The key is to build small bases on resource hotspots, and to start with a focus on the resources needed for survival and base building. Rusted metal to refine to the various ferrites to build prefab base modules and mineral/gas extractors, copper to refine to chromatic metal for several things, gold for solar panels, oxygen and sodium for basic survival, multi-biodome base on a good power hotspot for lots of fungal mold to refine to carbon for batteries and to power carbon-fueled tech, runaway mold to refine to nanites, etc. Once you kick start the base building resources and basic survival consumables then you can build tons of bases for everything else really quickly, no more scavenging for basic supplies for hours.

Of course that's just one play style. I've been doing that in an abandoned-universe game the last few months and I find it very relaxing and contemplative. It's almost Red Dwarf-ish, you're the last person in the universe. I've been exploring a star cluster on the edge of the galaxy and setting up dozens of resource bases and a few elaborate decorative bases in locations with great views.