We have 2 destinations we visit somewhat recurrently, each of which is approx 16 hrs from our home. Our standard practice is to hit the road early (4-5 a.m.) and just do the drive in 1 day.
When we mentioned it to another couple recently they asked, “Why would you do that?” Instead, they would stop somewhere, eat out, and make THAT overnight stop a part of the vacation. I asked another couple of friends, and they also had strong opinions AGAINST the straight drive through.
So how about you guys? 1 day or 2 - and why?
To us, an 8 hr day of driving pretty much takes up an entire day, so instead of ruining 2 full days, we just have one long day. And the idea of stopping off somewhere to eat in a restaurant and stay in a hotel overnight is no real attraction. Plus, an extra day of driving on each end reduces the time at the destination.
(Dang - I thought I was going to be able to scroll down and have options to create a poll… Curses on me for being such a Luddite!)
One day with two drivers makes sense. Why stop somewhere to eat and sleep that is not where you are intending to go. I’ve driven from Detroit to Houston several times and I don’t look forward to the layover in Little Rock one bit.
One the drive out to Yellowstone I did stop off in Deadwood and spend a day, because that area was worth seeing. So in depends.
These days? I’d do it in two. I’ve done numerous trips of that length straight through (even solo) but it’s no longer fun or interesting for me. I like to get out of the car, stretch, have a nice sleep in the hotel, whatever. Unless I’m absolutely tight on time, I’d space it out. If you’re used to it and it don’t bother you none, just go straight through.
Personally I like to drive overnight. No traffic. Relaxed speed enforcement. I’d leave at like 800pm, drive straight through, and get there sometime in the afternoon.
I would find a place 4-5 hours into the drive worth visiting. Spend 1-2 hours there. I would try to find a place at the 8-10 hour driving mark to spend the night that is worth an evening visit. That would be my destination for the first day. I like the idea of getting in 10 hours day 1 to leave only 6 hours day 2.
I would do it in 2 days to break it up, but it depends on what part of the country we are talking about. A drive along the Pacific Coast (or pretty much anywhere west of and including the Rockies) is scenic and enjoyable and worth doing just for the drive itself, and not in a hurry. A drive from Denver to Chicago may be worth doing all in one shot.
My daughter went to college in a city 12 hours from home. We did that in one shot only a couple times and it was brutal for us.
I made a LOT of cross-country drives and do not recommend a 16-hour day, even if you are switching drivers and getting naps at rest areas. I’ve done it, and it was brutal, not to mention just plain dangerous, and I was in my 20s-30s at the time. At my present age, 350 is the max miles for me in a day, and that’s stopping at every rest area to stretch and take a break.
We use to do Central Jersey to New Orleans or Orlando or Fort Meyers, FL in a day. That stopped over a decade ago.
Hell my brother and I drove San Diego to Central Jersey (3000 miles) in 3 days. But I was 21 and driving a powerful gas guzzling Camaro designed for highway driving.
Just did 4 15 hour trips (2 roundtrips to northern BC to ski).Did one solo, one with 2 drivers, 2 with 3 drivers. I thought the solo one would be brutal, but interestingly the Icefields parkway was closed and I got diverted on to a 100 mile logging road. Driving a snow-covered road actually gave me a second wind because it required actual driving. Much easier, however, with co-drivers. I’m 54.
Mrs. SMV and I regularly make 10 to 12-hour drives when we vacation in the Outer Banks. Used to leave at 7:00 pm, drive all night, and get on the first ferry of the morning and nap on the trip (lying in the backseat listening to the gulls cry and the engines thrum, smelling the salt water on the breeze, makes for truly epic naps…).
Since we’ve gotten older, we’ve started splitting the trip and spending a night in Morehead City. Makes for a much more pleasant trip. Albeit, the drive from Morehead City to the ferry, or to Manteo if we go by land, is enjoyable. And even though we still have about 3 hours to go, we consider the vacation as having begun once the ferry leaves Cedar Island.
I’d do it in 2. I’ve done 12h trips in one go quite regularly, but one time I did a stop and was like damm, I should have done this all along. In that case a 8 and 4 is not bad. On a 16h trip I’d feel to push a bit more the first day, as every mile that day subtracts from the next, so it’s an extra incentive to push a bit, and pushing a bit feels so much better the next day when the trip is shorter.
I wouldn’t want to ask each driver to do 8 hours, with not much opportunity for useful rest when not driving. Doesn’t seem really safe. Of course, DH and I are both over 50. We might have evaluated that differently when younger, but these days the one-day schedule would be a bit much.
Funny - Denver/Chicago is one of our recurring trips. Apologies to Iowa and Nebraska, but not a lot there for me to want to stop. (I admit I’m being unfair. It COULD be enjoyable to stop and wander around just about any town large or small. But these trips are generally about spending time at the destination.)
We bought a new bigger vehicle, which will be more comfortable for longer trips. We basically load up w/ good music/books on CD and food, and it is no big deal. I’ll let you know how it goes next time we do it. I was just surprised at the unanimity of my small sample for 2 days.
We’re usually good about stopping at rest areas often and doing a few jumping jacks/stretches. And we usually have our dog w/ us.
More easily done in the summer, w/ the longer days. On occasion in the past, I recall stopping in a rest area and napping for a couple of hours.
Driving to my wife’s family is about 13hrs, give or take. I’d do it in one stretch but she prefers two, so two it is. I don’t think breaking it up is bad, and at our age it’s probably better, I’d just get it over with if left to my own devices.
For those who break it up - do you split it in even chunks? Or one long day and one short? Do you do something during the stopover, or just view it as suspended animation?
(Gotta admit, Covid and a couple of family experiences w/ bedbugs has not made me MORE eager than before to stay in hotels if not necessary.)
Apologies to Iowa and Nebraska, but not a lot there for me to want to stop. (I admit I’m being unfair. It COULD be enjoyable to stop and wander around just about any town large or small. But these trips are generally about spending time at the destination.)