Daily distance and average speed cross country?

[2ACDogs]

We're in the planning stages of a September trip from Arizona to Maryland to western Pennsylvania then back to Arizona. 2400 miles to our destination in Md and 2100 miles from Pa back home to Az.. We've done some big mile days with previous travel trailers and did 3 -700 mile days with a Penske truck moving to Az in 2005 (never again) but have never done back to back 5 or 6 long days with a TT. I'm interested in what people get for average speed for 400 to 500 miles/day driving. We both drive and will have 2 dogs along on this trip that travel pretty well. We have a pretty efficient traveling routine but I just never kept track of miles/hours on 1 day runs. 6 - 400 mile days or 5 - 500 mile days. I'm thinking if we could average 50mph start to stop we'd be lucky.

Thanks

 

[MoonShadow_1911]

We're in the planning stages of a September trip from Arizona to Maryland to western Pennsylvania then back to Arizona. 2400 miles to our destination in Md and 2100 miles from Pa back home to Az.. We've done some big mile days with previous travel trailers and did 3 -700 mile days with a Penske truck moving to Az in 2005 (never again) but have never done back to back 5 or 6 long days with a TT. I'm interested in what people get for average speed for 400 to 500 miles/day driving. We both drive and will have 2 dogs along on this trip that travel pretty well. We have a pretty efficient traveling routine but I just never kept track of miles/hours on 1 day runs. 6 - 400 mile days or 5 - 500 mile days. I'm thinking if we could average 50mph start to stop we'd be lucky.

Thanks

We plan no more than 400 miles, at an average speed of 65 on the freeway. Thank makes 6 hour days. I would recommend putting a non-drive day in the middle just to rest and recoup; but that's just me being lazy!

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[2ACDogs]

Thanks. 400 miles divided by 65 mph is 6.15 hours, agreed, but what is your total trip time from the time you leave your spot in the morning until you pull into your spot in the afternoon? Are you able to drive 400 miles straight through? If you spend 1 hour off the road for BR breaks, lunch, fuel, etc. your trip average drops to 53 mph.

Rest days aren't in the cards with limited time available. Next year when we're both retired that will change.

 

[2ACDogs]

I just came across this in another thread about trip planning:

"If this is your first big trip, I would definitely would use a tool like Trip Wizard to plan the trip. As a member of our forum you are already a member of Trip Wizard."

Can someone explain what this means?

 

[sande005]

I usually budget an average speed of 50 mph - so 6 hrs, 300 miles, 8 hrs 400 miles, etc. That's assuming interstates mostly, and a real moving speed of 65+. But the slower rate builds in time used for potty breaks, gas, meals, etc.
These days we try to not go more than 5-6 hrs between stops. But we don't have to get back in a specific time frame. The days of doing a non-stop from New York City to Minneapolis are long past us.....

When this site changed ownership, paid members were granted a free membership in RV Trip Wizard (maybe for one year??) as a thank you. That may still be the case. It won't hurt to try to log in - same username and password you use for this forum.

 

[geotex1]

Truly, it depends on the routing you intend with your trip. If you're going to stick to interstates, highways and major arteries, use something like Sygic Truck and it will map the trucking routes to your destinations. When you set it up with your specific rig and driving habits, its timing is pretty on-point barring the unexpected traffic interruption. If you're planning scenic byways, you'll be traveling much slower for necessities of the route. The portion of your trip in MD and PA, expect to be a slow leg of your run. Also, and it seems like an unwritten rule of the universe, but when trying to cram so much in so little time something will always occur that grenades the schedule... Buffer is best, but have a plan B if it's a matter of affecting something like work if you inadvertently lose a day or two.

 

[2ACDogs]

I'll look ay Sygic Truck, thanks. I spent 48 years in NW Pa so familiar with the driving there. This trip is all interstate driving to get to destinations to see family and old friends. With the way things are with campgrounds running full all we can do is plan the trip, make reservations and deal with what comes, I'm a little nervous being locked into reservations but more nervous about having to hunt a place to stop after driving all day. 400 mile days @ 8 hours on the road sounds doable to us, we'll see what we think after 6 days I guess.

 

[Second Chance]

I just came across this in another thread about trip planning:

"If this is your first big trip, I would definitely would use a tool like Trip Wizard to plan the trip. As a member of our forum you are already a member of Trip Wizard."

Can someone explain what this means?

RV Trip Wizard is an on-line app to plan RV trips and campground stays. It was offered to members for a while with paid forum membership, but I'm not sure if that's still in effect. Perhaps [MENTION=20457]Janet H[/MENTION] could clarify for us.

I don't know if my input on travel distances would be helpful to you in your situation. We're retired and travel like old people - no more than 200 miles or 4 hours per day if we can help it (places like west Texas are an exception). We wait until everyone is at work or school to get on the roads and we're off the roads before folks get back on them in the afternoon. We like to alternate one and two-night stops so we'll have a day of rest every few days. Our first year of full-timing, we were forced into a 300+ mile day with a late start due to icing in the morning. We were beat when we pulled in and swore, "Never again!" We're pulling 220 miles this Sunday from Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, to Richmond, VA... around Baltimore and DC on I-95 - yuck! It's a "have to" trip to move my 90 year old mother-in-law to assisted living.

Rob

 

[triplethreat]

We are planning a trip out west this fall from the Knoxville, TN area and our first destination is Williams, AZ. This will right at 1800 miles and it is our plan to do 5 days of traveling. Most days will be in the 350+ mile range, with one day right at 400 miles. Two factors come into play here....I will leave with approx. 95 gallons of diesel fuel onboard and fuel stops will only be at the end of the day after the camper has been parked and I can drive just the truck to a fueling station. 2. Both of us will be sharing the driving times while the other rests....AND, from the time we leave till the time we arrive...all the distance will be on interstate highways, with the exception of, from our house to the interstate, and of course when we get off the interstate and head for a campground at the end of the day. With all of that in mind, no fuel stops will be needed while actually traveling on the highway. We will have BR breaks of course and since we are taking our dog with us, BR breaks for him too. Hopefully, most of that can be done on highway rest stops.

 

[Ynot4me2]

Like others have mentioned, there's a lot of variables. The fact that you both will be driving makes a big difference. My DW doesn't but she does copilot, sometimes a lot. Lol We usually plan for 2 x 2-3hrs leg. So thats 4 to 6 hrs per day. Sometimes more sometimes less. It really depends. We go be time and not mileage. Again, it all depends. We have done more in a day. If we do do long days, we schedule a rest day after 2 driving days. Plus, where ever you are, I'm sure there's something to see and visit. Isn't it a journey and not a race. [emoji6]. But that's us, YMMV.

 

[traveldawg]

RV Trip Wizard is an on-line app to plan RV trips and campground stays. It was offered to members for a while with paid forum membership, but I'm not sure if that's still in effect. Perhaps [MENTION=20457]Janet H[/MENTION] could clarify for us.

I don't know if my input on travel distances would be helpful to you in your situation. We're retired and travel like old people - no more than 200 miles or 4 hours per day if we can help it (places like west Texas are an exception). We wait until everyone is at work or school to get on the roads and we're off the roads before folks get back on them in the afternoon. We like to alternate one and two-night stops so we'll have a day of rest every few days. Our first year of full-timing, we were forced into a 300+ mile day with a late start due to icing in the morning. We were beat when we pulled in a swore, "Never again!" We're pulling 220 miles this Sunday from Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, to Richmond, VA... around Baltimore and DC on I-95 - yuck! It's a "have to" trip to move my 90 year old mother-in-law to assisted living.

Rob

I'd like to add to Rob's post about RV Trip Wizard - you can set what you think will be your average speed. Don't use your driving speed, use your average that would include stops for food, fuel, rest areas, etc. I set mine at 53mph. And then the DW and I joke that a 3 hours drive will actually be 4 the way we travel.

Driving time/distance is entirely a personal choice. We find 6 to 8 hour days to be tolerable but avoid them as best as we can. But, like Rob, we're retired.

My best tip might be that you start driving and around noon or 1pm decide how much longer you want to travel and call ahead for a campground. It beats just driving to a location and finding that there aren't any sites available. And it relaxes you as you continue on the rest of the day (or into the evening).

 

[thegreenblade]

I'll look ay Sygic Truck, thanks. I spent 48 years in NW Pa so familiar with the driving there. This trip is all interstate driving to get to destinations to see family and old friends. With the way things are with campgrounds running full all we can do is plan the trip, make reservations and deal with what comes, I'm a little nervous being locked into reservations but more nervous about having to hunt a place to stop after driving all day. 400 mile days @ 8 hours on the road sounds doable to us, we'll see what we think after 6 days I guess.

We just did Chicago to Florida stopped in Tennessee on the way there. GPS said six hours to Tennessee took nine hours doing the speed limit. From Tennessee to Florida It said nine hours It took 12 hours doing the speed limit so I don’t know what Google map does but take that into account. It was unbearable especially with children. Our trip out to Yellowstone this summer we are stopping every four hours and every four hours back. And a minimum of two days at each stop.


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[Scott'n'Wendy]

.
Rest days aren't in the cards with limited time available. Next year when we're both retired that will change.

If it were me I'd punch in a couple 12 to 14 hour days in the beginning when you're fresh. Especially with two drivers. I'd be up at 5am and drive until supper time, or if I still felt alert, go a couple more.
Just try to avoid larger cities between 0800 and 0900, and between 1600 and 1800. And if I couldn't find a campsite, then truck stop or walmart it is, cuz from the sound of it, you need to cover some miles in a short time.

 

[Janet H]

I just came across this in another thread about trip planning:

"If this is your first big trip, I would definitely would use a tool like Trip Wizard to plan the trip. As a member of our forum you are already a member of Trip Wizard."

Can someone explain what this means?

RV Trip Wizard is a planning tool (subscription req) specifically designed for rvers that is especially useful for planning routes, calculating drive times, locating parks and avoiding hazard. It's offered by RV Life (sister site to this one). I'll send you a discount coupon via PM

 

[traveldawg]

We just did Chicago to Florida stopped in Tennessee on the way there. GPS said six hours to Tennessee took nine hours doing the speed limit. From Tennessee to Florida It said nine hours It took 12 hours doing the speed limit so I don’t know what Google map does but take that into account. It was unbearable especially with children. Our trip out to Yellowstone this summer we are stopping every four hours and every four hours back. And a minimum of two days at each stop.


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yep - Google Maps is notorious for under estimating the drive time. I figure it's because they figure you drive the maximum speed limit all the time with NO stops. That's just not practical for RVers. Or old folks who make lots of rest stops.....

For every 3 hours google or Waze says we figure 4 hours. Even our Garmin RV890, which I set to 55mph max speed tends to under estimate drive time.

 

[Sportsdad60]

We plan out no more than 400 miles a day (350 is the sweet spot) and average 60 mph.

If google maps say 6 hrs, it actually turns out to be 7.5 hrs (add roughly 15 min to every hour) Google Maps determines time by driving the speed limit, which we never do.

 

[MN-Mark]

If google maps say 6 hrs, it actually turns out to be 7.5 hrs (add roughly 15 min to every hour) Google Maps determines time by driving the speed limit, which we never do.

I will usually map out my route using google maps. If it is less than 4 hours I will add an hour. If more than 4 hours I will add 2 hours. This is in the Midwest where everything is relatively flat. I will add more if in the mountains.

I did a 12 hour marathon pulling our old TT once. When it was getting dark we hit a thunderstorm while in a construction zone. It was the most stressful worst drive of my life. Never again.

Mark

Mark

 

[Steven@147]

I'd like to add to Rob's post about RV Trip Wizard - you can set what you think will be your average speed. Don't use your driving speed, use your average that would include stops for food, fuel, rest areas, etc. I set mine at 53mph. And then the DW and I joke that a 3 hours drive will actually be 4 the way we travel.

Driving time/distance is entirely a personal choice. We find 6 to 8 hour days to be tolerable but avoid them as best as we can. But, like Rob, we're retired.

My best tip might be that you start driving and around noon or 1pm decide how much longer you want to travel and call ahead for a campground. It beats just driving to a location and finding that there aren't any sites available. And it relaxes you as you continue on the rest of the day (or into the evening).

[MENTION=870]Second Chance[/MENTION] and [MENTION=11038]traveldawg[/MENTION] Echo what they said but seems the best laid plans go awry, no matter what we plan we end up getting slowed down due to traffic jams, road construction or accidents. We try not to go over 400 miles / day but sometimes its dictated by the geographic area we travel through, big cities in our path, availability of "reasonable" camping sites and so forth. One time we got stopped because of an accident that blocked the interstate, sat in traffic for almost 3 hours, made us really late getting into our next destination. Plan as best you can, and deal with what comes up.

 

[el Rojo]

We're in the club of 50 miles per hour including breaks etc. Like Rob we don't leave until work traffic dies down. If we were going to make this trip we would stop and see stuff along the way. We would also stop like Rob and have an extra night every 1 to 3 days. So we would makes this a 2 or 3 week trip one way. But we're retired.

Red

 

[kingbird]

I guess my wife and I are a bit different than most on here. We typically leave out by 7AM and drive 5-600 miles per day. I like to stick to 500 but have done well over 600 many times and never get over 70MPH -usually about 65-67. And what others have said about google maps -add about 10-15 minutes to each hour for a more accurate ETA.