Estimating travel time

[Cahriad]

Any tips on estimating trip times?

I am planning next years trips and trying to get my head around the best way to estimate arrival times. I know the mileage for each leg but do not know if they are say 300 miles at 60 mph average or 300 miles at average 35 mph depending upon the roads. Don't have the luxury of unlimited vacation time so planning route is essential.

Thanks

[Crusadernoob]

I plan for a 50 mph average, drive about 63 mph, with fuel stops most average about 50 mph

[18CrewDually]

Google Maps. Add more time if you drive slow or if you will be stopping for food, fuel, and bathroom.

[doc73]

We plan on 45mph. This seems to cover us for stops and such. We stop every 2 hours to change drivers and do other needs.. But we also travel with a 5 year old..

[extxn]

Originally Posted by 05CrewDually

Google Maps. Add more time if you drive slow or if you will be stopping for food, fuel, and bathroom.

I agree with the above post. Also, how much of the trip will be interstate highways versus back road byways? The time of the year will be your greatest enemy due to road construction in many areas.

While towing our 26RR, I try to keep the fuel stops according to the fuel gauge, stopping when between 1/4 and 1/2, depending on the area and terrain (hills versus flat ground and fuel consumption) and travel speed.

Sometimes it may be difficult to accomplish a 300 mile day, other times it's very easy or at least more comfortable. Definitely, you want to arrive at your scheduled or non-scheduled stop no later than dusk (or before) to achieve a decent set-up and time to relax.

[spock123]

I usually plan on average 60mph, I normally drive 70 or a little more. I have a 100gal fuel tank so I don’t stop at stations but I do have to stop every three or four hours. I do all the driving

[CedarCreekWoody]

50 MPh works for us. I drive 60 to 65.

[BuzzWolfAR]

One more for a 50 average. On interstates I drive 65, but stop every two hours to stretch my legs, get fuel, eat, etc. Even on state highways, the 50 seems to be a pretty good number.

[Capt. Mike]

I usually figure on an average of 50 mph, including normal fuel, stretch and restroom stops. If we are stopping to sight-see along the way, we add extra time for that, not in the 50 mph calculation. 300 miles in a day is a good, comfortable, non-killer day.

[JayArras]

Originally Posted by Cahriad

Any tips on estimating trip times?

Believe it or not, I find old-school MapQuest to be pretty accurate. And you can eliminate routes and re-route rather easily.

[rockfordroo]

Be careful if you're using your phone's Google maps to tell you how long it may take. About a month ago, we left Hartford, CT at 5:30am for JFK Airport to pick up our DD and her DW. At 5:30am, our phone's Google maps said 2-1/2 hrs.

BUT - when it tells you that, it's assuming the traffic the whole way is at whatever it may be at 5:30am. As we drove and traffic increased, the time got longer and longer.
By the time we got there, it was 3-1/2 hours, as traffic increased for the morning rush hour.

Probably not as big a deal if you're staying out of major metropolitan areas.

[18CrewDually]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

Be careful if you're using your phone's Google maps to tell you how long it may take. About a month ago, we left Hartford, CT at 5:30am for JFK Airport to pick up our DD and her DW. At 5:30am, our phone's Google maps said 2-1/2 hrs.

BUT - when it tells you that, it's assuming the traffic the whole way is at whatever it may be at 5:30am. As we drove and traffic increased, the time got longer and longer.
By the time we got there, it was 3-1/2 hours, as traffic increased for the morning rush hour.

Probably not as big a deal if you're staying out of major metropolitan areas.

One motor vehicle crash can also set anyone back many hours. Hard to plan for that. But Google Maps will alert you of the hazard by showing it on the active map in red. You can then reroute to avoid the traffic, or stick with the route.
Another good app I use is Waze.
Just a side note, when hauling I do not use them for my routes. My in dash stereo GPS has all the parameters of my vehicles in it and picks my route and will usually give quite a generous addition to the ETA when it is set for towing as opposed to just the truck. It uses the latest version of iGo.

[CHICKDOE]

another vote for an estimated average of 50 mph on a days driving not to exceed 300 miles. this is interstate or us routes. certainly mountain roads could be slower.

[spock123]

I was a commercial driver for sometime, when driving I shoot for 300 miles but normally it’s 400 miles or better a day. Backups are something that happens, you are just unlucky to get in one. We don’t make reservations more than a few hours ahead so backups don’t really bother us. I use Garmin to get around, I mostly use rv parks and campgrounds apps to find campgrounds and as a route planner.

[bubbles]

Originally Posted by Cahriad

Any tips on estimating trip times?

I am planning next years trips and trying to get my head around the best way to estimate arrival times. I know the mileage for each leg but do not know if they are say 300 miles at 60 mph average or 300 miles at average 35 mph depending upon the roads. Don't have the luxury of unlimited vacation time so planning route is essential.

Thanks

Why should arrival times be so essential?

[Gumpster808]

Originally Posted by bubbles

Why should arrival times be so essential?

Depends on where you are going. Couple places we went this year say don’t show up early. When arriving you see why - one lane road in and out. No way you could have someone pass etc if they were leaving same time you were arriving.

[doc73]

We only have so much vacation time. Not sure your life situation but not being retired we cannot just take a leisurely drive taking days of our finite vacation days for traveling to destinations.

While we do not plan our every movement that one saved travel day or wasted travel day is one less glad of camping we will be able to use somewhere else.

[bubbles]

I am retired but when I was still working I to only had so many days for my vacations and that required me to drive a certain distance each day of travel to accomplish my goals regardless the amount of time it would take.

[raforan]

I estimate around 50mph as well. but when doing long hauls IE Disney i tend to go 600 miles or more its a little long with 4 kids and a wonderful DW but like most i only have so many days i can take off in a row. we usually leave at 3am so i try to get to the first camp ground in SC in the afternoon set up whats needed for an over night and hook up and go the remaining 300 miles or so, so we can enjoy the disney vacation. on the way back i make the 900 mile trip straight back.

[doc73]

Originally Posted by raforan

I estimate around 50mph as well. but when doing long hauls IE Disney i tend to go 600 miles or more its a little long with 4 kids and a wonderful DW but like most i only have so many days i can take off in a row. we usually leave at 3am so i try to get to the first camp ground in SC in the afternoon set up whats needed for an over night and hook up and go the remaining 300 miles or so, so we can enjoy the disney vacation. on the way back i make the 900 mile trip straight back.

Man that's brave... Ha ha