How many driving hours per day?

[Gregbachand]

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.

[sailor_lou]

We usually hit the road around 10:00 and around 3:00 I'm thinking Happy Hour, so we find the next decent campground. We are retired so miles/day is not an important number to us. :C

Lou
05 Travel Supreme Envoy

[fitznj]

My rules is 3/300, stop by 3PM or 300 miles whichever comes first.
I may stretch it 4PM during the summer. But I like to be set up before
it gets dark.

We leave by 9AM and my tank gives me a 350 mile range, Cruising speed is 60-65.

I may leave for Big Bend TX in Jan from NJ - 1900 miles. I expect it to take a week and there will be lots of interesting things to see along the way.

[Bill_Satellite]

Gregbachand wrote:
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.

As few or as many as you like! Take your time and enjoy the drive!

[toedtoes]

For me, it depends on what there is to see along the way. Why drive 6 hours if there is an interesting stop at the 4 hour mark?

But I enjoy the planning as much as the going, so I don't mind doing research before the trip to find interesting stops.

[lhenry8113]

Keep in mind there will be hiccups along the way-road closures, road construction, accidents, morning and evening work traffic, etc. Have the GasBuddy, iExit, Apps, Etc.-know where the roadside reststops are, and try to use the truck stops/stations as much as possible-they usually have a pretty good restaurant as well as places to pull off and rest.

[angler]

I'm also a 6 hour or so a day 60-65 miles per hour.
Leave by 9 done driving about 3 or so. Reduces the rush hour traffic issue in some areas. Stop for gas once just to stretch out. My DW makes me sandwiches on the way:) Going home I may do 8 hours. I am a little more defensive when driving a motorhome which makes it a little more draining for your mind.Checking mirrors more often, on ramps, minor steering wheel adjustments that you don't have to do in a car.

Good luck on your trip. It is a nice way to travel.

[Big_Katuna]

About six hours per day maximum. Getting into a park earlier rather than later can have it’s advantages ; better site selection, time to do a little shopping.

Sitting and watching the newbies try to back up their 26’ fiver with a long bed dually and a spotter that stands behind the fiver yelling stop.

I also try to spend two nights at each stop. Knowing you have to get up and break camp is not as relaxing as knowing you DONT have to leave. It also gives you the day to drive around and stumble on something cool. A museum, historical something, best fried pork chops in the world, etc. Heck, we’ve ended up staying a week somewhere we thought we would be staying two nights.

I also try to not drive on weekends, esp Sunday’s. If something goes wrong you are going to either wait and or pay extra to get help.

We had a blowout on a Friday night in a remote area and didn’t get back on the road until Wed.

The goal here is to relax and enjoy the garden.

[Dennis12]

You want to enjoy your trip, Don't be in a hurry. You said it "NO RUSH" when you feel like stopping, stop

[justinhscott]

This past February, we did 920 miles in one day from NJ to Daytona.

Not retired, so we wanted to maximize our time in the warm South during a school break.

It didn't scar me apparently because I'm looking to repeat it this coming February.

[ferndaleflyer]

As a young person before interstate highways I once drove from Mass to Tucson in 48 hours alone. No interstates. Last cross country trip from LA to Orlando was exactly 5 days stopping 4 nights. Around here I typically go as much as 8 hours or 400mi whichever comes first.

[Tom_Barb]

We are on the road by dawn, off the road by dark. Rest stops as required.
Highest millage per day last trip 630, all interstate highway.

[doc_brown]

I drive from LA area to DC area every June. I give myself two weeks and I pick three locations to spend about 3 days. My first day is typically 500 miles with a stop every two hours for 15-20 minutes. So that is about 8 driving hours but about 10 hours on the road. Each driving day after that is around 350 miles or about 5.5 hours or 7 hours on the road. The time on the road will vary depending on the length of my lunch/nap break. I have driven the 2900 mile trip in 5 days, but that was an unusual situation.

[Gregbachand]

Thx to all. Great responses. This was my first post and I can see the forum is going to be super useful.

Greg

[imgoin4it]

We like leaving not later than 0900 hrs and stopping between 2 And 3 in the afternoon. There are always exceptions of course, but that’s our normal.

[rr2254545]

250 -300 per day Max - and we spend 2 nights every other day on a long trip - no big hurry to get anywhere

Easier to think in terms of miles so you can plan your over night stops