Hello, I am new to the forum and new to the idea of RVing. My wife and I are strongly considering purchasing a class A motorhome to make the drive from Tucson, to the Bremerton, WA area--we would actually intend on making the drive multiple times per year, hence the need to purchase the RV. The catch is, we will also be transporting our dogs and want to make the trip as safely & quickly as possible. Our plan is to alternate driving while the other rests. Is it even remotely logical to think that two people--allotting for gas stops & a few doggie stops--to make the drive in under 30 hours? Or, is the drive really a two-day affair with these conditions?Any input would be appreciated and helpful. Thanks in advance for any responses.

You won't be making the same miles per hour in the Class A that you do in a car or pickup. If you're able to drive long distances, you can probably do 6 or 7 hundred miles a day, but boy, you'll be wore out when you get there.One thing, you won't need to stop at an rv park or anywhere with a dump station or even water if you're going to do it in 2 or 3 days, so that will help on time. We did a trip from Silverdale WA to San Antonio TX in 4 days one time in order to get home for a funeral, but I wouldn't want to do that again.

There must be some logical reason for the need to drive that far in such a short of time! Just curious!! IMHO, I question how "safely" the trip could be made even with 2 people switching off driving. In addition to fuel stops, you will have dog potty stops and this plan assumes that you will have no mechanical problems along the way i.e. flat tire or that you won't run into traffic issues. After about 5 hours, my back, neck aches and my butt is sore and numb:):)I think you will find that typically, the average RVer will drive between 400 to 500 miles per day and then find an RV park for the night. Personally, if it were an option, I think I would choose to fly instead of driving with the time restraints you are planning.

Google maps shows 1,620 miles - 24 hours. That's an averge speed of 67.5 MPH which you won't make because you'll have at least three fuel stops and how many times will you have to stop for the dogs? If it's a diesel pusher, it won't be that comfortable for someone to try sleeping in the rear when the diesel RPMS are always changing and the transmission is going up and down through the gears. It's more restful to try sleeping on the couch. Been there, done that on two trips - Boulder, CO to Vancouver, WA in 18 hours and Vancouver, WA to Anchorage, AK in 99 houirs.And then when you get to your destination, you're going to spend most of the first day sleeping.I'm not saying you can't do it, it's just that it won't be enjoyable and on the following trips I bet you spend the night someplace so you can get some decent rest.Bill

Why would you want to make the trip so quickly? It's far more pleasant to stop for two or three nights. Trust me, your dogs will be happier, too!

I've made that trip (from Yuma), and did it in 4 days, driving a reasonable time/distance each day, and allocating enough time to register in an RV park, get set up, cook dinner, etc. We arrived fresh, not exhausted from non-stop driving...Either I-5 or US 395/97 are good routes, but the scenery is better on 395/97. Our stops are always in Lone Pine, Likely and just south of Portland.US 395US 97RegardsGemstone

Tucson, AZ to Bremerton, WA area: How quickly?

14 Replies

mockturtle
Explorer II
Jun 07, 2013
Why would you want to make the trip so quickly? It's far more pleasant to stop for two or three nights. Trust me, your dogs will be happier, too!
Trackrig
Explorer II
Jun 07, 2013
Google maps shows 1,620 miles - 24 hours. That's an averge speed of 67.5 MPH which you won't make because you'll have at least three fuel stops and how many times will you have to stop for the dogs?

If it's a diesel pusher, it won't be that comfortable for someone to try sleeping in the rear when the diesel RPMS are always changing and the transmission is going up and down through the gears. It's more restful to try sleeping on the couch. Been there, done that on two trips - Boulder, CO to Vancouver, WA in 18 hours and Vancouver, WA to Anchorage, AK in 99 houirs.

And then when you get to your destination, you're going to spend most of the first day sleeping.

I'm not saying you can't do it, it's just that it won't be enjoyable and on the following trips I bet you spend the night someplace so you can get some decent rest.

Bill
MarkTwain
Explorer
Jun 07, 2013
There must be some logical reason for the need to drive that far in such a short of time! Just curious!! IMHO, I question how "safely" the trip could be made even with 2 people switching off driving. In addition to fuel stops, you will have dog potty stops and this plan assumes that you will have no mechanical problems along the way i.e. flat tire or that you won't run into traffic issues. After about 5 hours, my back, neck aches and my butt is sore and numb:):)
I think you will find that typically, the average RVer will drive between 400 to 500 miles per day and then find an RV park for the night.
Personally, if it were an option, I think I would choose to fly instead of driving with the time restraints you are planning.
TexasShadow
Explorer II
Jun 07, 2013
You won't be making the same miles per hour in the Class A that you do in a car or pickup. If you're able to drive long distances, you can probably do 6 or 7 hundred miles a day, but boy, you'll be wore out when you get there.
One thing, you won't need to stop at an rv park or anywhere with a dump station or even water if you're going to do it in 2 or 3 days, so that will help on time.
We did a trip from Silverdale WA to San Antonio TX in 4 days one time in order to get home for a funeral, but I wouldn't want to do that again.

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Tucson, AZ to Bremerton, WA area: How quickly?

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