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.

[doxiemom11]

We have driven as much as 350 miles and also have driven only 70 miles. We are in no rush. Our average is probably 175 - 220 per day. We also drive a couple of days and then sit for a couple of days. We took a month to go from central IL to Phoenix AZ.

[Nutinelse2do]

We always plan on being parked by 3:00 with cocktails in hand by 3:15, no matter how many miles, or what time we leave.

We quit driving near dark, or after, many years ago.

If there is something interesting along the way, we stop. If not, keep motoring. Plan a good lunch, and snacks for the roadie, and always something quick and light for dinner.

We average 50 mph, no matter what we do.

There are always places to stop, be it a casino, Cabela’s, church, Home Depot, or a rest stop.

Enjoy the journey. That’s what it’s all about.

Safe and happy travels!

[down_home]

Unless we have to be in a hurry we are up and leave by 10 and stop by 6.
We generally make one stop anyway maybe two to get someone else's hot cooked meal.
Maybe even stop at convenient spot and take a nap.
Not like seventies when I mowed the one acre+ lawn with push mower on Friday am and gone by noon drove 600 miles to Michigan. No stops unless she pinched me meaning she had to stop. $20.00 gas each way in 400 ci Plymouth Gran Fury. Sometimes used less gas.
I try to run her around the hosue a couple of times per day a week before we leave to build up her stamina, and let her drive.
However by six or before we are parked for the evening.

[w4phj]

6 hours +/- 1. All depends on road conditions, weather, and the area.

[Wire_Man]

Our last trip was the first with me being retired and not being in any hurry, I found some days I felt like driving more than others. So my answer to your question is drive whatever you feel comfortable with.

[Mr_Mark1]

Our normal travel mileage is between 250-300 miles a day and/or about 6 hrs. of driving including a quick lunch.

We usually leave a campground at 11:00 AM (check out time) and will arrive at the new location at 5 PM (if there are no time changes). I will adjust these times as not to drive at dark. In four years with this coach, we might have driven at night 3 times.

I do not like navigating through a dark campground where I have never been (just for safety). 🙂

Safe travels,
MM.

[ExTreker_Vic]

For us old folks, sitting for a long time is not a good thing. 2 - 2 1/2 hrs. at a time is a good limit. Stop, take a rest and stretch the legs. Do this as many times as long as you are comfortable and not stressed.
Stop before you get to tried to drive.
We generally look for an overnight stop before dark. Night driving is normally not an issue, but finding an overnight parking spot after dark, gets if'y.
It's not how far you got, but the time behind the wheel.
Do it at your pace.
PS. I'm in CT

[ford_truck_guy]

We are weekend warriors and generally need to take full advantage of every hour.. When we are doing a longer trip, say from PA to the Florida Keys we will pull a longer day on the first day, possibly 10-12 hrs....and so on..

Coming home from Disney, we generally drive from Disney to the Doswell VA area which can take up to 13 hrs depending on traffic... That would leave us a 5 hour run the next day...

If I were retired, I would enjoy the trip and the views.....

[ncrowley]

We also have a max of about 400 miles per day. At an average of 50 mph with fuel and food stops, that is about 8 hours depending if we are on the interstate or secondary roads.

[jplante4]

We plan for 4 hours which works out to about 5. But, we're retired so not in a hurry to get anywhere. If you're a weekend warrior, you can probably accept more traveling time.

[wildtoad]

Figure 50 mph on interstates to account for stops. We try for no more the 4-5 hours max of actual driving to make the trip enjoyable. But then we don’t have to be back any time soon.

[BarabooBob]

My wife and I are both very early risers. When we start a trip, we have the camper and truck all packed for the trip so that when we wake up, we get dressed and leave. We typically leave at 3:00pm on the first day of our trips. We live in WI so we easily make Badlands NP for our first night if we are heading west. Has anyone found something interesting to stop and look at in eastern South Dakota. We have already been through the area many times so we just drive through.
On the first and last days of trips we frequently put 650 to 700 miles on. Other days it may be 50 miles when we are stopping and looking at EVERYTHING. We can both spend a day reading plaques in museums.
This type of travel is not for everyone but it works for us.

[dodge_guy]

I average 10 on long trips. Although I have limited vacation time. Eventually I’ll cut back to no more than 8. And that will be the longest if I’m driving for a few days. I always make the first day the longest drive! Then shorter from then on.

[DutchmenSport]

12 hours...really! But very seldom is the actual time behind the wheel more than 6 hours. Because we stop and horse around so much when traveling. We also never exceed the speed limit. Usually its 5 to 10 mph slower too. 300 miles a day.. maybe.

[BB_TX]

Some never drive more than 3-4 hours per day. Some routinely drive 8-10 hours per day or more. Some drive according to where they want to be that night or the next. Only you can decide what is right for you. And of course the DW.