How far for 4 nights?

[fastalkintn]

Thanks for everyone for the input and advice. I have driven cross country several times and find the 50 mph average is about right. I did the Michigan trip two years ago pulling a pop up and it took 14 hours. That is about the limit I want to drive in a days time, but not sure I would drive that far for only two nights. I kind of like the 1 hour drive for each night planned to camp rule.

What got all this started is me and my wife wanting to go to Yellowstone next June. We will have 12 days of from work. It's about 1700 miles one way. I said we would need to plan total of 6 days for travel and that would leave 6 days camping. This is pretty close to what a lot of you have suggested.

[Underthedog]

... and of course only you can decide if you can and if you want to.

With a pop-up we often string several days like that together in order to get a vacation in the West. We have done that with young kids, old kids, young adults, and by ourselves.

Others prefer keeping it to a few hours on the road at a clip.

[5picker]

Originally Posted by JustB_Rad

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*

Sorry Rad... didn't mean to ruffle any feathers.

[CaptnJohn]

So much 'depends' ~~ how many stops required for fuel, snacks, potty, and especially the roads traveled. We keep a cooler in the truck with soda, snacks, and sandwiches on long trips. Most stops are for fuel/potty/dog walk all at the same time. If nearly all is on interstates I average between 56 and 58 mph. Two lane highways or any urban roads can quickly knock that down along with MPG. My next trip is 650 miles and 13 hours are allotted but expect to cut that to about 11 1/2.

[twojump36]

I agree with what most others are saying...
750 miles is a 2-day trip... but if you did 450 miles on day one, you only have 300 on day two.
You'd have the 2nd half of day two and all day on day 3.... then you start back after a good visit on day 4 and knock out 450... then you have a 300 mile chip shot back home...
you get to see some country, use your camper, see the family, do some stuff, and you're back in time to put the stuff all away at home.


There is a lot of difference between 450 miles and 500 plus... IMO, fatigue sets in about the 450 mile distance and I start wanting out of the seat.... that's just me though...

[kluza2786]

One of the advantages of being retired: normally don't have to get in a "road race" to get somewhere. I've driven 650 - 700 miles a day when I was working, but wasn't dragging a trailer, driving on the interstate, and just me in the car so there' weren't as many stops required. Today we'll do a much more leisurely 350 - 450 miles per day which means if we leave by around 8:00 AM we can be in the next campground by around 4:00, plenty of time to hook up, enjoy a cold one, and grill some dinner.

[ilmor]

I've often driven 1 day, camped 2 or 3 then driven 1 day back. Usually these are for auto races.

[DouglasReid]

DW and I want to spend our time camping, not driving, we seldom travel more than 1.5 hours to anyplace unless it is to a ULL ball game. Then we will go up to 4 hours to cheer on our Ragin Cajuns!

[Pipeman]

About an 8 hour drive......I'd plan for at least 2 days traveling going and coming, if you do each way in one day. Ooooops I had 500 miles in my head for an 8 hour drive. Old age and my hard drive over my shoulkders is getting full.

[northstar1960]

Originally Posted by 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?

sure it would work if you feel comfortable with it . what anybody else says is mute ONLY you can decide what is to far . i would do it no problem i would not make it my main go to place for every time off but it's with in reason .since your asking opinions that only you can answer for yourself .If there are 2 drivers then it's even easier .

[mtnlvr]

For me, it would depend on whether you can alternate with driving and how much energy you have.

[Teamfour]

About 500 max for us. If 6-7 nights we have driven 700.

[timcbs]

For me, 750 miles is doable in one shot, But I would drive from Orange County CA to Grants Pass OR and it's 600 miles door to door, I did this trip every month for a 1 1/2 years and it would take me about 12 Hours, leaving at 8:00 AM and only stopping for gas and a quick stop at Carl's JR. for Dinner, brings lots of snacks, I would get to our Home in Oregon around 10:00 PM.

Bottom line I would do the 750 Mile trip but would have to stop for the night before finishing the drive, You would still have some quality time with Family.
Any amount of time with Family is Priceless!

[DouglasReid]

Originally Posted by northstar1960

sure it would work if you feel comfortable with it . what anybody else says is mute ONLY you can decide what is to far .

X2, DW and I do what We are comfortable with, what You are comfortable with is what is important!

[Ian Walker]

Always remember it takes longer to drive somewhere pulling a trailer than without. Also whatever distance you travel "outbound" will have to be repeated "homebound". That's one or days you could be enjoying
yourself instead of driving. I would search the internet for beautiful CG's
closer to home.
To answer your original question I would say 4 to 5 hours driving for a
4 or 5 day trip.

[Electra glide]

For three nights I drove about 2-4 hours.

[timfromma]

I hauled my TT 2800 miles round trip for a 6 night stay at Disney.

[keith_h]

Originally Posted by fastalkintn

Thanks for everyone for the input and advice. I have driven cross country several times and find the 50 mph average is about right. I did the Michigan trip two years ago pulling a pop up and it took 14 hours. That is about the limit I want to drive in a days time, but not sure I would drive that far for only two nights. I kind of like the 1 hour drive for each night planned to camp rule.

What got all this started is me and my wife wanting to go to Yellowstone next June. We will have 12 days of from work. It's about 1700 miles one way. I said we would need to plan total of 6 days for travel and that would leave 6 days camping. This is pretty close to what a lot of you have suggested.

My wife and I are thinking about a trip out that way next year as well. We would be stopping in Bozeman, MT and using it as a base. We figured it would be 8 long days of driving from/to central NC and 6 days of sightseeing/family visits. I would rather drive less and take longer but the DW has a few more years before she can join me in retirement.

As far as normal trips go we like to keep the one way distance for weekenders to no more than 100 miles, 3-4 days to about 200 miles and anything longer to 300 miles per day.

[AquaMan]

I just did a Thursday night (9:00pm) to Monday 1900 mile round trip to FL in the GTown, to visit daughter (and take a trailer of stuff to her). Visited with friends on the way back in NC. I have no problems doing that trip in a day. Our yearly trip to Ft Myers (1100 miles)though, I break up with a 3-4 hour rest stop.

[Ian Walker]

Let's not get into a competition here. We've all done the marathons. The question was asked how many hours / miles I personally would "LIKE" to drive and I answered 4 to 5 hours. The United States is a beautiful country and there's plenty of beautiful areas in all States to visit. My feeling is that within 4 or 5 hours anywhere in the country there's plenty of beautiful CG's to visit.