When you are driving between destinations, do you have any travel distance rules?  I know some fulltimers use a 2-2-2 rule, never more than 200 miles, stop by 2 pm, stay at least 2 days. 

Others, like me, (a fulltimer in training), make the most of the limited time off I have and drive long distances to get to a destination and then stay a few days and drive long hours back home.  I find the journey and change of scenery as much fun as the destination.

What works best for you?

Best Regards!

Hi Paul,
One of the things we are enjoying most about this lifestyle is the fact that we have NO rules.

We tend to move leisurely, rarely getting on the road till 10 in the morning. Hardly ever are on the road after 3-3:30. We like to spend at least 2-3 days, unless we have a specific destination in mind and the space between isn't too interesting.

In just about 9 months on the road we have been in 43 campgrounds, in 19 states. Our longest drive was 319 miles and the shortest 7 miles. The average moves drive was 155 miles. Average stay was 6 days.

We have just decided to go out to Gallup New Mexico after we get some factory work done in mid November in Indiana. since it's mostly highway, with a destination and time limit in mind, we will probably do 300+ mile days with 2-3 day layovers. The better half prefers shorter drives, but I don't mind 3-400 miles on the highway. With cruise control it's like sitting on the porch.

Fred

We are in transitional, slowing down stage. For years, as extended timers, 400 or more a day was not unusual as we stayed as late as we could, rushing back just before school started. One trip, I soloed from Ft Collins, CO to Clearwater, Fl in 4 days. I hope to never do that again.

Now the goal is no more than 2 days in a row with a 2 day break. I still shoot for around 300 per day, but hope for no deadlines except CG reservations.

I like Howard's rules about leaving on Tuesday and arriving on Thursday. That works for us, especially, since Thousand Trails are 1st come 1st served.

The hardest thing to do is to slow down. That should be in the front each time you move to a new destination.

Secondarily, it is cheaper and easier to travel at 60mph than 70mph, especially on you. Sometime check on the speed rating of your tires(if they are). I was surprised.

Mike

As full-timers we normally get on the road about 10:30AM and off by about 3:30PM with a lunch stop.  That gets us 125 miles on two-lane roads and about 200 on freeways.  If we have a long ways to go, like a couple 1,100 mile treks we just did, we try to make 250 to 300 miles a day by leaving a bit earlier and getting off the road a bit later.  We stop every two travel days for at least two nights just to recharge.  For 1,100 miles that means two 250-300 mile driving days, a two day stop, and then another two 250-300 mile driving days.  The last time we drove over 320 miles in one day was in 2004. 

Full Timers in Training also.  We like the 2 2 2 and find that we are happier if we keep it to no more than 250 miles, stay at least 2 days, but the 2pm is real hard to accomplish so we just try to get in to park before it's dark.  We don't tow if we have to be on the road more than 8 hours at a time.  It just isn't worth it to us because we are too tired to enjoy the trip.

See you in the campground before dark.

Larry

Usually no more than 250 miles per day here also...stopping in between to let our doggies out and walk ourselves.

southwestjudy & Bob & 2blackdogs

Even with air ride seats, I can't take more than 300 miles in a day.  Coming back from Branson, MO last month we had a 395 mile day and I was exhausted.  I like the 2-2-2 rule but we are not full timers and need to get to our destination.  When the fun is over, then we have that long drive to get back home.  Joanne

Even though I already answered on our specific habits I feel like I want to comment on subject in general.  We know many full-timers and how they travel varies about as much as anyone. 

Some are very destination oriented and will get up early, drive all day trading drivers for couples, and stay at Wal-Marts or other places for the night.  They routinely drive over 500 miles a day to get to their destination and make few stops for the scenery.  Some friends drove from Central Florida to Western Washington in eight days with only two campground stops where friends or relatives were in the area.  Another couple drove five days from Florida to Arizona with no campground stops. 

Others travel very slowly, often no more than 150 miles a day and then they stay a while at each location.  They stop often on their travel day to tour, shop and savor the landscape.

Most are somewhere in between or vary their travel style based on if they know the route or have a destination in mind.  I know we seem to want to get across Nevada and the Plains as fast as possible, so we travel further per day.

The other variant is when people get started and when they get done for the day.  Most full-timers see little point in driving or setting up in the dark, so they stop early enough to do both in daylight.  In summer they could go a lot further, but most do not.  We know people who are on the road at 7AM and others like us who get mad when the campground has a 10AM checkout.  Stopping in the middle of the afternoon normally gets you a choice of campsites and lets you relax before dinner.

During summer we try to not travel Friday through Sunday.  We also arrive at snowbird campgrounds during the week, the offices are normally closed on weekends.  We try to be stopped for a while a couple days before a holiday weekend and it is best to be far from large cities then.

For you part-timer couples, this is your chance to both drive, it really helps on the long days. 

 

We leave arond 9-9:30, after the local traffic. We drive 200-300 miles, depending on the roads, and where we want to stop. That means we stop between 3-4:30. We never - in over 6 years fulltime - have driven in the dark. We only drive in the rain if it starts after we do. On long, destination oriented drives, we do as some others - drive 2 days, rest 2 days. Works well for us.

Hi!

We have developed personal likes on this subject. We prefer to not travel more than 300 miles in a day. That distance can usually be accomplished without having to leave too early and you will arrive before the "hard travelers" so that you will seldom find RV parks full unless something special is going on in the area (i.e. don't try it in Albuquerque during the Balloon Fiesta). We like to travel for a few days and then take a few days off. Traveling 300 miles per day can cover a lot of ground in less time than one might think and isn't too tiring.
I agree with Howard about when to travel. We don't travel on holidays unless absolutely necessary (poor planning or an emergency). We also try to leave state parks and touristy places to the people who are still working during holidays and weekends. I was there once and didn't appreciate finding the park full with full timers who could take advantage of non-peak camping times at these places, but that is just me.

The 2-2-2 is good for us also, Delaine does all the Res. she is my wonderful Loving travel agent.   We leave between 8 & 9 and stop around 3 or 4 pm.   We run around 60 mph and it works for us.   We do have res. for our trips,  it just works better.  Example we are Winter Texans and will leave our home base on 5 Nov. and will arrive in Mission Tx on or about 1 Dec and depart on 1 April 07.   Will spend about 3 weeks in Rayfords crossing out side Houston Tx.   How ever everything is subject to change.   We have no schedule.   Last year was different we moved often that was B.F.T (Before Full Timing) we had to learn to slow down.   Life is Good...What a Country...GBY....                

The general rule is to travel about 200 miles, no more than 4 hours.  However, there are times when we will travel more if we want to meet someone or have a specific place that we want to reach.  We have found that once we hit 5 hours cabin fever sets in.  We travel at around 62 mph (for some reason the truck operates better between 60 and 65).  We also perfer the "red roads" over the interstates (the interstates are in need of some serious repair).  So 4 hours is absolutely the max we like to travel (3 hours is better).