How long of a day?

[LarrySharon]

For planning purposes, when planning a trip about what is realistic for miles/hrs. to drive in a day?

[Ken / Claudia]

Do not judge how long or how far they can go, you may not be able to do the same. From life long traveling, the roadway, weather, traffic and time of day or night. How well the tow vehicle handles the trailer all affect driver. I have driven From PDX to the bay area (CA) in one long day in week day summer weather. In fall and winter no way it just takes 2 days.
If pushing your limits for several days each day is worst.
For me doing a power sleep of a hour will allow many more hours of travel.

[bsmith0404]

You may as well have asked what's our favorite color.

Many on here will only go 200-300 miles per day. I prefer to go about 600 per day. Depends on your driving habits. I'll still stop and stretch my legs about every 3 hours, but it's typically a quick 10-15 minute bathroom break, grab a sandwich or snack and head back out. I have an auxiliary fuel tank and can go about 1,000 towing miles without stopping, so I don't stop for fuel, I fill the truck up after I unhook in the evening. I normally wake up at 5-530 each morning, getting on the road by 7 and stopping around 5-6 is my typical travel day. I will change that up as daylight gets shorter. I do not like pulling the RV in the dark, just too difficult to see potential problems, both in the road and in the mirror (RV/tires).

[cpaulsen]

200-300 miles a day......am never in a hurry!

[CaptnJohn]

I never have a set daily destination. If I have a reservation I'll let them know if arriving after close or a day late if needed. Miles and time depend on how I feel. Not unusual to go 5 hours or 13 hours.... depends on weather and roads at times.

[Barbell]

Since we are retired and don't HAVE to be anywhere at any particular time, we seldom go more than 300 miles and usually spend more than one night when we stop unless the campground is unbearable. We generally travel only on Mondays and Thursdays because it is generally easy to find campground space on those days. Haven't had to Walmart it yet.

[gearhead]

300-400 miles or depending on how many Cracker Barrels she sees.

[Tbos]

A few months I asked the same question. I think I posed it as how far is too far? Lots of different answers. This summer we planned an 8 hour trip that included breaks. It was about 400 miles. It took 14 hours because of tire troubles. Actually changed 4 tires that day. Bottom line is to plan so you can be relaxed when you get to camp so you have an easy stress free set up. Next lesson don't hit the curb. It can exponentially increase the length of your trip.

[rbev2308]

I personally like the 8 hour rule which usually equates to 300+ miles. I do not like disrupting my routine and like to get to where I am going at no later than 4 to set up and continue my routine. I absolutely hate traveling in groups. I have family members who will just roll at noon or even have rolled later and drove during the night cause its less traffic and cooler temps which helps tow vehicle and tires. You can never account for the unexpected like coming from the Smoky Mountains over Fancy Gap, VA and taking 4 hours to travel 40 miles due to fog! I am planning my second retirement next year and really wanna do 2-3 month trip and log 8000-10000 miles so I may have to adapt to a different routine or I will have 1/3rd of the trip driving. One thing is for sure, we are used to being in a hurry all the other time but in these things, I had to learn patience really quick.

[byrdr1]

This is a trick question?
Why because as previously posted different time lines for just about everybody.
This summer has been an adventure for me and my camper. MY daughter had to spend the summer in Lawton, OK for a school internship.
We live in central NC. the trip is 1250 miles give or take from my house to Lawton.
We had a week off to get her and the camper out there for her to use it for 10 weeks.
I had made arrangements to take my truck and camper to work with me that Friday we left. MY job has me working on a service road beside I-40. easier to get on the highway when you are beside it than going home and driving 40 miles round trip to get the truck and camper and then get on the road.
We left work at 3pm with plans to get at least 3 hours down the road. once I hit this mark I was like we can go farther and we did. Drove 300 miles and got set up for the night right at dusk.
next day plans to drive 400-500 miles. NOPE.. ending up driving see below:
That Saturday was a long day, stopped about every 3 hours to go potty, grab snacks to nibble on, stretch my legs. We had a good breakfast(cracker smell) Saturday a.m. and ate on the road the other times. junk food mainly.
So it can be done but after doing it towing 12K. it is a stretch.Would I do it again IF I had too and I about did for the return trip home. Going out we had a week off.
HOME/Central, NC to Ripplin Waters RV Park Sevierville, TN
via I-40/ US-52/ I-74/ I-77/ I-81/ I-40 4hrs 43 min 308 miles
To KOA Sallisaw, Oklahoma via I-40 10hrs 31 min 723 miles
To camper spot Lawton, OK via I-40/ I-840/ I-44 3hrs 26 min 241 miles
Total Miles Driven towing camper: 1272

Going back out to get camper and baby girl we had only 5 days total.
The return trip with the camper in tow I drove.
Camper spot/ Lawton, Oklahoma to Jackson RV Park, Jackson, TN
via I-44/ I-840/ I-40 9hrs 4 min 629 miles
to Ripplin Waters RV Park Sevierville, TN
Via I-40 We had a major traffic jam east of Nashville TN , Delayed 1hr 45 min/ plus just about had an accident with a truck hauling a U-Haul as he moved into my lane I guess without seeing me in Knoxville, TN. LUCKY LUCKY
5hrs 9 min 332 miles PLUS the added 1hr 45 min delay so really this 6hrs 54minutes on this leg plus the almost accident delayed me another 15 -20 minutes.. Had to get my composure back..
to home in central, NC via I-40/ I-81/ I-77/ I-74/ US-52/ I-40 4 hrs 40 min 308 miles
Total Miles Driven towing camper: 1269

So you can see how its done, but I would not want to do every week or every few months. BUT for a once in lifetime trip it worked for me and my family.
My camper is at home and spent the better part of 2 hours washing the thing last night. Took me a good 45 minutes to get the bugs off the front cap.

Good Luck on your trip planning..safe travels!
randy

[MarcS]

Being a weekend warrior, I'll drive 4-5 hours one way to get some where.

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[LarrySharon]

Great replies, when I travel I like taking my time and try not to be on a destination clock.

[Desert185]

I tow at 60-62 MPH and average close to 50 MPH with stops, a 300 mile day is usually tops for us. We've done more and less. I generally shoot for an early start and try to end the day by 3PM. We also like to travel two days and then take an extra day before we travel again. Retirement allows that schedule.

[ctbruce]

300 miles feels too short and 500 is my end limit. I usually shoot for 400 with change. I usually plan the trip in advance and look for a place to stop in that milage range. Then I drive until I get there.

By starting around 9 I can miss rush hour if there is one and still stop by around 5 at the latest. I have learned to see how much time the GPS says....and add 2 hours to it.

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[Dave W]

From point to point my plan is 350 to 400 miles per day over 6-8 hours. We have done as few as 100 or as high as over 500. These miles are strictly interstate miles. Secondary roads, 6-8 hours is still my limit with miles ....... they are what they are when we stop.

[Pull Toy]

Regardless of targets, a lot can depend on roads travelled, traffic conditions, and stress levels. I've driven from Cincinnati, Ohio to Stonington Connecticut, wit only two rest stops and a meal. I've also covered only 159 miles in six hours on one occasion.

My advice is stay super hydrated, and quit when you need to, regardless of expectations.

Good luck,

[bsmith0404]

I'll admit I'm all business when I start down the road. Maybe spending time as a transporter, getting 11 hours driving each day and shooting for a minimum of 600 miles per day just conditioned me for that. I've taken trips before where I only planned 300 miles per day and set up camp early afternoon to relax a bit and then set out again the next morning. To be honest, I hated it. I'd much rather drive a bit longer/further, as long as I feel fresh and not tired. I like getting where I'm going and having an extra day there to enjoy and relax vs another day of set up and tear down. I hate most of the RV parks that are close to the highway, but convenient for traveling through. The least amount of time I have to spend at them the better. IMO, they are nothing more than a place to eat, shower, sleep, and regenerate the body for the next day.

[Alpine]

Enjoyed reading everyone's responses! Retired here so no hurries equals no worries (knocks on wood)! Our longest day was 300 miles and our shortest was 85 miles! Our average over 3.5 years is close to 150.

[bsmith0404]

Originally Posted by Alpine

Enjoyed reading everyone's responses! Retired here so no hurries equals no worries (knocks on wood)! Our longest day was 300 miles and our shortest was 85 miles! Our average over 3.5 years is close to 150.

And we had a great conversation in Sidney NE. You guys were enjoying your day relaxing, getting some lunch and doing some shopping at Cabelas while I was doing some quick repairs to a battery box on a TT I was transporting and trying to get back on the road I retired, just haven't learned how to slow down yet.

[cjelliott81]

We typically shoot for 6 hours / 300 miles. We have on occasion stretched to 8 hours / 400 miles when traveling flat and straight.

Our limiting factor is often fuel stops. The truck only goes 200-250 miles between fuel stops and being gas instead of diesel, the pumps are often not well configured for 32 ft of TT behind us. The fueling adventures are by far my least favorite part about this hobby ( even more so than the black tank) and really zap the the energy of both the DW and I.