Many miles before i sleep - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Thunder · RV-Dreams Family Member

Many miles before i sleep

igotjam · RV-Dreams Family Member

Don't think there is a right or wrong answer. If you are comfortable doing 6-700 miles then that's right for you. I go 200 max per day with stops for snacks and restroom. That's Right for me....you can have a different Right.

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

David,

I can but speak for myself on this issue, so a number of factors are in play. First of all, I am 62 years old and in good health. I have been a professional driver in the past, driving both semi-truck/trailer rigs and bobtails. I also have a wife that can be talking to me in a non-nagging, intelligent way. That way, I can have someone to help me not get bored.

Last August, we took a trip to Colorado and when the time for us to leave we did the trip in one day. It was a trip of about 550 miles, with a little more than half of that on Interstate 40. We left about 7:30 am and for the life of me, I can't remember when we arrived home. I think it was around sunset.

I was tired, but not exhausted. As you can see by our signature below, we have an F250 and a 26 foot fifth wheel. I could have driven another 50 to 100 miles if necessary, but I would have been arriving home and settling down for the night pretty quickly with no need to find an RV park and park a camper.

We had just a wee bit of encouragement to get home in one day because we decided on the way home to call an RV dealership in Oklahoma City to test drive a 42' Tiffin Phaeton.

Good luck on the trip.

Terry

thebearII · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'm comfortable doing about 400 miles in a day towing the 5'er, provided I'm well rested and it's a fairly easy route with little or no construction.

I have done 800 miles in a day from time to time. All interstate left from a rest area and ended in a rest area.

My goal when travelling is to start around 9AM and end before 3PM to have plenty of time to setup camp in daylight. If I go 300, 400 or 600 miles during that time period, as long as I can park in a spot in daylight and get the satelite dish up before it's too dark, I'm happy.

I also like to sight see, so we try to stop at any important attractions along the way.

I hate to tow at night unless I'm on an interstate and won't be pulling into or through city streets.

Speedhitch · RV-Dreams Family Member

We don't travel that much as of yet...but when we do we like to make a 4 hour trip and get some place before dark to set up and relax. I am a disabled vet with bad legs and I can't drive for prolong periods of time. Four hours is about tops but that gets us down the road a good ways and we don't have to set up in the dark. Like Jam said... no right or wrong one to this question...just make it comfortable and enjoy the ride.

Good talking to you last night in chat.

Speedy

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Slightly off topic, but always appropriate.

Thanks for your service, Speedy.

Terry
US Army Security Service '66-'69

Serengeti2001 · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have had days of up to 600 miles.
We had a MH and we don't have to get out of it and when we pull into a rest area we can do everything on board.
We usually camp at Wally World, we call ahead and they tell us where to park and we try to park along the curb so we can extend our bedroom slide 18 inches for the night.
We have found out that Wally World is not the cheapest place to park, but it is safe as they usually have security.
We do share the driving on a 2 hour to 1 hour ratio, works out great for us.

flyone · RV-Dreams Family Member

I waited too long to head home one time a few years back, had to drive the whole way at one time. 665 miles, about 12 hours man that was all I wanted--27 TT, a couple of major cities, never again if I can help it. If you are in farily good health and want or need to try and push it I would say 500 miles a day is all you should safely count on. I would say take a little more time--drive half way in a day finish the next. If you drive all of it at one time it would take a second day anyway just to recover from that, so plan on driving two days and stay safe and keep others safe.
Just my 2cents worth.

Flyone

Sushidog · RV-Dreams Family Member

I've driven from New Orleans, Louisiana to Los Angeles, California non-stop quite a few times (2,000 miles or 38-40hrs driving). This is all interstate driving. However, I would not do this for pleasure, but out of necessity. ;)

On vacation, I usually have a long first day (500-700 miles) and then like to keep it under 350 miles each day thereafter, with the exception of the return leg, which I usually drive straight through as necessary to maximize my vacation time. However I don't recommend this to anyone who's not in good physical condition. I also have a very small rig, so it's probably a lot easier for me than for someone with a monster rig. I limit my speed to 65mph on the interstate and 55mph on 2 lane roads. If you go slower, reduce your mileage as appropriate. I also try to avoid major cities during peak drive times and interstates when on vacation if at all possible. This keeps the stress level low.

Disclaimer - Your mileage may vary. ;)

ahoweth · RV-Dreams Family Member

A couple of times in the last 4 years we have made long trips (600 miles or more) in a day. However, those incidents were the result of deaths in the family and we had to be there quickly. Normally we never drive over 300 miles in a day. Since we are both retired and are full timers, why would we? We like to get into an RV park before dark, get set up and have some time to drive around and see what is in the area that we might like to see and do.

In addition, driving for those long stretches is not good for you. You need to get out of the vehicle and exercise those legs to help prevent blood clots from forming. Especially if you are getting a little age on you Like I am. smile

The exercise helps to keep your mind sharp too, which is a good thing while driving.

-- Edited by ahoweth at 08:11, 2009-03-04

pierreandcolleen · RV-Dreams Family Member

We like to go between 200 and 300 miles in a day. The reasons are that we both get tired from long drives and we like to see more of the area that we are driving through. We also rarely take the interstates. Having said that, when I was in my mid 20's I wouldn't think anything about driving 500 miles in a day. I think it all comes down to what you are comfortable with - just make sure to stop and rest when you get tired.

-Colleen

Terry · RV-Dreams Community Member

If we are traveling down from Canada in January I limit the travel to 12-14 hours per day or the weather. I stop when icing conditions occur. But normally I like to get on the road by 9 and get off before 5 PM, preferably 3PM. This is only when in travel mode. Otherwise if time permits I only travel 120miles per day.
Terry & Teri
TnT
39 Foot 2005 Kountry Star D. Pusher pulling a 2006 Honda CR-V