How far for 4 nights?

[fastalkintn]

I am lucky with my work schedule and often have 5 days off between shifts. With all this time off I would love to spread my wings and travel further from home. Just curious what your thoughts are on how far is to far for that time frame? An example...we have family in Michigan that by car is about 750 miles away. Would you do that with the camper if you have 5 days and 4 nights?

[Crusadernoob]

Gonna spend 1 night on the road to and from, I don't think I would do it.

[Restcure]

Our often-violated rule of thumb is one hour of driving per night camped. Don't know if that helps you but a four hour radius from home opens up a LOT of options for us.

[jtaylor1920]

For me that would be about a day and a half on the road each way not leaving a long time to visit with family. With that said if I haven't seen them for a while I'd probably do it. Time is short and seeing family is important.


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[timfromma]

For me, 750 miles is doable in one shot if you start early AM and make absolutely no stops except for gas, meals and potty breaks.

Eat and potty in the camper to save time.

[Wobbles]

That is a healthy drive @ 65mph. Plan shorter trips until you know how much time in the saddle you can handle in a day. Try something half the distance.

Myself, I prefer a comfortable trip across the required days as opposed to a marathon that will require the next day to recover from.

I am old though and want to enjoy my trips.

Good luck...

[fastalkintn]

I pulled our pop up that far in one day without any problems, and have made the drive several times without a camper. Just wondering what is normal for everyone else.

[CaptnJohn]

Have done that much in 1 shot pulling the 5er a few times recently and thought nothing of it pulling a TT in my younger days.

[pgandw]

With our A-frame and a 4 day trip, I am willing to spend 2 days traveling - one day out, one day back. 550 miles is about my maximum in a day.

Fred W
2014 Rockwood A122 A-frame
2008 Hyundai Entourage minivan

[ChipBruce]

My max is 500 miles. I have found that when you get an estimate of how long it will take on the GPS add 2 hours for stopping and gas. 750 miles will be a 14 hour day. No one is going to be happy after that.

Chip Bruce, RPh
Kansas City, MO
2016 Fuzion Impact 312
2015 Chevrolet Silverado LTZ
WELL....THAT WAS FUN!

[rockfordroo]

Plan on 50 mph AVERAGE, as in 350 miles in 7 hrs. You might think 50 mph is too low, but it seems to work out for most/many of us. If you're young, you can probably do more, but if you're old, you can't.

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

Plan on 50 mph AVERAGE, as in 350 miles in 7 hrs. You might think 50 mph is too low, but it seems to work out for most/many of us. If you're young, you can probably do more, but if you're old, you can't.

One trip I make often with the 5er is 780 miles. It takes 13:15 on average. Would be less but I'm old and so is my dog (68 / 17) and we stop more often than when younger.

[Gearitis]

I have done the Waco, TX to Kansas City MO trip. 650 miles, one way, pulling a 5er. Left friday morning at 4am, got there about 7pm that night. Left back on Monday morning at 4am and made it home about 8pm that night. Long days and not much rest especially after you setup and tear down. What we do now is if we have 3 to 5 days, we go within a 100 mile radius, and enjoy it rather than drive it. We have several COE, State Parks, and lakes with lots to do within a 2 hour driving distance.

[BooBoo23]

If you feel you can drive 70-75mph on the interstate just remember the tires are rated for 65mph max, not that they blow up at 65mph but prolonged driving at those speeds will invite tire failure and it isn't pretty. I usually maintain 55-60mph and limit the distance to around 250 miles for each leg of the trip. I think most of us are older and retired or semi-retired so our lives have slowed down. I just returned from a 2000 mile round trip taking 4 nights going and 5 nights returning

[kluza2786]

I normally plan on driving about 425 miles per day when traveling straight-through (i.e. not planning on stopping for any sight-seeing). Recently when returning home from upper Michigan I did 550 miles, but discovered that I wouldn't travel that far in a single day again unless it was really necessary. My wife and I felt like those last 100 miles would never end. Remember when you're towing, slower speed - i.e. 65 MPH max, more frequent stops for gas, and road construction during the summer. When we were going into Michigan, we saw what must have been at least a 10 mile backup (going the other way fortunately) for road construction on the interstate.

[JustB_Rad]

We did 650 each direction in one day for our vacation this year. We had planned to 2 day it on the way back, but we lost a day to weather so we decided to stay and haul the mail back home. We had a cranky baby on the way there so it took us 13.5 hours....but the we made it back in under 12. I'm not sure I would want to do much more than that though.

[JustB_Rad]

Originally Posted by BooBoo23

If you feel you can drive 70-75mph on the interstate just remember the tires are rated for 65mph max, not that they blow up at 65mph but prolonged driving at those speeds will invite tire failure and it isn't pretty. I usually maintain 55-60mph and limit the distance to around 250 miles for each leg of the trip. I think most of us are older and retired or semi-retired so our lives have slowed down. I just returned from a 2000 mile round trip taking 4 nights going and 5 nights returning

Not all trailer tires are rated for 65MPH max....check the codes on the side of your tire for your speed rating and adjust your speed accordingly.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

Plan on 50 mph AVERAGE, as in 350 miles in 7 hrs. You might think 50 mph is too low, but it seems to work out for most/many of us. If you're young, you can probably do more, but if you're old, you can't.

This is GOOD advice.

We had this discussion here a few months ago when someone else wanted to make a trip similar. The OP had problems understanding the 50 MPH average if he was going to be driving down the interstate at 65 MPH+.

When you figure in gas stops, potty breaks, a bite to eat, traffic slow downs, construction, etc. 50 MPH is all you are going to average to your destination.

[JustB_Rad]

Originally Posted by 5picker

This is GOOD advice.

We had this discussion here a few months ago when someone else wanted to make a trip similar. The OP had problems understanding the 50 MPH average if he was going to be driving down the interstate at 65 MPH+.

When you figure in gas stops, potty breaks, a bite to eat, traffic slow downs, construction, etc. 50 MPH is all you are going to average to your destination.

NO, the OP (me) didn't have a problem understanding the 50MPH average.....I originally questioned the 50MPH average, then it was stated that included stops. I accounted for my major stops separately! On that trip I averaged (your way) 47MPH on the way there due to my wife needing to stop for an extended potty break TWICE....and averaged 55MPH on the way home with a lunch break.

*edited for clarification*

[Major Oz]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

Plan on 50 mph AVERAGE, as in 350 miles in 7 hrs. You might think 50 mph is too low, but it seems to work out for most/many of us. If you're young, you can probably do more, but if you're old, you can't.

x2

Even younger (not my YOUNG, single and stupid days), 50mph was my rule of thumb.

Today, with a TT and a willingness to flat spot at WalMart, FJ, etc, and .....ahem.....stopping for EVERY Ross Dress for Less, Beals Outlet, and Burkes, it is somewhat slower....but I get a number of short naps.