First time planning a European road trip

[limmy01]

Hi everyone,
I’m planning my first European road trip for September 2027 with four mates, and I’m looking for some advice and recommendations from people who’ve done something similar.
The main goal of the trip is to get to Spa-Francorchamps for a track day, which is something we’re all really keen to do. However, rather than just driving there, doing the track day and coming straight home, we want to make a proper road trip out of it!
We’re looking at around 4–5 nights in total, travelling from the UK and exploring the surrounding area along the way.
We’re likely to be taking a bit of a mixed bag of cars, including BMW Z4, a Mercedes, a Ford Mustang and possibly an American classic, so the driving and the cars are going to be a big part of the fun.
I’d love to hear from anyone who has done a similar trip, particularly if you can offer advice on:
Routes: Best way to get from the UK to Spa and back, including any scenic roads worth taking.
Places to visit: Any must-see towns, mountain roads, driving routes or attractions in Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany or the surrounding areas.

Hotels/accommodation recommendations for places that are good for a group of four, ideally with secure parking and somewhere decent to eat and have a few beers in the evening.

As it’s our first proper European road trip, I’d really appreciate any advice, suggested routes, hotel recommendations.

[595Heaven]

I've done a couple of trips, the first of which included a stop at Spa. It's very quick to get there from the ferry / tunnel, so you will be able to explore a fair distance in 4/5 days.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Hopefully some inspiration there. We're planning another trip next year. Cannot wait...

[limmy01]

595Heaven said:

I've done a couple of trips, the first of which included a stop at Spa. It's very quick to get there from the ferry / tunnel, so you will be able to explore a fair distance in 4/5 days.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Hopefully some inspiration there. We're planning another trip next year. Cannot wait...

Both were great reads and full of inspiration, cheers pal! Day 1 is now sorted and locked in, once I have the full trip, will post it here for suggestions and to makesure I've not overlooked anything

[Panamax]

In Spa, stay at the Van der Valk Hotel (previously known as the Radisson Blu).

On track you will be surprised by,

• The big changes of elevation.
• The sheer number or turns there are to try to learn
• The absurdly tight hairpin right off the start/finish straight
• The thrill of dropping down through Eau Rouge and then on up the hill
• How poor road cars are on a big circuit.

Enjoy!

[OIC]

Sounds great.

[limmy01]

The Plan so far! Let me know what you think, if anything i might not of thought about, hotel and food recommendations would also be great..

Loughborough → Reims-Gueux → Northern Vosges → Black Forest B500 → Nürburgring → Spa-Francorchamps → Home

5 days • 4 countries • 3 legendary circuits • 5 cars at current, but still more joining

Day 1 | Loughborough → Reims
Loughborough → Folkestone → LeShuttle → Calais → Reims-Gueux → Reims
Photo stop at the historic circuit
Reims

Day 2 | Reims → Germany
Reims → Phalsbourg → bhe → Northern Vosges → Speyer/Hockenheim
Scenic forest and mountain roads

Day 3 | Black Forest → Nürburgring
Speyer → Baden-Baden → B500 Black Forest → Freudenstadt → Autobahn → Nürburgring
Early morning blast along the B500
Afternoon/evening Nordschleife laps


Day 4 | Nürburgring → Spa
Nürburg → B258 → Eifel → Ardennes → Spa-Francorchamps
Scenic run through the Eifel and Ardennes
Afternoon at Spa

Day 5 | Spa → Home
Spa → Liège → Mons → Calais → LeShuttle → Folkestone → Loughborough

Approximate split:

Day 1: Loughborough → Reims: ~340 miles
Day 2: Reims → Speyer/Hockenheim: ~250 miles
Day 3: Black Forest → Nürburgring: ~260 miles
Day 4: Nürburgring → Spa: ~75 miles
Day 5: Spa → Calais → Loughborough: ~325 miles

Total: ~1,250 miles

[595Heaven]

That sounds great!

[Poseidon]

limmy01 said:

The Plan so far! Let me know what you think, if anything i might not of thought about, hotel and food recommendations would also be great..

Loughborough ? Reims-Gueux ? Northern Vosges ? Black Forest B500 ? Nürburgring ? Spa-Francorchamps ? Home

5 days 4 countries 3 legendary circuits 5 cars at current, but still more joining

Day 1 | Loughborough ? Reims
Loughborough ? Folkestone ? LeShuttle ? Calais ? Reims-Gueux ? Reims
Photo stop at the historic circuit
Reims

Day 2 | Reims ? Germany
Reims ? Phalsbourg ? bhe ? Northern Vosges ? Speyer/Hockenheim
Scenic forest and mountain roads

Day 3 | Black Forest ? Nürburgring
Speyer ? Baden-Baden ? B500 Black Forest ? Freudenstadt ? Autobahn ? Nürburgring
Early morning blast along the B500
Afternoon/evening Nordschleife laps


Day 4 | Nürburgring ? Spa
Nürburg ? B258 ? Eifel ? Ardennes ? Spa-Francorchamps
Scenic run through the Eifel and Ardennes
Afternoon at Spa

Day 5 | Spa ? Home
Spa ? Liège ? Mons ? Calais ? LeShuttle ? Folkestone ? Loughborough

Approximate split:

Day 1: Loughborough ? Reims: ~340 miles
Day 2: Reims ? Speyer/Hockenheim: ~250 miles
Day 3: Black Forest ? Nürburgring: ~260 miles
Day 4: Nürburgring ? Spa: ~75 miles
Day 5: Spa ? Calais ? Loughborough: ~325 miles

Total: ~1,250 miles

Assuming you’re using AI to route?

I did the same with a 3,000 mile euro trip this year. It was great for doing basic planning but watch the distances and drive times as its sometimes way off.

It’s saying Spa to Loughborough is 325 miles in your post, Google maps suggests it’s actually 435.

[limmy01]

Poseidon said:

Assuming you re using AI to route?

I did the same with a 3,000 mile euro trip this year. It was great for doing basic planning but watch the distances and drive times as its sometimes way off.

It s saying Spa to Loughborough is 325 miles in your post, Google maps suggests it s actually 435.

Good spot pal, plan to actually input the routes, roads we want and stops on Google maps, do hopefully that should show the full extent of the trip. I split it as best as I could over the five days, as the first draft was like 10 hours on day 1 , another slog on day 2 giving us day 3 at the ring all day. Would be nice to balance it even more, buts it's tricky with the roads and places we want.