Self-driving guide: the latest popular routes and practical tips in 2024
With the arrival of the summer tourist season, self-driving travel has become the first choice for more and more travelers. This article will combine the hot topics on the Internet in the past 10 days to compile the latest self-driving strategies for you, covering popular routes, vehicle preparation, cost budget and other structured data to help you plan the perfect itinerary.
1. Top 5 recent popular self-driving routes

| Ranking | route name | Popular index | Reasons for recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sichuan-Tibet Line 318 National Highway | ★★★★★ | The snow-capped mountain grassland landscape zone is the best season in July |
| 2 | Xinjiang Duku Highway | ★★★★☆ | A road with beautiful scenery for four seasons in one day |
| 3 | Hainan roundabout east line | ★★★★☆ | Seaside resort + tropical rainforest combination |
| 4 | Hulunbuir Grassland Ring Line | ★★★☆☆ | Summer grassland scenery + Mongolian cultural experience |
| 5 | Yunnan Shangri-La Ring Line | ★★★☆☆ | Rhododendron season on the plateau (July-August) |
2. List of essential items for self-driving travel
| Category | Essential items | Things to note |
|---|---|---|
| vehicle related | Spare tire, emergency power supply, towing rope | It is recommended to perform full vehicle maintenance in advance |
| electronic equipment | Car charger, offline map | Signal is unstable in mountainous areas |
| daily necessities | Portable buckets, folding tables and chairs | You need to prepare anti-mosquito supplies when camping |
| emergency medicine | Plateau medicine, gastrointestinal medicine, band-aid | Prepare according to route characteristics |
3. Cost budget reference (take a 5-day, 4-night itinerary as an example)
| Project | Economical | Comfortable | Deluxe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gas/Tolls | 800-1200 yuan | 1200-1800 yuan | 2000 yuan+ |
| Accommodation | 600-1000 yuan | 1500-2500 yuan | 4,000 yuan+ |
| Catering | 400-600 yuan | 800-1200 yuan | 2000 yuan+ |
| Attraction tickets | 200-400 yuan | 500-800 yuan | 1,000 yuan+ |
4. New trends in self-driving travel in 2024
1.New energy vehicle self-driving is heating up:Popular routes with charging pile coverage of 85% (such as the Yangtze River Delta Ring Line) have become new favorites. It is recommended to use the "Power Up" APP to plan charging points in advance.
2.Niche secrets attract attention:According to Mafengwo data, searches for "niche self-driving places that avoid crowds" increased by 120% year-on-year, such as Gannan, Gansu, Xiapu, Fujian and other places.
3.Pet-friendly travel:Ctrip’s report shows that the number of self-driving orders with pets has increased by 70% year-on-year. Please pay attention to the pet admission policy in scenic spots.
5. Special reminder for safe driving
1. Pay attention to rockfall warnings on mountainous roads and beware of sudden landslides during the rainy season.
2. Avoid taking hot baths on the first day in plateau areas to prevent altitude sickness.
3. Use the "Traffic Control 12123" APP to query route control information in real time
4. It is recommended to drive no more than 400 kilometers per day to avoid fatigue driving
6. Recommended practical tools
| Function | Recommended tools | Features |
|---|---|---|
| route planning | Amap's "Fun Travel" function | AI intelligently recommends attractions along the way |
| Weather query | Windy | Mountain weather accurate to the hour |
| Accommodation booking | Tujia B&B | Featured farmhouse with rich resources |
| social sharing | Xiaohongshu "self-driving topic" | Real-time traffic conditions shared by netizens |
Among the recent popular discussions, Douyin’s #自车游 topic has been played 3.2 billion times, among which the content related to "How to arrange self-driving for parents and children" has attracted the most attention. Readers planning family outings are advised to focus on details such as child safety seat configuration and parent-child activity camp selection.
Final reminder: Before traveling, be sure to purchase travel accident insurance that includes self-driving travel provisions, and check whether the vehicle insurance is within the validity period. I wish you a happy journey and an unforgettable self-driving experience!
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