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How many driving hours per day?

Gregbachand
Explorer
Explorer
I’m about to take my first trip: from CT to TX.

I’m going to drive 4 hours the first day due to the stress of it being my first day.

How many hours per day am I going to want to travel thereafter. Just the wife and I and a couple of dogs. No kids. We are retired (old) and in no rush.
54 REPLIES 54

Lwiddis
Explorer II
Explorer II
Six is my absolute maximum...I'm on vacation! I also follow the 230/2:30 rule most days. Stop at 230 miles or 2:30 p.m., whichever comes first.
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Bruce_Brown
Moderator
Moderator
When we finally retire I'm thinking 6 hours would be a good average. Some days a little longer, others a little shorter, but somewhere around 6 seems like a nice pace.
There are 24 hours in every day - it all depends on how you choose to use them.
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swphotobug
Explorer
Explorer
Depends on the weather, road conditions, availability of campgrounds etc. I figure we average 50 mph with stops and plan no more than 200-250 a day. Sometimes a lot less. It is up to you.

2edgesword
Explorer
Explorer
My max is about 400 miles per day which translates to 8 ~9 hours per day given restroom stops and a meal.

sch911
Explorer
Explorer
I still work and when I camp I need to minimize the amount of travel days. So we sometimes do 10 to 12. It's not for everybody...
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FULLTIMEWANABE
Explorer
Explorer
I very vividly recall the working/school crazy days of yesteryear when we'd drive 12 or 14 hour days sometimes (including fuel and meal stops), to cram as much time in at a destination as possible.

Nowadays, we vary how long we travel from day to day. Find hubby now sometimes finds even an hour half/two hours too long LOL.

I think most days of "travel" days, we would average around 3 to 6 hours depending what we are stopping and looking at enroute. When we get closer to home, we are known still to finish the last 7 to 8 hours on occasion in one go.

You said you were in no rush! If that is the case, then find some places you'd like to stop at enroute and hold up as and when you want to. It's not a race 😉
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midnightsadie
Explorer II
Explorer II
six is a good number, and some rest stops.were retired whats the rush.

schlep1967
Nomad
Nomad
I would let it up to how you feel. One trick I like to use is breaking up the trip. Eat a small snack before you hit the road in the morning. Drive for 2-3 hours and stop for a good breakfast. Back on the road for a few hours until you are ready for lunch. Go for another 100 miles or so and take a break for another small snack. Then back on the road until you are ready to stop for the night.
Like you said you are in no hurry. Have the co-pilot search for things to see and do in towns up ahead.
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rgatijnet1
Explorer III
Explorer III
Stop whenever you feel like it. There is no hard and fast rule about how long to drive. When I feel like I want to stop for the day I have the wife do a search of a place to park for the night along the way.

2oldman
Explorer II
Explorer II
6
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