Hi everyone I am taking my first trip of about 1600 miles one way. I plan to go from south florida up to columbia SC  to visit one of my best friends then a visit in greensboro NC to visit my sister,then off to my first workkamping position in Granger ,IN. I have a F350 that gets about 8 mpg when towing my 33 foot coachman travel trailer. The trip to columbia is around 600 miles and the trip to granger IN is about 700 miles are these to long of trips  to drive straight through while towing? If it is what do you feel is the max. miles you should drive towing per day? I see Linda & Howard only do a couple hundred miles when traveling. I would love to hear all opinions on this subject. By the way I am solo with two kittys.  Thank you my rv-Dreams Family

Don't think there is a right or wrong answer. If you are comfortable doing 6-700 miles then that's right for you. I go 200 max per day with stops for snacks and restroom. That's Right for me....you can have a different Right.

I'm comfortable doing about 400 miles in a day towing the 5'er, provided I'm well rested and it's a fairly easy route with little or no construction. I have done 800 miles in a day from time to time. All interstate left from a rest area and ended in a rest area. My goal when travelling is to start around 9AM and end before 3PM to have plenty of time to setup camp in daylight. If I go 300, 400 or 600 miles during that time period, as long as I can park in a spot in daylight and get the satelite dish up before it's too dark, I'm happy. I also like to sight see, so we try to stop at any important attractions along the way. I hate to tow at night unless I'm on an interstate and won't be pulling into or through city streets.

We don't travel that much as of yet...but when we do we like to make a 4 hour trip and get some place before dark to set up and relax. I am a disabled vet with bad legs and I can't drive for prolong periods of time. Four hours is about tops but that gets us down the road a good ways and we don't have to set up in the dark. Like Jam said... no right or wrong one to this question...just make it comfortable and enjoy the ride. Good talking to you last night in chat. Speedy

I waited too long to head home one time a few years back, had to drive the whole way at one time.  665 miles, about 12 hours man that was all I wanted--27 TT, a couple of major cities, never again if I can help it.  If you are in farily good health and want or need to try and push it I would say 500 miles a day is all you should safely count on.  I would say take a little more time--drive half way in a day finish the next. If you drive all of it at one time it would take a second day anyway just to recover from that, so plan on driving two days and stay safe and keep others safe. 
Just my 2cents worth. 
 
Flyone 

I've driven from New Orleans, Louisiana to Los Angeles, California non-stop quite a few times (2,000 miles or 38-40hrs driving). This is all interstate driving. However, I would not do this for pleasure, but out of necessity. ;) On vacation, I usually have a long first day (500-700 miles) and then like to keep it under 350 miles each day thereafter, with the exception of the return leg, which I usually drive straight through as necessary to maximize my vacation time. However I don't recommend this to anyone who's not in good physical condition. I also have a very small rig, so it's probably a lot easier for me than for someone with a monster rig. I limit my speed to 65mph on the interstate and 55mph on 2 lane roads. If you go slower, reduce your mileage as appropriate. I also try to avoid major cities during peak drive times and interstates when on vacation if at all possible. This keeps the stress level low. Disclaimer - Your mileage may vary. ;)

A couple of times in the last 4 years we have made long trips (600 miles or more) in a day.  However, those incidents were the result of deaths in the family and we had to be there quickly.  Normally we never drive over 300 miles in a day.  Since we are both retired and are full timers, why would we?  We like to get into an RV park before dark, get set up and have some time to drive around and see what is in the area that we might like to see and do.

In addition, driving for those long stretches is not good for you.  You need to get out of the vehicle and exercise those legs to help prevent blood clots from forming.  Especially if you are getting a little age on you Like I am. The exercise helps to keep your mind sharp too, which is a good thing while driving.

-- Edited by ahoweth at 08:11, 2009-03-04

We like to go between 200 and 300 miles in a day.  The reasons are that we both get tired from long drives and we like to see more of the area that we are driving through.  We also rarely take the interstates.  Having said that, when I was in my mid 20's I wouldn't think anything about driving 500 miles in a day.  I think it all comes down to what you are comfortable with - just make sure to stop and rest when you get tired.

-Colleen

If we are traveling down from Canada in January I limit the travel to 12-14 hours per day or the weather. I stop when icing conditions occur. But normally I like to get on the road by 9 and get off before 5 PM, preferably 3PM. This is only when in travel mode. Otherwise if time permits I only travel 120miles per day.
Terry & Teri
TnT
39 Foot 2005 Kountry Star D. Pusher pulling a 2006 Honda CR-V