how far to drive every day

Lwiddis wrote:
"But then again, I am working on an excursion plan that will involve doing several 550~600 mile days because we can't think of a reason to stop in between"

Matt, I can always think of a reason to stop particularly after 2:30...check ice, cool glasses, refill inadequate supplies of liquid spirits, set up, extend awning, position outside chairs, greet neighbors, decide on supper, watch local TV news, check email, make comments on Good Sam forum, enjoy my surroundings etc.

And, the WalMart parking lot never has a late check-in fee or early check out requirement. They stock ice and liquid refreshments of many, many varieties too.

One thing I'd like to throw in - plan for weather.

It's one thing sailing along on a bright and sunny day. You can relax as the miles tick off behind you. Now, factor in a ripping cross wind that has you white-knuckling the steering wheel trying to stay in your lane, or trudging through a blinding rain for ours on end, and your limits will be reached much sooner.

When I was younger 500 miles was my working estimate when planning trips. Do not want that anymore. 400 is about my max and I prefer less.

The longer days leave me so tired and keyed up I do not enjoy the evening, and start out the next day not fully refreshed. I'll go 400 if the next day is an easy one.

I travel for pleasure now. If the day's travel is not pleasurable then it is a wasted day I will never get back.

My general rule is daylight driving only rather than a set number of hours. We're up early, quick breakfast and on the road. We'll make short gas, snack and bathroom breaks along the way. I try to get to a stopping point before dark so we can get things setup and have a relaxing evening with dinner etc.

I don't do well driving at night so drive while the sun shines is my rule!

Well if you drive all day then you'll probably drive by many things to see. If you hardly drive then you'll hardly see anything.
Pick what and where you want to go and see and let that determine how far you drive each day.

Like many here we drive by the number of hours since we are retired. If we have to be somewhere by a certain date, we leave earlier rather than busting our butts to get there. Five to six hours a day is about right for us and the dogs.

Yes, in our younger years we could drive forever. When we were first married, we would call in "sick" on Friday morning after having left Dallas on Thursday after work for Estes Park. We would drive all night arriving Friday morning. We would sleep a few hours and hike Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday morning. Then we would drive straight through to Dallas and be at work Monday. Just writing about it makes me tired.

"But then again, I am working on an excursion plan that will involve doing several 550~600 mile days because we can't think of a reason to stop in between"

Matt, I can always think of a reason to stop particularly after 2:30...check ice, cool glasses, refill inadequate supplies of liquid spirits, set up, extend awning, position outside chairs, greet neighbors, decide on supper, watch local TV news, check email, make comments on Good Sam forum, enjoy my surroundings etc.

This all very interesting, and you have answered his question about as well as it can be answered except you have all missed an important part of this discussion.

What ever you might want to do, your body is the limiting factor. That really comes down to how comfortable you are driving. If the cab is rough and noisy, it will wear you down much faster. if the seat is comfortable, much longer days are possible.

Today we are doing a 247 mile day. Tomorrow we are planning to do a 270 mile day. We have done the run as a single 525, but we didn't feel like this time. But then again, I am working on an excursion plan that will involve doing several 550~600 mile days because we can't think of a reason to stop in between. We can do that easily. If we want to do more, the coach is comfortable enough to sleep one while the other drives, but then the driver does not have a navigator and if you are not on blue roads, that matters.

Matt

thank to all the respond I have received , I like the 6 hours a day and stopping for 2 day and resting and sightseeing, my wife will be my companion on this trip just her and I and our two small dogs, I want to spend some time in Vegas for a week, from Vegas. go too alameda ca then out to the NP on our way home.

"I'm planning 225 miles per day"

Yeah, Doc, but it doesn't rhyme like 230 or 2:30.