How long drive time with kids without wearing out?

bclan6 wrote:
Trying to plan trip out west with kids. New to RV'ing. I want to make it to the main destinations fairly quick in order to spend more time there (3500 miles one way). We're going for a month, but one week of that is going to be in one destination alone.

What is the normal/average time of driving before calling it a day and staying at a quick stop? Don't want to overdo it and have it be miserable, but we want to focus on sightseeing at our main stops and only rest/fish at our closest ones. We can enjoy them more another time. Driving Class A 34' with toad.

I found some sites listing campsites just in case I cant make it to next stop or to a walmart (allstays, freecampsites, recreation, reserve america) Any other favorites?

I really want to plan and reserve spots as much as possible in order to avoid being stuck somewhere. Especially our main spots, but figured I'd pick spots based on drive time in between stops.

Can I ask what everyone else's preferred planning tips are? Especially those with kids and pets?

Do what my Mother did: she saved empty coke bottles for the boys to pee in and almost never stopped. Except to eat.(of course this is harder with girls)

bclan6 wrote:
3500 miles is about the distance of the furthest leg of our trip, if we end up going to that stop (Glacier Park). The other stops are Badlands, Rushmore and family in Jackson and Idaho. Glacier park may have to wait until next year.

Flying isn't possible due to there being 6 of us plus dog and cat. The youngest is 1 yr old and is pretty needy, but the others have traveled plenty and enjoy it (7.5 yrs-17years old). When I used to live out there and I came back to FL to visit family, I used to drive straight through (with help). 48 hours with only stopping to eat and stretch legs. The kids did great, but I was able to do 80-90mph.

Once we get to the Badlands, it'll be slower paced. It all depends on how well the baby does, but I wanted some sort of idea of when to expect RV drivers are done for the day.

I want them to love the journey, but to focus on driving until we get to really explore. They'll either love it or hate it right? LOL

Thanks to all for responding!

Some observations and considerations:
1. "1 ys. old and needy" could have an effect on all members of the family when traveling
2. Driving 48 hrs. at 80 to 90 mph is a disaster waiting to happen at worst and at best a "marathon butt buster":)
3. "I want them to love the journey but focus on driving" is confusing and has questionable expectations.
4. IMHO, I would either shorten the distances of your RV adventures or increase the number of days of your RV trips. :):)

We don't have skinkids but do have 2 boxer furkids. They sleep on the couch when we're on the road. ;)

It seems we average just under 50mph from leaving in the mornings, rest stops, fuel stops and lunch and that's driving 62-65mph on interstates.

The kids will adapt. My parents drug 3 of us cross country several times and we were mashed into the car with them and sometimes a grandmother. Most of the time we did "drive throughs". We would drive through a national park and maybe stop at an overlook. Sometimes, we fly by the sign and say there it is. There is so much to see in our beautiful country even if it's just seeing it out the window as you drive past.

BUT... those are wonderful memories and the time spent with my siblings and parents then are treasured now... maybe not so much then. ;)

3500 miles is about the distance of the furthest leg of our trip, if we end up going to that stop (Glacier Park). The other stops are Badlands, Rushmore and family in Jackson and Idaho. Glacier park may have to wait until next year.

Flying isn't possible due to there being 6 of us plus dog and cat. The youngest is 1 yr old and is pretty needy, but the others have traveled plenty and enjoy it (7.5 yrs-17years old). When I used to live out there and I came back to FL to visit family, I used to drive straight through (with help). 48 hours with only stopping to eat and stretch legs. The kids did great, but I was able to do 80-90mph.

Once we get to the Badlands, it'll be slower paced. It all depends on how well the baby does, but I wanted some sort of idea of when to expect RV drivers are done for the day.

I want them to love the journey, but to focus on driving until we get to really explore. They'll either love it or hate it right? LOL

Thanks to all for responding!

bclan6 wrote:
Trying to plan trip out west with kids. New to RV'ing. I want to make it to the main destinations fairly quick in order to spend more time there (3500 miles one way). We're going for a month, but one week of that is going to be in one destination alone.

3500 miles one way at 500 miles per day equals 7 full days just to get to your destination. Then the return trip home. I don't think you will enjoy this month's vacation!

We take the grandkids on a roadtrip every summer. Last summer we went from NH to Gatlinburg. We planned to break the trip down into 3 days, but the kids wanted to keep going. We did it in 2 days which is 500 miles per day. We have a Class A and they could have ridden longer. They were 5, 6 and 8 at the time. This year heading out west.

Just finished an 800 mile trip in one shot. We do it 4 to 6 times a year in the motorhome and the car. With the motorhome, you shouldn't have to worry about the kids.

When ours get tired, we convert the dinette and they sleep on it with seat belts on. Or sometimes one sleeps on the couch with seatbelt on and the other is on the dinette.

Having a table to sit at really expands the possibilities of what the kids can do to occupy their time.

The most I have driven in the motorhome before stopping for the night was 900 miles, about 16 hours. Our motorhome handles great, so no driver fatigue issues, just tired from a long day.

Everyone is different. We drive our 800 mile journey multiple times a year to visit family. Some folks just don't want to drive that far in one day, some may even drive more.

When we first started doing this 800 trip back in 2006, the kids were 5 and 3. Driving in the car was tough for them, but they have gotten use to it. Since getting the motorhome in 2009, they enjoy the trip a lot more as do we. When we drive the car up, I wish we could have taken the Motorhome instead.

-Michael

scbwr---
Well thought out intinerary and plan suggestions for the trip out west. Every thing being relative, driving 8 hrs. per day is doable but can be tiring and stressful. Personally, I like to drive approx. 5 hrs. per day and stopping at every rest stop along the way. I agree about making reservations, I would look at a map and figure out what city or town I would be in after approx. 8 hrs. and then make reservations accordingly. Reservations gives you a plan to deviate from rather than getting into a town/city/area dead tired and then start looking for an RV park. While I don't personally use KOA campgrounds because of their high prices, KOA's are kid friendly and generally have pools, game rooms etc etc for kids to play and unwind. KOA's can be found in every state.
Another alternative consideration if practical, would be to rent an RV on the west coast and then just fly out allowing you many more days to really visit and enjoy your visit and sight see.

What are the ages of the children? Have they done some traveling like this before? Dealing with very young kids vs. older kids makes a big difference.

The fact that you are driving a coach may make it easier to do a bit more mileage per day, but I'd be thinking 500 miles per day which adds up to 7 days there, 7 days back. I'd be inclined to put a day off after 4 days of traveling to give everyone a chance to relax and for the kids to have a break. That means 8 days out, 8 days back and 14-15 days at your final destination.

It may even be more enjoyable for everyone if you revise your itinerary so that you are stopping and enjoying more sites and activities while heading west and back east. Do a longer day (500 miles) followed by a shorter day (300 miles or so and stop where there are some things to see and do and take a day off. Then continue in a similiar pattern. Make the trip out and back just as much fun and a learning experience as the final destination.