# Driving time vs length of stay **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 23, 2013, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-time-vs-length-of-stay/669487 "2013-09-23T01:58:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-time-vs-length-of-stay/669487/1 "2013-09-23T01:58:04Z")
What’s your basic rule of thumb for how long you are willing to drive for a short vacation? My basic rule of thumb is about 1hr of driving per day of vacation, meaning that I’ll drive about 3 hours for a three day weekend. I ask because I was thinking about visiting Asheville, NC for a long weekend. It’s about a 7 hour drive from DC which seems like a long drive for such a short visit. There’s an airport we could fly into, but I might just change the destination to something closer in. How far would you drive for a three day weekend? ---
**Author:** ![Mdcastle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/958977/32.png) [@Mdcastle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mdcastle)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-time-vs-length-of-stay/669487/2 "2013-09-23T02:03:24Z")
My rule is a maximum of one day of driving for each day of vacation, where a day is how much I’m willing to drive in a day, preferably 6 hours of drive time or less but not always. For instance I’ll take 4 day weekends in Chicago, driving down one day, spending two days, and then driving back one day. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-time-vs-length-of-stay/669487/3 "2013-09-23T02:05:30Z")
Ah, but in your scenario at this time of year the drive’s an enjoyable part of the trip! My folks are not far from Asheville and spent the day on the Blue Ridge Parkway last Wednesday taking in the color and scenery. I didn’t answer your actual question, sorry. But do it! ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-time-vs-length-of-stay/669487/4 "2013-09-23T02:07:59Z")
My rule of thumb was always, if I don’t have to miss out on work or sleep, the driving doesn’t really count, so if I could leave straight from work on Friday, drive until midnight (7 hours) and be wherever I was going, spend the day there and drive back on Sunday, I’m good. Then again, midwesterners in the SCA are kind of crazy that way… I went to about 30 events one year and my average travel time was 4 hours one way, and only 3 of those were more than one-day events. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-time-vs-length-of-stay/669487/5 "2013-09-23T02:14:57Z")
I’ve been known to drive 6 hours to attend a party and then return the next day. I don’t do that so much as I age but I’ll still do 5 hours on a Friday and come back on Sunday. It all depends on what the “vacation” is for. If it is to see my car racing friends, I’m on the road. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-time-vs-length-of-stay/669487/6 "2013-09-23T02:51:44Z")
We just drove two 12 hour days to spend a day and a half in San Diego. You probably don’t want to go by our standard. 🙂 Driving seven hours for a long weekend is something we have done many times, and will probably do many more. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-time-vs-length-of-stay/669487/7 "2013-09-23T03:06:46Z")
I’ve driven 4 hours each way for a day of skiing but that’s the exception not the rule. I try to keep it between 2-3 hours each way for a day trip. I’ll easily drive 4-5 hours each way for a weekend. For long weekends it can go up to 6 hours. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-time-vs-length-of-stay/669487/8 "2013-09-23T03:18:17Z")
> [@carnut](#): > > I’ve been known to drive 6 hours to attend a party and then return the next day. > > I don’t do that so much as I age but I’ll still do 5 hours on a Friday and come back on Sunday. It all depends on what the “vacation” is for. If it is to see my car racing friends, I’m on the road. I don’t really think asking “Carnut” about driving times counts - I know many people where the driving IS the holiday (for example, those that drove from Singapore to Cambodia and back) For me and the family - we often do a 7 hour drive for (each way) for a three day weekend with family, and I don’t think twice about this - and as the kids get older, the drive will become easier and easier… Often times, we will leave in the early hours of the morning (2 or 3 am) and I’ll drive while everyone sleeps - I prefer it that way as I get a “straight shot” without the need to stop all the time. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-time-vs-length-of-stay/669487/9 "2013-09-23T03:22:47Z")
I will often drive 4 hours, hunt 4 hours and drive four hours back home the same day. Anything less than about 6 hours driving I don’t really pay attention to how long I stay. I try to consider the drive as part of the vacation or weekend and break it up here and there for some photos or dinners , wahtever. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-time-vs-length-of-stay/669487/10 "2013-09-23T04:53:55Z")
It is true that it’s a pretty drive, once you get past 66 onto 81. The problem is that for the first couple of hours you’re driving through NoVa sprawl until you get to the valley. ---
**Author:** ![Cub\_Mistress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea666f/32.png) [@Cub\_Mistress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cub_Mistress)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-time-vs-length-of-stay/669487/11 "2013-09-23T04:57:02Z")
I’m one of those who count the driving time as part of the vacation. I drove 9 hours to see my son before his deployment and stayed 2 days, and drove 9 hours back to be at work Tuesday morning. As a good portion of that drive was through the Smokies, it was absolutely beautiful! ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-time-vs-length-of-stay/669487/12 "2013-09-23T15:02:10Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > It is true that it’s a pretty drive, once you get past 66 onto 81. The problem is that for the first couple of hours you’re driving through NoVa sprawl until you get to the valley. Leave a couple of hours before sunrise and you won’t have to see the sprawl! ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-time-vs-length-of-stay/669487/13 "2013-09-23T16:12:25Z")
That’s never going to happen, the only time I’m awake before sunrise is if I haven’t been to bed yet and the first rule of a day off is no alarm clocks. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-time-vs-length-of-stay/669487/14 "2013-09-23T20:02:51Z")
It depends on what’s waiting for me at the destination. I’d ordinarily say I’ll drive 5-6 hours each way if I’m there for at least three days, but a couple times in the last two years I drove 7 hours each way for one overnight stay and about six hours of fishing, so obviously it’s not a hard-and-fast rule. And in my 20’s I routinely drove four hours to spend the night with a girl, then woke up and drove home. It was \*totally \*worth it. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-time-vs-length-of-stay/669487/15 "2013-09-23T20:04:57Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > What’s your basic rule of thumb for how long you are willing to drive for a short vacation? My basic rule of thumb is about 1hr of driving per day of vacation, meaning that I’ll drive about 3 hours for a three day weekend. :dubious: Dude, I’ve driven three hours for a _movie_. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-time-vs-length-of-stay/669487/16 "2013-09-23T20:13:32Z")
4 hours = 1 day. Maximum 8 hours. So basically I’ll drive 4 hours for an overnight, 8 hours for 2+ days, but it would have to be something very special, or some very extended stay for me to drive over 8. We’re about 8 hours from New Orleans, and on the trip back I’m about ready to lose it at about 7.5 hours. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-time-vs-length-of-stay/669487/17 "2013-09-23T20:19:48Z")
Drove 9+ hours down to a wedding this last Friday, drove back Sunday (last night, got back 10pm). Pretty much the same route, but plus a not-out-of-the-way brewery stop! ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Gnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miss_gnomer/32/3466_2.png) [@Miss\_Gnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Gnomer)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-time-vs-length-of-stay/669487/18 "2013-09-23T20:32:00Z")
It depends on what is at the end of the trip. My most recent trips … 8 hours drive each way by myself to have 24 hours with my best friend. 9 hour drive each way (shared with my boyfriend) to have lunch for a couple of hours and drove straight home. Another friend lives 3 hours away and I regularly drive down to visit for a couple of hours. My brother flew 14 hours each way for lunch! I like the actual experience of travelling often as much as getting there. A long drive is something to enjoy and I love finding places to stop off. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-time-vs-length-of-stay/669487/19 "2013-09-23T20:39:21Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > What’s your basic rule of thumb for how long you are willing to drive for a short vacation? My basic rule of thumb is about 1hr of driving per day of vacation, meaning that I’ll drive about 3 hours for a three day weekend. That may work on the east coast, but out west an hour’s drive may not even get you out of the metro area, or even to the next county. 1 day driving (6-9 hrs) each way is justified for a 3-day stay. A 2-day trip may or may not be justified depending on the destination. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-time-vs-length-of-stay/669487/20 "2013-09-23T20:42:40Z")
My rule back in the day was always a 1:1 ratio. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/driving-time-vs-length-of-stay/669487.md?page=2)