Miles per day on Road Trip
- Thread starter Condorsat
- Start date
about 14 hours driving solo, here to Chicago. Depends on the route but its about 780 miles. Last trip out there was probably 10 years ago.
The trip to fetch the Continental was about 440 miles and took about 8 heading up and around 10 towing on the return trip. Honestly I think thats about as far as I'd like to run in a day, especially if I'm by myself.
The trip to fetch the Continental was about 440 miles and took about 8 heading up and around 10 towing on the return trip. Honestly I think thats about as far as I'd like to run in a day, especially if I'm by myself.
danrclem
Super Member
I drove about 950 miles in one day back when I was 34 years old and I vowed I wouldn't ever do that again. My wife did take about a 1 hr. turn driving so I guess I didn't drive quite that much but I was still in the truck.
I haven't done a long trip for quite awhile now but I doubt if I'd want over 500 miles and probably not that much.
I haven't done a long trip for quite awhile now but I doubt if I'd want over 500 miles and probably not that much.
I know this is a little off the subject, but when I worked for Swift, the truck was governed at 62 mph. Legally, a truck driver can only drive 11 hrs per day. It's impossible to get away with more with electronic logs. So, 660 miles was roughly the most I could do once you compensate for acceleration from truck stop to highway and deceleration from highway to truck stop for the required 30 minute break*. Then get back on the highway and back to a truck stop.
This is on a day when I was in mid-trip, so I already had a load and would not be delivering it that day. Also, I didn't need to fuel or scale the load. I.E. all I had to do was drive that day.
*A 30 minute break is required within 8 hrs of starting my pretrip inspection.
This is on a day when I was in mid-trip, so I already had a load and would not be delivering it that day. Also, I didn't need to fuel or scale the load. I.E. all I had to do was drive that day.
*A 30 minute break is required within 8 hrs of starting my pretrip inspection.
the skipper
Professional Curmudgeon
When I was in the Air Force in 1970, I made it, alone, from the Fort Walton Beach, Florida to NYC with one night in a hotel.
Now that The Mrs and I are pushing 70, we share the driving and limit ourselves to 7 - 8 hours of driving per day. That leaves us a bit of time for a nice dinner (usually at a Cracker Barrel) and a bit of time to relax before falling asleep.
Nowadays, we do the Aggieland to NYC jaunt twice a year. That's about 16 days driving on that each year. ...and then there's the occasional trips for vacation and friends (Gulf Shores, Fort Smith, OKC, Corpus, etc, etc.)
Now that The Mrs and I are pushing 70, we share the driving and limit ourselves to 7 - 8 hours of driving per day. That leaves us a bit of time for a nice dinner (usually at a Cracker Barrel) and a bit of time to relax before falling asleep.
Nowadays, we do the Aggieland to NYC jaunt twice a year. That's about 16 days driving on that each year. ...and then there's the occasional trips for vacation and friends (Gulf Shores, Fort Smith, OKC, Corpus, etc, etc.)
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SPEC2man
Are we there yet?
I was just thinking of this, I moved from Rapid City South Dakota to Portland OR in the late 80's and made the trip home every summer. 11 hours to Helena MT (660 miles), the second day was 9 hours to RCSD. Must have done it 15 years in a row until my folks passed away. Made the trip in a straight-shot a couple times by myself. I think it was about 23 hours with a little time to rest in Sheridan WY. Man, I would never make that now. 1020 miles... crazy.
I'm getting ready to do it again this year for the first time in 5 years. It always blows my mind when I get to Gillette WY and the I-90 speed limit goes to 80. Cars driving 90-95 MPH with no cop issues. Sure picks up the pace at the end of the trip. I remember ripping across Montana in the late 80's over 100 mph sustained and making amazing time. No more of that for me ... putt, putt, putt now.
I'm getting ready to do it again this year for the first time in 5 years. It always blows my mind when I get to Gillette WY and the I-90 speed limit goes to 80. Cars driving 90-95 MPH with no cop issues. Sure picks up the pace at the end of the trip. I remember ripping across Montana in the late 80's over 100 mph sustained and making amazing time. No more of that for me ... putt, putt, putt now.
Pio1980
AK Member
Afaik, there used to be no speed limit on the German Autobahnen, which frequently produced spectacular unsurvivable crashes.
Years back I bought a VW GTI on eBay.
I left the house at 6AM, my wife drove me to the airport in Providence RI.
Arrived in Raleigh NC and the seller picked me up (in his new Corvette).
I checked out the car, cleaned the glass and left at about noon.
I made it all the way to just north of Hartford CT when I made the mistake of stopping for food - once I got out of the car I knew I was done for.
630 Miles.
I spent what was left of the night in a luxurious Holiday Inn Express.
I left the house at 6AM, my wife drove me to the airport in Providence RI.
Arrived in Raleigh NC and the seller picked me up (in his new Corvette).
I checked out the car, cleaned the glass and left at about noon.
I made it all the way to just north of Hartford CT when I made the mistake of stopping for food - once I got out of the car I knew I was done for.
630 Miles.
I spent what was left of the night in a luxurious Holiday Inn Express.
dosmalo
T-Totaled
There's a 30 mile strip of I-40 between Shawnee, OK and OKC that is heavy commuter traffic that's as good as that. When traffic merges on to the I-40 everyone takes out their pistols and lays them on their dashboards and hammers down!
Pio1980
AK Member
That's like bragging about having sex standing in a hammock in a sandstorm. You can say you did it, but there wouldn't be much pleasure in the act itself.
Not for me if it's not enjoyable.
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I have a friend who is a racer of some fame who competed in the original cannonball race. He did it with his wife but she was the navigator and had no interest in driving.
They made it from NYC to Phoenix and decided that was it for them.
He said he could have made it if he woke up and jumped right into the car but with all the prep work he essentially added 8 hours to his day.
They made it from NYC to Phoenix and decided that was it for them.
He said he could have made it if he woke up and jumped right into the car but with all the prep work he essentially added 8 hours to his day.
noogies
My Favorite Woofers.
We do Vancouver Island to Rancho Mirage, Ca. and back a couple of times a year (1300-odd miles, plus the ferry). We've done it (one way) a couple of times in just over 24 hours (straight shot on the I-5, stopping only at rest areas so the dogs could pee and for two brief meals/bathroom breaks) but my prostate doesn't encourage that trip these days, and it's much more rewarding to veer over to the coast at the earliest opportunity and stop at a few beaches.
I met a lady who was into that kind of riding. She didn't get started on motorcycles until she was in her thirties I think. She was/is a very interesting person.
Pio1980
AK Member
Indeed. Iron butt riding is for atypical folk.
Atypical is right! She told us that she uses a catheter so she doesn't have to stop to urinate. Runs a tube down her pants leg and out to the road!
She re-created this ride (as much as possible) 100 years after Charles Findley did. Quite a story. You can find i bit of it here... http://www.antiquemotorcycle.org/bb...-s-Road-How-One-Man-Rode-Through-1916-to-2016
Djcoolray
Addicted Member
I think it all depends on....
The kind of vehicle being used during the trip itself.
How fast you drive.
How much liquid you drink while in the car.
Take the comparison between the size of vehicles and the many different suspensions used. Then there is the financial reason why people purchase their vehicle and the actual experience using the vehicle on a road trip which most don’t take into consideration. Then a great stereo system relieves stress and anxiety. Restrictive clothing that people usually wear induces quiet a bit of discomfort over time and a good jogging suit with moccasins is a great improvement. Then lumbar support is everything on long trips.
Please, all of you that are going to be driving a vehicle for any distance at all, the money you can save using iridium spark plugs in increased gas mileage will pay for itself and then some. Change your air filter when the season changes and you will see a change in how much money you spend on fuel, a Fram air filter is cheaper than a tank of fuel and over a course of time you will be buying fewer tanks of fuel that will equate into a large savings of money. Then there is the benefit of lower emissions.
Drive safe...
The kind of vehicle being used during the trip itself.
How fast you drive.
How much liquid you drink while in the car.
Take the comparison between the size of vehicles and the many different suspensions used. Then there is the financial reason why people purchase their vehicle and the actual experience using the vehicle on a road trip which most don’t take into consideration. Then a great stereo system relieves stress and anxiety. Restrictive clothing that people usually wear induces quiet a bit of discomfort over time and a good jogging suit with moccasins is a great improvement. Then lumbar support is everything on long trips.
Please, all of you that are going to be driving a vehicle for any distance at all, the money you can save using iridium spark plugs in increased gas mileage will pay for itself and then some. Change your air filter when the season changes and you will see a change in how much money you spend on fuel, a Fram air filter is cheaper than a tank of fuel and over a course of time you will be buying fewer tanks of fuel that will equate into a large savings of money. Then there is the benefit of lower emissions.
Drive safe...
