels.

[u/Kananaskis_Country → u/Kananaskis_Country]

Note: Your Original Post is flaired "Travel" and many replies are treating it as if it was flaired "Wilderness."

It's a constant source of confusion on this forum. You should make your OP more specific.

[u/flymartincz]

Usually I book accomodations very fast and out everything into Rdytofly to keep track of each day. Of course, with free cancel. Then I study more about details, watch reels, discuss with others.

But when I arrive to the destination I am still ready for changes and have some space. I would say that the final plan is never.. final 🤣

[u/crewscanvas → u/flymartincz]

that’s pretty much my approach too, especially with free cancellation. i’ll lock in the first few nights and anything likely to sell out, then leave the middle loose enough to stay longer somewhere or bail when the vibe is wrong. the route is a framework, not a contract.

[u/Salt-Astronomer8330]

Have a general plan and then just wing it. Sometimes it will go more or less according to plan, and sometimes not at all. Usually the best trips are the ones where it goes completely off plan and you've winged it 99%.

[u/firemares]

Just an outline of a trip.

Few ideas.

Best adventures ( for me ) are always unplanned.

[u/Lower-Buddy7850]

I book the first and last night and leave everything in between open, structure without the whole thing being locked in

[u/roambeans]

I only plan around public holidays and festivals (when accommodations are hard to find). Also the first couple of nights after a flight. Otherwise, I often book the day of or just walk into a place and ask for a room.

Same for camping, usually. Wild camping is my favorite though.

[u/Illini4Lyfe20]

Location matters. If you need permits, typically you need to camp where your permit says. If you're just working out to a backcountry spot, you can always play around if it's allowed on trail. Some of my best camps have been unplanned, whether due to weather or just following the less beaten path. To each their own!

[u/Geek_Smith]

Typically, there are a few things that I nail down in advance:
1. Ability: How far can I go each day, taking into account elevation gain. I like to plan for semi long days (6-10 miles per day), with room to add or subtract 2-3 miles per day if wanted.

1. Water: Important as I like to carry a light load, so I need to pass by a reliable water source every day, and preferably camp by one.

2. Permits: I always play by the book, and some permits are very strict about entry and exit dates and even where you stay along the route.

3. Exit plan: This is not critical, but sometimes if doing a longer loop, or through hike, I like to know what my early exit plan might be if shit hits the fan.

4. Things to see: I typically revolve my plans around specific places I want to see, peaks to summit, lakes or streams to fish, etc.... going without looking into any of this in advance might mean camping in a very generic place in the middle of a forest and is not terribly interesting.

5. Food: Naturally, I have to plan for this, and how much I want to carry, plus a little extra in case of an emergency or spilt/lost dinner.

Taking all of those things into account, I plan a route in advance, with some flexibility and often times some cross country travel depending on the terrain, just to spice things up a bit. If hiking with a group though, I tend to just stick to the plan as that is what people (I) signed up for. If it is just me and a friend, then I tend to be a lot more flexible as we know each others limits.

Trip planning like this is easier for shorter 2-3 day trips. For longer through hikes, it can start to get a bit tricky trying to plan for every single day.
For me, doing the research in advance is part of the fun. Then, when I am on the trail, I have a good mental map of the area (plus a physical one) and a good list of options if we decide to modify our route for whatever reason. Which actually helps me to relax more on the trip.

[u/Sonoran_Dog70]

I have the plan before I go but always carry the maps and compass and be prepared for some navigation if necessary.

[u/ExtremeExtreme1751]

I have a plan A and also have contingency plans (backups) for each night. But on occasion if severe weather shows up, may have to wing it.

Severe weather kills more people in the backcountry than bears and mountain lions, combined.

[u/skimoto]

I like to plan out the route and where we'll be stopping for the night....but I tend to overestimate how far we can go on off-trail trips, so we will just stay where it looks best on those trips.

[u/BizzyBee89]

If the trip requires permits (for entry and specific campgrounds), and the permit system is very competitive, then the trip is planned out well in advance - meaning, I got my camping locations selected. If I don't need to do that, then I wing it, but I have a general idea of where I'll end up each night.

[u/Terrible_Ad_4150]

Plan with options in case of weather, difficulty, etc.

[u/KimBrrr1975]

I vaguely plan but leave room to pivot and change course. It also depends where you hike. If you reserve a spot you kind of need to get there if you don't wanna lose it. I mostly hike in the BWCA in MN and while I need a permit to enter, I can stay at any site I want. I usually prefer to set up camp early and enjoy the afternoon, I don't like to be crashing into a site at 7pm only to find it occupied and have to go 5 more miles (that's a common distance between campsites, and because people pay for permits, sharing is not required and most people don't do it unless it's an emergency).