Step 7: Split a route into days
Use this article when the route is already loaded and you want to turn one route line into day-by-day travel and layover days.
In TRIPS, you split a route into days by turning on Segmentation and placing campsites, also called split points, along the route. Each campsite marks the end of one travel day and the start of the next.
Without split points, TRIPS can still show route-level information, but it cannot generate day-level outputs.
Before you start
- Make sure the route is already visible on the map.
- Keep the planner in Basic mode while you build the first itinerary.
- Decide whether you are trying to create a first-pass itinerary or refine one that already exists.
- If you expect layovers or zero days, keep that in mind before you place every stop too aggressively.
Fast workflow
- Turn on Segmentation.
- Click the route to add enough campsites to define the first set of Travel days.
- Use Distance or the map to move the split point that creates the worst day.
- Use Nights only when the trip really includes a layover or zero day.
Step 1: Create the first version of the day structure
Start in the Segments tab. The route-splitting controls live in the Campsites section.
Your first goal is to create the first full set of Travel days.
Do this:
- On the map, turn on Segmentation.
- Click along the route to add campsites.
- Place each campsite where you would actually end a day.
- Keep going until the full route is divided into Travel days.
Check this before moving on:
- the Daily Snapshots area now shows multiple days instead of only route-level output
- each day end matches an intended stopping place
- no single day obviously contains almost all of the route just because you have not finished placing stops
Step 2: Read the first-pass itinerary before editing deeply
Once the days exist, pause and review the result in Daily Snapshots.
Your job in this step is to verify the itinerary structure, not to diagnose every type of day-level load yet.
At this point, ask:
- where does the hard terrain land inside that day?
- would I actually want to stop where I placed each campsite?
- did I place enough campsites to divide the route the way I intended?
If you need help identifying the hardest day or reading day-level lenses and charts, use How to use day-level diagnostics.
Step 3: Fix the itinerary by moving one campsite at a time
You are deciding where each day should end, not just where a campsite happens to fit on the map.
At each split point, ask:
- does this day end in a place I would actually stop?
- does the hard terrain land in a sensible part of the day?
- does the next day still look repeatable?
If the answer is no, move the split point before changing deeper inputs.
In TRIPS, you can move a campsite in two practical ways:
- edit the campsite Distance in the Campsites list
- drag a selected campsite marker along the route on the map
Use this tactic:
- change one campsite
- re-read the affected days
- keep the change only if the affected days improve
The point is to place realistic day endings, not to make every day identical.
Step 4: Use layovers deliberately when the trip needs them
You can also assign extra nights at a campsite with the Nights field to create layovers or zero days.
Use this when the trip includes:
- weather holds
- resupply pauses
- recovery days
- strategic rest before or after hard sections
Use layovers when the trip actually includes them. Do not use them to hide a bad split.
Watch the counts in the Campsites summary bar:
- Travel days increase when you add split points
- Calendar days increase when you add extra Nights for layovers
Step 5: Only change deeper inputs after the day structure is set
If one day looks disproportionately hard, try adjusting campsite placement before changing physiology assumptions or effort settings.
In onboarding, this usually means:
- move the campsite first
- then revisit a core Basic-mode input only if the whole route still feels directionally wrong
- leave Pro-mode anchors and deeper controls for later
If you want the deeper explanation for why this works, see Why route segmentation matters so much.
If you want the diagnostic workflow for identifying the hardest day and reading the day card and charts, see How to use day-level diagnostics.
Common mistakes to avoid
- forgetting to turn on Segmentation before trying to click in a campsite
- trying to perfect campsite placement before you can even see all the days
- changing physiology inputs when the real issue is one badly placed split point
- forcing identical days instead of just removing the biggest outlier
- forgetting to add layovers when the real trip includes recovery or resupply pauses
What to do next
After the itinerary exists, read:
- How to use day-level diagnostics to identify the standout day and read the day card and charts
- Step 8: Review route and day outputs to interpret the result
- Step 9: Save your trip and choose your next steps if the plan is worth keeping