How far to travel with only 2 weeks vacation time/year

Personally, If I'm using up 2 weeks of vacation, I don't want to be driving more than 2 days out and two days back, at most. That leaves 10 days of real vacation out of 14 days. Anything less seems like a waste of precious vacation days to me. I'd say 800-1,000 miles each way, would be my guideline.

Do what you need to do for your vacation time limits. Just remember to drive at a safe speed for the safety of your family, and safety of other families on the roadways.

Lantley wrote:
Once upon a time I took the 650 miles a day approach however I eventually realized it's not an endurance test. I try to limit my travel to 250-350 miles a day max. Find a CG along the way stop for the night and have fun.
I also try not to travel more that 2 days in a row before reaching a destination CG.
The object is to camp and relax not to drive. After a 650 mile day I'm generally to tired/wound up to enjoy the day.
650 miles is easily a 13 hour driving day. No thanks. Being behind the wheel that long is not:fun,enjoyable or relaxing.
I now pick closer destinations and plan accordingly.
I believe you are headed to DC this summer which is great, but plan 300-400 mile days to and from DC. Maximize your CG time not your drive time.
I once took your road warrior approach before I realized the goal was to relax and have fun. Now I travel in smaller steps and spend more time smelling the roses vs. sitting behind the wheel

Lantley and I must be related cuz that's how we travel these days. 4-hrs of driving, 5 in a pinch, and then we're down for the day. we retired in 2005 but for a couple of years after that we were still doing the 10-12 hour driving days. then one spring we were EB on I-40 somewhere in new mexico and the wind was just horrendous. it was so bad that we pulled off at a Flying J around 11am to rest. we saw a CG down the road from the J and decided to call it a day. best decision we ever made and it was then that I saw the light. since then, with very rare exceptions, we've done the 4-hr drive thing and we're lovin' it!

and at the other extreme...the absolute longest drive we did was 36-hours from sacramento, ca to des moines, ia. this was our pre-MH days. never want to do that again. our shortest day (in terms of miles)? we were crossing the southern tip of florida on US 41, left the CG around 9a one morning. saw a sign for an everglades tour and pulled in. ended up spending most of the day there and at other nearby tourist traps. ended up going back to the same CG that evening.

A couple times a year, we will drive two days to our vacation and two days back. Western PA to mid-Florida, 1010 miles each way. We drive the first day to just south of Charlotte NC, the balance the next day. I will do this type of driving only for trips at least 2 weeks long, nothing shorter. After two long day driving, I need a break.

paulcardoza wrote:
Personally, If I'm using up 2 weeks of vacation, I don't want to be driving more than 2 days out and two days back, at most. That leaves 10 days of real vacation out of 14 days. Anything less seems like a waste of precious vacation days to me. I'd say 800-1,000 miles each way, would be my guideline.

While we prefer 100-150mile days now (spoiled since we have no schedule), if limited, the above is pretty much our thought.

I can see blasting out a couple long days so you can get somewhere but day after day just driving...

May as well get a job as a long haul trucker, they always say if you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life.

When we're sightseeing, we gobble up the miles, too. Did a "drive-by" of Alaska (LOL!) 9610 miles in 26 days. Many days were 500-700 mile days - we both share the driving duties.

Our 1800 mile one way trips were from southern Indiana to Great Falls,MT. 4-5 days out, 5-6 days there with the family(grandkids) and 5 days back home. Very enjoyable trip with no rushing. Last year as are retired it was 49 days and 7K+ miles. Still no rushing.

I would be curious to know the ages of some of the posters that say driving 200-250 mile a day is enough. I have driven to Gulf Shores, and Pensacola which is a little over 700 miles, in a day pulling the travel trailer and came home a week later. because being a younger family working man that is all of the vacation that I get. I feel that if you are comfortable driving 1000 miles a day go for it. I myself do not have any issues driving for 12 hours stopping only for gas, food, potty breaks.

coachjeff wrote:
I would be curious to know the ages of some of the posters that say driving 200-250 mile a day is enough. I have driven to Gulf Shores, and Pensacola in a day pulling the travel trailer and came home a week later. because being a younger family working man that is all of the vacation that I get. I feel that if you are comfortable driving 1000 miles a day go for it. I myself do not have any issues driving for 12 hours stopping only for gas, food, potty breaks.

Can't speak for others but we are retired (63 & 58 years) and now part of the 2-2-2 club. That is: no more than 200 miles, stop before 2 pm, and stay two days. In other words, we are taking our time and enjoying the journey. We can do that as we have lots more than 14 days to get it done.

When you have a limited time available it forces you to get to your destination faster.

coachjeff wrote:
I would be curious to know the ages of some of the posters that say driving 200-250 mile a day is enough. I have driven to Gulf Shores, and Pensacola which is a little over 700 miles, in a day pulling the travel trailer and came home a week later. because being a younger family working man that is all of the vacation that I get. I feel that if you are comfortable driving 1000 miles a day go for it. I myself do not have any issues driving for 12 hours stopping only for gas, food, potty breaks.

we're now 64/63 but started doing the short drives (4 hrs) when we were 58/57 (retired at 55). the wife doesn't drive the MH.