What is a reasonable distance to tow per day?

[BlueThunder34]

We have a few longer trips planned this year (about 800 miles each way) and wondering what your experience is for what one can reasonable expect to tow in a day. Conventionally driving a car I can easily cover that distance in one run but not sure how realistic that would be towing the travel trailer. Any thoughts?

[Ken / Claudia]

I think it will be different with each driver depending on the road, day or night travel, weather, traffic conditions etc. I try not to be in a hurry and plan stops every 2-3 hours and will travel 8 to maybe 12 hours a day, again if conditions are good. When you get sleepy or just stare ahead thru the windshield it is time to stop.

[cw3jason]

I plan for 10hrs a day at 60mph which gives me 600 miles a day. like Ken said some days I do 8 and sometimes I do 12, but For planning purposes 600miles is a good plan. Now when I retire, I can take as long as I want to get somewhere.

[byrdr1]

Thanks for asking..
I am looking at 1300 mile one way drive this summer.
and was wondering the same thing. I thought 6 hours a day would be tops. but looking at these times. I might be able to take a day off the trip out. Coming back we wont have the camper so that will help. i will have to make this trip twice in a 10 week period. Coming back and going back later No camper.. So I will keep up with this thread.
thanks
randy

[notanlines]

Blue, Brenda and I would generally leave early the first day and make the first 500. That brings on a stop, quick set-up and a couple of cold ones as a reward. Then we would put the 300 on early the 2nd day and relax big time then. 800 miles at one stretch towing a TT is out of line. This is just our opinion. I'm sure there will be others.

[JRTJH]

When we were in the military, reaching the destination was the goal. After retirement from the military, while working, "maximizing vacation time" was the goal. We'd drive all day/all night to get where we were going and then sleep 2 days trying to recover...

Now that we've retired, that mindset of "destination is the goal" is no longer in our vocabulary. We plan 300 miles a day, usually get up late, eat a leisurely breakfast, hitch up/break camp and try to be on the road "after the rush hour traffic" around 9 or 10. Six hours later, we're looking for some place to stop for the night. That's usually 3 or 4 PM, just in time for "happy hour"....

There have been days we've left camp at 9, seen something interesting on the road at 9:30, pulled off the highway to "sightsee" and wound up looking for a campground 25 miles from where we spent the previous night...

If there's a "destination goal" we try to schedule 300-350 a day, maybe 400, but then it's time to stop !!! We much prefer to "make the journey a part of the trip" rather than drive "pointedly" to where we're headed without stopping to smell the roses along the way.....

[theallde]

I agree with John (JRTJH) - some days are under 100 miles and other days are closer to 400 miles, it just depends on weather, traffic and sights. As an estimate, I use MapQuest for mileage from Point A to Point B and then divide by 65mph for a approximate travel time.

[B-O-B'03]

On our trip to Colorado last May, we drove from Dallas to Amarillo and spent the night in the TX travel center parking lot. Got up the next morning gassed up, had breakfast and drove to Monument, CO, spent a few days "camped" in my BIL's driveway.

We left Monument and drove to the Collegiate Peaks campground, just west of Beuna Vista and spent 5 nights there (Nice campground).

The way home was pretty much a straight shot, broke camp and was on the road by 8AM. Met my SIL in Pueblo, gathered up MIL and FIL from her, DW made some sandwiches, for lunch and we were off, stopped for dinner in Childress and were home by 1AM, I think it was just under 800 miles, speed was 60 to 65, gas stops every 200ish miles (damn the 26 gallon tank ).

YMMV, everyone has different aptitudes and abilities, long haul driving is something I have always loved doing.

-Brian

[sourdough]

A "reasonable" amount of driving time or miles depends on each individual and their circumstances.

As has been mentioned above, when we were working, it was out the door, hit the gas, and drive till we got there; have some fun, do the same for the return then collapse. We don't do that now. I research my trip and try to find campgrounds about 6hrs apart. At times we get sidetracked.

Depending on your situation you may need to drive longer. As far as I'm concerned 8hrs towing a trailer in one stretch is enough. I also don't drive at night anymore unless it is really a have to situation. If you're young and like driving you might go 10 hours but you lose out on spending any time at your destination. Just some thoughts.

[byrdr1]

I know I am not the original poster. But this peaks my attention.. I am 59 & haven't made more than a 6 hour pull since we have had campers. Popup through 5er. The 1250 mile +- trip states an 18 plus hour drive. So I was counting on 6 hours of driving a day. We have the time going out first round. Going to OK. Then mom & me. Rolling home ASAP. Return trip in 10weeks would be a flip and burn in around 4days..but weather, roads, vehicles will dictate this depending on timing with us return to NC.
I do appreciate all your comments to the original poster for my FMI.

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[slow]

We target 5 hours with lunch midway and do not worry about miles. But we have done 10+ when I felt up to it and we had a destination target. But pulling into a campground at night is a pain.


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[vampress_me]

My first-timer experience last summer pulling our camper on longer trips definitely sold me on shorter days on the road. We had 2 trips planned, one to Ithaca, NY, and one to western MT. Both were about 1200 miles from our house.

The first trip was to Ithaca. I divided that into 3 days of travel so we didn't have to rush in the morning, got to the next campground late afternoon and had plenty of time to set up, relax, and make supper.

The trip out west had to be longer travel days due to our new truck coming in a few days before leaving, and needing to be out there on a set date. So, we only had 2 days to do the 1200 miles. On the plus side, it was a route we have driven many, many times over the past 10 years or so, so I knew where to stop for gas, stop overnight, etc. But, I decided we would stay in a hotel in Glendive, MT (halfway point in trip) just so we wouldn't have to be rushed setting up late and having a really late supper, and have to pack it all up the next morning to get on the road early. Both trips it was our 2 kiddos and me, hubby was working. We picked him up when we got there.

From my point of view, the slower, easier days were much more enjoyable. The rushing from point A to point B wasn't bad, but definitely not my favorite especially if I had had to set up each night.

This summer we are planning a trip out to friends by Glacier again, down to Missoula, over to fish the Missouri, and then through Yellowstone home. And I'm planning to drive shorter days again.

[BlueThunder34]

Thanks for all the replies! Seems like 10 hrs would be the max I could expect to pull safely without becoming a zombie with the deer in the headlight look.

[CWSWine]

We pack everything up the day before and get up early the next morning and get on the road for the first day and travel between 400 to 500 miles. Then after that we try to limit our travel to 350 miles or so per day.

[Pmedic4]

We probably plan on around the 400 mile mark, +/- 50 depending upon a RV site. Having said that, during a recent trip back home from Florida, during the huge winter storm that dumped 24" of snow on the east coast, we decided to push it, going 670 miles to avoid that spell of bad weather.

If there is anything worse than towing through a large city during rush hour, it's towing on icy roads, in slow crawling traffic.

While it wasn't our first choice, it was nice the next day when we only had a little over 200 miles left for the drive home.

[JeffS]

One of the nice things about being retired is how you can change your perspective on travel. Fortunately for us, time is not a constraint. We consider the travel time a chance to take a closer look at the area we are passing through. Typically 300 - 350 miles is the daily max which allows frequent opportunities to stop and see something or just to kick back with a cup of coffee. We never hit the road before 9:30am. A good leisurely breakfast seems to start the day off on a positive note.

[bsmith0404]

I've done short days and long days and to be honest, I don't enjoy the short days at all. I did one trip where I only traveled about 300 miles per day, and took 4 days to go 1260 miles. To be honest, I got tired of setting up and tearing down. Didn't really have that much time to relax and enjoy the area. I've done the same trip in 2 days and spent the night in a Walmart parking lot. Ate at a nearby restaurant and put the slides out so we could sleep (wouldn't have done that if the kids weren't with us). I would much rather drive about 600 miles per day, make overnight stops as easy as possible and relax when I get to my destination. 600 seems to be a comfortable distance for me. I've done 700 mile days, but that seemed to be a bit of a drain.

[sourdough]

bsmith0404

This is just from memory and I may be wrong but do I recall that you hauled/delivered RVs for manufacturers? That might make a large difference in perspectives.. If my memory is defective (anymore who knows) I apologize.

[Desert185]

We tow at 60 MPH. With a few stops enroute for a leg stretch we're lucky to average 50 MPH, so we plan on 300 miles max, stopping by 3 PM. We've done more, but six hours on the road is enough for us when towing.

[allmi01]

I'm surprised that our retired LEO's didn't also add that under CDL rules, 10 hours driving 14 hours "on duty" are the professionals limits.

I adhere to that as much as possible.

My DW and I shoot for a max of 500 miles +/- 100 on long trips. 4 days to San Diego from Chicago.

This said, I have also done the "big push" and did 750 from Chicago to Lancaster, PA area twice last year for work towing the TT. 13 + hours non-stop. I'll be honest, it was a lot and started to push my limits.

Safety first. If you have the time, keep it to 10 or under hours driving, 14 total on the road. ou will feel a lot better physically for it.

My .02 cents worth.

Mike