Too many miles?

Welcome to the Forum...your 1st post.

My opinion (wife says it's worthless)...too many miles each day. You are new at this. I'm old at it and I like to take it easy. It's suppose to be a vacation and relaxing. Towing 600 miles a day, setting up, and all that is needed to camp...just too much for me.

Hi,

With those kind of distances, I would not even bother with campgrounds for the first three days. Just find a convenient place to park, and use the facilities in the RV.

I would certainly try to do a thermos for coffee, and have a boxed lunch made up (from the night before).

Make sure you have some shake down weekends before this trip. You don't want any surprizes.

Personally I try to keep under 200 miles a day--but have been known to do 736 miles @55 mph.

brebar wrote:
I reserved all the camp sites along the way.

My question is, did I "over do it", as far as miles between campsites?

Yah, I think so. And having reservations will just add to the stress. Arriving at a campite after dark is not a fun experience for anyone.

I drive a comfortable distance then look for wide spots (expression meaning "anywhere I can camp") that are fee-free for the night.

I can never seem to average more than 50mph. US 2 is mainly a two lane highway and as you get closer to Williston ND traffic will be heavier because to the oil field activity.

Yes, that's too many miles. Besides the driving time you have to check into each campground and get set up each night. Then in the morning you don't have to check out, but you do have to get ready to move.

If you're not planning on seeing anything on the way over or back, leave the MH at home and fly. Renting a car and a hotel room at Glacier NP will be cheaper and more relaxing.

Have you heard of the old 10-2-5 rule? On the road at 10:00AM, off the road at 2:00PM and a cold beverage in hand at 5:00PM. That's about 250 miles a day. You're going to try to double that every day and almost triple it one day.

Bill

WOW! I was thinking that if I left these campsites at 6 Am I would be able to at least set up in the day light. I did read that Williston would slow me down some.

I have all these camp sites reserved. what happens if I don't make it?

My answer is, "It depends."

It depends on you - do you enjoy driving? Do you find it relaxing? Or is driving a necessary evil? Do you have experience driving long distances in a day (~500-600 miles)? Did you enjoy it? Do you look forward to it? Or are you a stressed, tense, white-knuckle driver?

I'm a salesman, and seasoned road warrior. I love being behind the wheel. For me, the journey is a big part of the fun. Plus, my wife and kids are great road warriors - nobody gets carsick, and they'll read a stack of books. They grew up taking long trips, so they're used to it. We have a DVD player, but never use it.

In 2011 we went from Michigan to Yellowstone for our vacation. Racked up 5500 miles in 18 days. Longest drive was 614 miles in a day, from MI to Rochester, MN. I did all the driving, and loved it. Also had several days where we covered 500 miles. This summer, we're driving to the Grand Canyon - 2036 miles. We'll do it in three days. I'm actually throwing around the idea to try to make it to Albuquerque in two days - 1630 miles.

On the way back, we'll make some shorter drives.

When the kids were younger, we did the Disneyworld vacation every year. SOP was a 3 AM departure, arriving in Atlanta the first night - 700 miles.

If you're tense when you're driving, it can be very fatiguing. But if you're relaxed and enjoying it, go for it!

Hi,

If you don't make it, you get to pay for the campsite without using it. Just as if it were a hotel.

brebar wrote:
I have all these camp sites reserved. what happens if I don't make it?

Fuel stops and bathroom stops take more time than you think from where we live to Bristol Tn is 500 miles I have cruise set at 67 mph and it is a 11 hour run for us. 11 hours is the max for me after that I get rather cranky good luck