Help needed planning drive time

If you average 50 mph (including stops) then that's a 300-400 mile day. A lot of people aim for 300 miles/day so that is a reasonable goal. Pushing it is when you go to 500 miles or more in a day. But this depends on what you are comfortable with. We often push harder for the first couple of days that it takes us to get out of the SE into more interesting country.

As a member of the 230/230 club, join us. 230 miles or 2:30 pm whichever happens first...stop.

It partly depends on your age. I have been a road warrior since the 1960s. We would drive to Florida for spring break for 20 or more hours without stopping. I used to plan on 600 miles a day for travel days. Now I am retired and like the 300 miles or 3 pm stop rule.

Pulling an RV is more tiring than regular driving for most people. Consider the group you are traveling with. Pay attention to the feedback. They will let you know what their limits are. Time and distance management is important.

6-8 hours is too long. We travel about 200 miles per day on federal highways(non-interstate) and primary state highways. You will see more of the country by going a slower pace.

rvnutts wrote:
I am planning our first long trip beginning last week of August and going through most of September. Since we have never done this before, my question is, are 6-8 hour days towing doable or too long? Would I need to plan an overnight stop on those days? For those of you who have made trips like this I would appreciate your experience. Thanks!

The answer is "how high is your tolerance level " for back, neck, butt" aches and pains? 300 to 400 miles per day is generally what most RVers plan to travel in a day. I stop at every rest stop along my route just to get out walk around and stretch for 15 min. How many consecutive days in a row are you planning to travel 800 miles per day? If your RV plans make it necessary, I would drive 800 then stop for 2 days to recuperate etc. etc. Any trip schedule is possible do but at what price? You also have to consider the whole famliy's tolerance for 800 miles per day, especially kids. Instead of 800 miles per day, I would add additional days to the trip if possible to drive fewer miles per day. Or, look at planning your 1 long trip into to 2 seperate trips on seperate occasions.

We have found that an average of 50 mph, or 300 miles a day is comfortable for me, the driver. Fuel stops, bathroom breaks, lunch, etc. sometimes make a long day. If you do not have to be somewhere at a specific time or day, take your time...

rvnutts wrote:
I am planning our first long trip beginning last week of August and going through most of September. Since we have never done this before, my question is, are 6-8 hour days towing doable or too long? Would I need to plan an overnight stop on those days? For those of you who have made trips like this I would appreciate your experience. Thanks!

Where are you travel from and to what location?

Fatigue is a big factor for safety.

It's good to keep the 300 to 3pm rule.

Make sure you arrive at your destination with a least an hour of daylight remaining. Especially if you will not be at Walmart or a truck stop that is well lighted. Trying to back into a camp site in dark woods at night can be challenging.

Unfortunately, your question cannot be well answered unless by someone of the same age and has a similar rig.

The real answer, is start out planning 6 road hours a day and then modify your plan. Hours is actually a better gauge than miles. Hours make you weary. If your ride is good, you may be capable of more, but always remember that driving when you are tired is a very easy way to end up dead. Most likely that 6 road hours will translate to 8 or 9 clock hours and that is plenty.

Wife and I co-drive a very comfortable coach, and we have done some long pulls. We now reserve those for times when we have little choice. They are never fun.

Unfortunately (again) is the fact that both Strips and Treets and Street Alas are gone. These where the best planning things out there and they were not internet dependent so the navigator could update the plan while underway.

Matt