Florida to Upstate NY (Saratoga Springs)

JaxDad wrote:

jplante4 wrote:

JaxDad wrote:
Don't forget also, for every hill you have to climb, there's a downhill you get to coast too. It's only the difference in fuel to climb minus the fuel saved coasting down that hill that you have to account for.

You spend more time pulling uphill than you spend coasting downhill, so it's not a wash.

Which is exactly why I DIDN’T say it was.

If you go (for ease of discussing) 5 miles of uphills at 5 mpg (1 gallon burned), and 5 miles of downhills at 15 mpg (0.33 gallon burned), you have burned 1.33 gallons to go 10 miles.

You have then averaged ~7.5 mpg over those 10 miles.

Ahhh, I am starting to catch on. My original post numbers are pretty much meaningless. My gut says there is still "some" savings going the "flatter" route, but, if you take tolls into consideration, it probably is within $50 of a wash which means take the easiest route.

I also now see why big rigs go 40 MPH uphill and 80 MPH downhill. Stay out of the left lane on the down hills because they get pissed if they have to brake for your dumb ass.

Do any of you seasoned drivers put your rig in neutral and coast the down hills at 80 MPH and then put it back in gear at 60 MPH?

What is your interstate cruising speed? I would imagine there is significant MPG increase at 60 MPH as opposed to 70 MPH?

Also, "overnight" at Cracker Barrel seems to be a great option for 8 hours rest (7pm - 2am). I have not read of anyone being turned away. They are all over the eastern seaboard interstates. Walmart's on I-81 (all rural areas) have positive reviews. Walmart on I-95 Walterboro got good reads. Any plums you know of (or bad apples)?

Many Thanks for your help and opinions!