How far to travel in a day??

[mikel68]

When we first started we would do all these shotgun style trips. Hop form place to place, not many days in between. No More, I'm the driver. I prefer to keep it 400 or under. We may make stops in between. Sometimes you get those 150-200 days when traveling, mostly east coast in our trips. Not immune to a 500, but don't want many of those and if there is one we are staying more than one or two nights. Roads and terrain are a factor, mountains and winding roads take time. We get up pretty early if it's a 400 day, quick breakfast and head out.

[jkoenig24]

Will you be doing ALL of the driving? If there are two (or more) drivers, the trip will be MUCH easier. Two ~ three hours "behind the wheel" and then switch. Breaks as appropriate. Two or three "driving shifts" will allow you to cover a lot of ground if driving on limited access roads. LISTEN to your bodies. We don't recover as fast as we did in our younger years. Better to take an extra day (or three) than to arrive totally spent or worse, not arrive because you've had an accident after pushing too hard.

[kluza2786]

When we went to Florida last February, I planned our route at 350 - 400 miles per day. It looks like you're pulling a trailer, so at an average of 60 MPH, that makes 6+ actual hours of driving, plus stops for fuel, meals, bathroom, etc. amounts to a 7+ hours of total road time. Try to plan your route through metro areas at non-peak time. We were able to go through Atlanta at about 11:00 AM on a Saturday and it was still a mess!

[KFX450RXC]

Its all about each person individually.

Our biggest is Disneyworld. About 10 hours for us. On the way to Disney, we leave a day early, drive about six hours to south Ga. and camp for the night. Make the remainder of the trip the next morning. It sort of extends the excitement and keeps it less stressful.

But on the way home, its hammer down all the way. We leave around 9:00 am and keep trucking until we pull in the driveway. 10 hours but we're just ready to get home.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by jkoenig24

Will you be doing ALL of the driving? If there are two (or more) drivers, the trip will be MUCH easier. Two ~ three hours "behind the wheel" and then switch. Breaks as appropriate. Two or three "driving shifts" will allow you to cover a lot of ground if driving on limited access roads. LISTEN to your bodies. We don't recover as fast as we did in our younger years. Better to take an extra day (or three) than to arrive totally spent or worse, not arrive because you've had an accident after pushing too hard.

My DW will drive, but many DW's won't drive pulling a trailer/5ver. There was a thread on this subject some time ago.

[RverAnn45]

Fayliss, you have received every variation of answer, because we are all different. On a "driving" day, we try not to exceed 200 miles. Usually only my husband drives. I make all our meals and we want some R and R time while it is still daylight. We never want to come into a new camp ground in the dark. We do not make reservations, but have a general idea of where we are going. If we see something interesting, we stop. Last summer we traveled 12,000 miles in 17 weeks focus on upper United States and lower Canadian Provinces. Great trip.

[Volvodriver]

We go 350 to 400 max and some times 150 or 200 depending on where we want to go. Always set up in the day light or at least arrive and get in the sight when there is enough light to get straight and parked correctly.

Only once since full-timing we have arrived in darkness and pulled into the site we were given. Problem is things like hose bibs in those dark green boxes can't be easily seen, but don't ask me how I know this.

Dave

[NO3putt]

250-300 miles, three days travel then one day rest. Always stop before dark. Retirement is so nice.

[Avan]

We travel with a lot of family most of the time, so we set a 200 mile limit on a day I'd travel. We are all retired so it works for us.
As was mentioned in prior post, your retired! Enjoy the trip and be safe.

[CraigBean7672]

Can cover enough ground in one day @ ~ 350 mi with excess time for whatever, I will go more or less if it puts us in the right spot.

Enjoy your trip!

[dalford]

Originally Posted by Rev46

300 miles or 3:00 pm. Usually head out about 8:00 am stop for lunch.

X2, We usually like to be on the road between 8 to 9 in the morning and in a camp spot by 4PM at the latest. Traveling at 60 mph on the interstate with fuel stops and curtain adjustments we average 45-50 mph. So our range is 200-300 miles per day.

You did say "When I retire.." so I assume you don't have to get somewhere and back in a one or two week window.

Get RV Parky (free) or Allstays ($10) app to see campground on your route that are coming up and book a site when you get close. Don't book ahead in less your going to a destination park. If for some reason you can't make your reservation most RV parks will charge you anyway if you don't show. Just easier to just show up.

[Charles.maine]

Most we have ever done with our TT was 900. Wanted to spend an extra day in Pigeon Forge so we left early in the morning and got home like at 11pm. That was a LONG day. Almost all interstate though.

[Hannah]

I notice that most of the replies include "we or our". I travel alone with my dog also. In a couple of years of travel, I have found that between 200 and 300 miles a day works best for me. I have also found that not getting in a hurry to be someplace is a good part of my retirement lifestyle. So I try to stay at least 2 nights in each stop. That extra day gives me a chance to kick back and enjoy my surroundings. Safe travels.

[Maron]

All of the above info is right on. I drive the Chicago / Phoenix trip every April and October.
One added piece of advice is...know your tow! The difference between 55mph- 60mph -65mph could vary your fuel stops to add or reduce time consuming stops. Know your range with accuracy and get a good GPS that shows fuel stops.
The best I've found is on a smart phone, updated constantly and showing restaurant & fuel brands along the way. Hope you enjoy yourself.

[dahagen]

I always plan to stop by the time the clock hits 4 PM. After that campsites fill up and by the time you get set up, happy hour is over.

[JustB_Rad]

This summer, we're planning on taking a trip from Milwaukee to Branson. I started a new job at Thanksgiving, so I lost an entire week of time off (Otherwise we'd be going to South Dakota). It's 625 Miles with a preliminary plan of making it in 12 1/2 hours by leaving home by 5AM, having a 1+ hour stop 3 hours in for breakfast and fuel , another 1+ stop 3 hours later for lunch and then the final push to get to Branson by dinner. Then we'll split the trip into 2 days for the way home. It's a haul, but I think it's plenty doable.

[Pipeman]

When we started out cross country to Alberta from here, we were 37 years younger, had 3 kids between 3 and 7. We had a hard top camper that slept 6. Went across the Canadian way. Did it in 3 days each way. I did and do all the driving. Only had 30 days off so we hurried. Long days for sure. Approx. 2000 miles. Now we do the same trip every other year because 2 of our kids live out there now. We travel through the States on Hwy #2 from St. Ignace, Mi. We know exactly where we're going to stop every day. We put in from 250 to 350 miles a day depending on where we want to be. Usually stay in the same campgrounds. We now take at least 7 days to get to where we want to be. Sometimes we get into a campground just after 1 PM. We set up, sit down, have a couple of mugs of medication, relax have a nice supper of left overs that my wife froze for the trip. We go to bed about 10 PM. We are gone by 7 AM. I carry 86 gallons of fuel but know where I'm going to fuel up every day without having to unhitch the 5er. The object is to get out west to where we reserve a spot for a couple of weeks in the mountains & then meet the kids to boondock in the mountains for up to 3 weeks. After that it's a campground near where our kids live for a month. We bond with our grandsons then. We're not in a hurry to get out there but we don't do any sight seeing while going and coming. Been there and done that as they say. Just our way of doing it now that we can. Different strokes.

[dalford]

Originally Posted by Pipeman

When we started out cross country to Alberta from here, we were 37 years younger, had 3 kids between 3 and 7. We had a hard top camper that slept 6. Went across the Canadian way. Did it in 3 days each way. I did and do all the driving. Only had 30 days off so we hurried. Long days for sure. Approx. 2000 miles. Now we do the same trip every other year because 2 of our kids live out there now. We travel through the States on Hwy #2 from St. Ignace, Mi. We know exactly where we're going to stop every day. We put in from 250 to 350 miles a day depending on where we want to be. Usually stay in the same campgrounds. We now take at least 7 days to get to where we want to be. Sometimes we get into a campground just after 1 PM. We set up, sit down, have a couple of mugs of medication, relax have a nice supper of left overs that my wife froze for the trip. We go to bed about 10 PM. We are gone by 7 AM. I carry 86 gallons of fuel but know where I'm going to fuel up every day without having to unhitch the 5er. The object is to get out west to where we reserve a spot for a couple of weeks in the mountains & then meet the kids to boondock in the mountains for up to 3 weeks. After that it's a campground near where our kids live for a month. We bond with our grandsons then. We're not in a hurry to get out there but we don't do any sight seeing while going and coming. Been there and done that as they say. Just our way of doing it now that we can. Different strokes.

Nice.....

[Canadiancrew]

Originally Posted by Pipeman

When we started out cross country to Alberta from here, we were 37 years younger, had 3 kids between 3 and 7. We had a hard top camper that slept 6. Went across the Canadian way. Did it in 3 days each way. I did and do all the driving. Only had 30 days off so we hurried. Long days for sure. Approx. 2000 miles. Now we do the same trip every other year because 2 of our kids live out there now. We travel through the States on Hwy #2 from St. Ignace, Mi. We know exactly where we're going to stop every day. We put in from 250 to 350 miles a day depending on where we want to be. Usually stay in the same campgrounds. We now take at least 7 days to get to where we want to be. Sometimes we get into a campground just after 1 PM. We set up, sit down, have a couple of mugs of medication, relax have a nice supper of left overs that my wife froze for the trip. We go to bed about 10 PM. We are gone by 7 AM. I carry 86 gallons of fuel but know where I'm going to fuel up every day without having to unhitch the 5er. The object is to get out west to where we reserve a spot for a couple of weeks in the mountains & then meet the kids to boondock in the mountains for up to 3 weeks. After that it's a campground near where our kids live for a month. We bond with our grandsons then. We're not in a hurry to get out there but we don't do any sight seeing while going and coming. Been there and done that as they say. Just our way of doing it now that we can. Different strokes.

Did it two years ago and going to do it this summer. We have 2 kids in Alberta and 3 grankids with the fourth on the way and hence the trip. Our days vary from 500 to 900 kilometres per day. Two years ago we went through Chicago and have done that a couple of times but took highway 2 and st Ignace on the return and I do enough that route a lot better. Less stress and no heavy traffic.

We do have a daughter in Thunder Bay as well and have done that in a day 1250 kilometres. I keep saying we won't do that again but never have enough time off.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by JustB_Rad

This summer, we're planning on taking a trip from Milwaukee to Branson. I started a new job at Thanksgiving, so I lost an entire week of time off (Otherwise we'd be going to South Dakota). It's 625 Miles with a preliminary plan of making it in 12 1/2 hours by leaving home by 5AM, having a 1+ hour stop 3 hours in for breakfast and fuel , another 1+ stop 3 hours later for lunch and then the final push to get to Branson by dinner. Then we'll split the trip into 2 days for the way home. It's a haul, but I think it's plenty doable.

I'd figure more than 12 1/2hrs. We did it from Rockford in about 12 hours and we're 1 1/2hrs from you. While you might be going 60 mph while you're actually going down the road, figure on 50 mph as an average speed.