Plan your first trip in TRIPS
Use this article when you want the shortest path from "I have a route idea" to "I have a working first-pass itinerary."
Before you start
- Keep the workflow in order. Most user frustration comes from changing advanced inputs before the route and day structure are in place.
- Save versions as soon as the plan becomes worth keeping.
The first-trip workflow
- Sign in and access TRIPS.
- Choose and prepare a GPX.
- Upload the GPX.
- Split the route into days.
- Review route and day outputs.
- Save the plan once it becomes worth keeping.
Step 1: Sign in and confirm you can actually use trip features
Start by making sure you can open the planner and reach the main TRIPS workspace.
Read next:
- Sign in and access TRIPS for access setup and first-run entry
Use that article if:
- you are unsure how access works
- the planner opens but Manage My Trips or save actions are unavailable
- you think your account may not have access yet
Do not keep troubleshooting later steps until this part is clearly working.
Step 2: Choose the GPX you really want to plan
TRIPS works best when the route file is clean and intentional.
Before upload, decide:
- whether the GPX represents the route you actually want to evaluate
- whether the file includes the full route rather than only one segment
- whether the route should be cleaned up in another GPX tool first
Read next:
- Choose and prepare a GPX for TRIPS if you are unsure whether the file is ready
Step 3: Upload the route and sanity-check it before continuing
Once the route loads, the planner can calculate route-level and day-level outputs.
Check this before moving on:
- the route appears in the expected place on the map
- the full route is present
- Upload GPX has changed to Replace GPX
Read next:
- Upload a GPX for the exact upload steps
Step 4: Split the route into days before touching deeper settings
This is where the route becomes an itinerary.
Add campsites or split points, then move them until the hard work lands in better places.
Read next:
- Split a route into days for the itinerary workflow
- Understand route and day outputs once the itinerary exists
Step 5: Review route and day outputs before changing deeper inputs
Do not look only at the total route summary.
Check both:
- route-level outputs to understand the whole trip
- day-level outputs to find badly balanced days
If one day looks wrong, adjust campsite placement before assuming the whole route is impossible.
Read next:
- Understand route and day outputs to interpret what TRIPS is telling you
- Why route segmentation matters so much if campsite moves seem to change the plan more than expected
Step 6: Save the plan as soon as this version becomes worth keeping
Keep using a scratch draft while exploring.
Save the trip when:
- you have a first-pass itinerary worth keeping
- you want to compare a conservative and aggressive version
- you want to come back later without rebuilding the work
Read next:
- Save and manage trips when the plan becomes worth keeping
- Restore a saved trip if you are returning to work you saved earlier
When to think about calibration
Calibration is not part of the core first-trip workflow.
Do your first planning passes without it unless you already know you want personalized behavior from your own FIT history.
If you do want that later, start with Calibrate TRIPS with FIT files.
Common mistakes to avoid
- spending time on advanced inputs before the GPX and campsite split are in place
- assuming one terrible day means the whole route is impossible
- treating an unsaved draft like it is safely preserved
- trying calibration before you have a usable baseline plan
Related articles
- How to use planner inputs if you want the full panel-by-panel walkthrough
- How should I choose effort intent? if the route structure is set but the pacing assumptions are still wrong