The invention relates to a soil compacting system which comprises a travelling and steerable soil compacting device and a control device. The control device is provided with an area definition device which allows a user to establish an area to be compacted and the area boundaries. A position detecting device detects the actual position of the soil compacting device. A traveler changes the direction of travel of the soil compacting device by presetting a standard value for a travelling movement of the soil compacting device in such manner that the soil compacting device does not travel past the respective area boundary but continues its travel within the area. A path planning device may be provided for fixing a presetting for a travel way which makes sure that the soil compacting device, when keeping to the preset travel way, travels at least once completely across the area to be compacted.