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

We have to do the 2 week thing also... Looks like the longest 2 week trip we've taken was 1500 miles. Back when we had the kids with us the longest was 800 miles. And next month our plans are for a 1300 mile trip. We're waiting till retirement to go out west. We did that back in '77 for our honeymoon camping trip so we know about long driving days. :)

We are just starting to do longer trips this year and DW and I have discussed this issue at great length. We have decided that our past 1 week or less vacation experiences have taught us we need to "wind-down" after a long drive. For example, a long single day drive of 700 miles or so, that runs out day #1 of vacation. Then we still kinda feel outta sorts the following day. So we don't really get into fully enjoying our time till day #3.
Now, a good number of short trips add in to show us that we don't feel as road-weary if we only go roughly 300 miles at a time. So that is another strategy to plan around. Hop from CG to CG across an area / state we want to visit.
The tail end of the trip is not as much of consideration, since we are going back to work afterwards but we don't want to get home only in time to go to bed for work the next morning. We just want to time arriving back home to have 1/2 day to unpack / recover.

In round numbers, I'd say I'd do maybe up to 3000 miles round trip if I had 2 full weeks AND only if I wanted to stop / camp in multiple places along the way.

Seeing as how I do only get 3 weeks a year, we are splitting it up to do a bunch of 3 day WE's, 1 full week local (3 hrs drive) camping to just relax, 12 / 13 days for our one "long trip" -- and that is just at 2000 miles round trip with camping in 4 or 5 locations with the longest site only being 4 days in one spot.

michigansandzilla wrote:
I have seen this many times in numerous threads and I find it very interesting how people's opinions differ. So I thought I'd do a quick poll and see what everyone thinks.

We plan to go 1800 miles one way with 650+miles in one day when necessary. So, about 3600 miles round trip.


How far will you travel if you only have 2 weeks of vacation time/year?

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

We traveled to the UP Michigan by way of Chicago 2 yrs ago and returned across the Mackinac Bridge. Last year we traveled across the Mackinac Bridge to the UP, and returned through Canada, hitting Niagara Falls on the way back. Each trip over 3000 miles, very relaxing and enjoyable for our first trailering trips!!

rk911 wrote:

ummm...did long beach get moved to Oregon? :h

Sorry about that. I got carried away reliving the trip I typed in the wrong state. Long beach, WA.

rv2go wrote:
Call me young and crazy, but back in 1977, the wife, daughter and I took off in our new 1976 Midas Class C. We left Knoxville, Tn and went as far west as Long Beach, Or. The trip was over 6200 miles in 15 days.
This is about the route we took.

ummm...did long beach get moved to Oregon? :h

michigansandzilla wrote:
I have seen this many times in numerous threads and I find it very interesting how people's opinions differ. So I thought I'd do a quick poll and see what everyone thinks.

We plan to go 1800 miles one way with 650+miles in one day when necessary. So, about 3600 miles round trip.


How far will you travel if you only have 2 weeks of vacation time/year?

you're eating up roughly half of your vacation time in driving. if that's your idea of a good time then go for it but if it were us I'd cut that to a 2-day drive one way at most. you're close enough to home to spend most of your time relaxing but far enough away for it to feel like you're away from home. the point is to relax.

Call me young and crazy, but back in 1977, the wife, daughter and I took off in our new 1976 Midas Class C. We left Knoxville, Tn and went as far west as Long Beach, Wa. The trip was over 6200 miles in 15 days.
This is about the route we took.

It all depends on where you live and what your interests are. If you live in Michigan and love to fish, why travel over one day? If you live in New England and love to visit historical sites, why travel over one day. If you live in Arizona or New Mexico and love water sports or river rafting, you may have to travel a little longer. Is travel the destination or the means to get to one?

I f you average 50 miles an hour when actually on the road you will be behind the wheel for 72 hours. Then you add on time for fuel breaks,potty breaks,lunch breaks,doggy breaks. Depending on your habits,number of children I can easily see that adding up to 1 to 1 and 1 /4 hours per day.
So actually driving 8-9 hours per day with 1 hour for breaks it will be 8-9 days just behind the wheel. Doesn't leave too many days for real vacation time activity.