EV Journey & Charging Stop Planner

Estimate the distance, drive time, and number of rapid charging stops for any UK road trip. Enter your start and destination towns, your EV's real-world range, and your starting charge to get a quick, honest planning estimate. For motorway coverage and tips on planning a long trip, read the EV road trip guide.

The default 1.2 is a chosen assumption, not a measured road uplift. Change it to your mapped road distance divided by the straight-line distance shown below. Enter a finite number of at least 1.

Default range and charge levels are editable examples. Distances start from straight-line estimates between town centres and use your multiplier. There is no live routing; confirm the route and charging stops with a routing app.

City of London to Manchester

~163 miles

Straight-line estimate. Assumed road distance: ~196 miles using your 1.2 multiplier.

Estimated charging stops

1

rapid charge stops

Est. drive time

3 hr 16 min

assumed average speed: 60 mph

Assumes a 160-mile first leg (from 90% down to a 10% arrival buffer) and ~180 miles per charge afterwards (assuming charging back to 100%). This model does not estimate charging time. Adjust your range for your car and conditions, and choose a backup stop.

Listed charging stops on UK motorways

Suggestions ranked by the number of charging networks we list at each stop. We can't geo-route, so check these against your actual road route. These network listings are unverified; check operator maps for current facilities and vehicle compatibility.

  • Baldock Services · A1(M)4 networks · Tesla (unverified)
  • Birchanger Green Services · M114 networks · Tesla (unverified)
  • Cobham Services · M254 networks · Tesla (unverified)
  • Durham Services · A1(M)4 networks · Tesla (unverified)

How the planner works

This tool estimates the straight-line (great-circle) distance between two UK town centres and multiplies it by your editable road-distance assumption. The default multiplier of 1.2 is a chosen example, not an evidenced typical uplift. Set it to your mapped road distance divided by the straight-line estimate. It then estimates charging stops from your EV's usable range, your starting charge, and the arrival buffer you want to keep in reserve. It is a planning aid, not live turn-by-turn routing, so always confirm your exact route and charger availability before you set off. Drive time assumes an average speed of 60 mph and excludes charging time. Each stop assumes charging back to full; use your vehicle's guidance to choose actual charging targets.

Tips for a smooth EV road trip

  • Compare your home tariff with the prices at your planned stops before departure.
  • Follow your vehicle handbook for charging targets and battery pre-conditioning.
  • Keep enough charge to reach a backup stop if your planned charger is unavailable.
  • Check our motorway charging coverage to map stops to your route.

For more detail, read our full EV road trip guide and work out running costs with the EV charging cost calculator.

Got a driveway or garage? Get a home charger quote

Starting every trip with a full battery makes planning stops easier, and home charging is usually the cheapest way to get there. It needs off-street parking such as a driveway or garage. If that is you, leave your details for an installation quote.

Where do you need the charger installed?

Frequently Asked Questions

How many charging stops do I need for a 300-mile EV journey?
The stop count depends on your usable range, starting charge, arrival buffer and actual road distance. Enter your own values in the planner, then check the suggested stop count against your mapped route. The calculator assumes charging back to full at each stop; your chosen charging targets may require more stops.
How do I plan an EV road trip in the UK?
Confirm your road route, estimate usable range for your car and conditions, then choose charging stops and a backup on that route. Follow your vehicle handbook for charging targets and battery pre-conditioning. Check operator maps for current facilities and live availability before you arrive.
How accurate are the distances in this planner?
Distances start with great-circle (straight-line) estimates between town centres. The editable road-distance multiplier defaults to 1.2 as a chosen assumption, not a measured or typical road uplift. Set it using your mapped road distance divided by the straight-line estimate. Confirm the route with a dedicated routing app.
What charge level should I plan to arrive with?
Choose a buffer that lets you reach a backup charger if your planned stop is unavailable. The arrival buffer field is an editable planning input, not a recommended charge level for every car or route. Check the distance to your backup and follow your vehicle guidance.
Why does my real range differ from the official figure?
An official range figure is not a guarantee for a particular journey. Use your car's recent consumption and range estimate for comparable driving conditions when planning stops. The planner does not apply a fixed percentage reduction to the official figure.

Related Guides

Motorway Charging Listed service stations and networks EV Road Trip Guide Plan long-distance electric journeys EV Charging Cost Calculator Work out the cost of each charge Rapid Chargers Near Me Find the fastest chargers nearby

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