Wife & I have traveled most of the US on a motorcycle and pre-planned each stop with a limit of 300 miles max per day, after getting out of Texas. With the TT and no time restrictions, we have not pre-planned stops by date, just have a list of the places we want to visit. I like skipnchar's system.
I agree with planning stops after 300 or so miles of towing. I seem to always average about 50 mph when towing. That figures in stops for gas, bathroom breaks, and meals.
6 hours or so of towing is enough in one day for us. Like others, we like to start a traveling day by 9:00 AM and end by 3:00 PM. Night driving isn't a concern for me--but I like setting up the TT in the daylight when possible--it is a lot easier when I don't have to fumble around in the dark.
The only times I've towed longer than 300 miles is when I have a definite goal in mind. In February '08 I towed the TT by myself about 450 miles the first day to set up an easy 150 mile tow on day 2 to get to my destination that I stayed for 5 nights.
MFinCA
2004 Homestead Settler 255RS
1999 Chevrolet Suburban 2500
Your TV will also be a big factor in how far you can get. My first trip to FL I was towing with a gas SUV that had a 14 gallon tank. I was stopping every 80-90 miles and it took me 3.5 days. Second trip I had my current truck left Friday evening arrived Sunday afternoon.
Joe Lepold
2004 Prowler 25Z
2001 Ford F250 Short Bed Crew Cab 7.3 PSD
Wife + 2 boys 8 & 12.
The cats stay home.
The first thing we need to know is how much time do you have. I'm retired and can take all the time in the world, but when I was working and on vacation getting there and back was important. From Maryland to Florida you are going to pass by some premo camping spots and vistas. We try to stay off the interstates now but wouldn't have thought of it when working.
Ward and Patty, 2 Fur Buddies Newton and Junior
2006 Bounder 35E, Workhorse Chasis
Honda CR-V Our BLOG
the road trip is half the fun for us, even on the interstate. We'll drive till early afternoon, rest for a few hours, eat, and go after dark. I truly enjoy driving at night, it's just us and the truckers. Less traffic, smoother run, even better fuel economy. We stop when we get tired, rest until we are ready, and away we go.
Ops
2001 Ram QC, Cummins, auto, 4:10s and 4x4, 5" straight pipe
1995 Jayco Eagle 220
DW
DS
Old man..
Make sure to do your research on the areas which you will be traveling through...make plenty of stops and plan some side-excursions to break up the trip. Also make sure to get to your evening's destination/CG before dark. Makes hooking up to utilities easier.
We have done soooooo many 2-3 week trips. One even to Canada and loved them! Just remember to take your time...it is a vacation...and not a quest.
Well, our grown son recommends one stop per time zone. I don’t think that will work well for your trip.
I plan 400 mile days if I am trying to get from point A to point B without seeing what is in between. We have made a few 600-700 mile days when we had to but never two in a row. For long days we hook up the night before and leave before daylight. I agree with trying to stop before dark.
I suspect that how long you drive will depend on your age, health, and what you are used to as far as driving goes. Driving 60 mph on the interstate will give you a 20 minute stop every two hours and still average 50 mph for the trip. That puts my 400 mile day at about 8 hours. If you have kids with you, a 20 minute stop may not be reasonable. We travel with 5 kids now and are able to do it only by using military like precession. With my van that gives one stop for rest area bathroom and the next for gas station and bathroom. I envy the folks that have the time to only drive 300 miles in a day. Perhaps someday I will be able to do that.
Travel using what makes you comfortable. Drive per conditions and your comfort level. Rest before you get tired. Take breaks as necessary but every couple of hours is recommended – even if it is only to stretch your legs.
One last idea…
Traveling with a wife and multiple children can be difficult due to the need for frequent bathroom stops. Years ago we instituted the “30 Minute Warning”. We decided that most any normal person (small children and pregnant women excepted) can determine 30 minutes before they need to find a bathroom. I, as driver, agree that if you give me a 30 minute warning, I will stop within that time somewhere (even if it is just an exit and we run back to the trailer). Also each time we make our 2 hour rest stop, EVERYONE makes a restroom stop (I know you don’t need to go, but go anyway!). Now our trips run much smoother and most of the time without extra stops.
8 kids (5 still traveling)
1 darling wife (won't leave home without her)
Ford E-350 SD V10 Van
Jayco Eagle TT
Hensley Arrow
It also depends when you are traveling. If your trip is on a long holiday weekend, you need to plan it a lot better than if it's in April during the week.
DW and I went to Niagara Falls during the week leading up to Memorial Day Last yr. I only made 1 reservation for the Holiday weekend during the entire 11 day trip. The rest of the time, we used the Trailer Life CD-Rom directory on my Laptop connected to a GPS. You look at the map. You are in the center. Click on the dots to find a CG. We had some wonderful adventures that way, too.
I would plan to drive until you don't want to any more (not until you can't) and find a place to spend the night. So far, that's worked for us.
DW and I in our Gulfstream Amerilite 21MB
Chevy Silverado 2500 HD - Duramax Diesel 6.6L - Allison Tranny
"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into the area." - Major Mike Shearer - British Army - Basra, Iraq
I make the trip from MD to FL, towing a PUP, and stop at South of the Border's "Pedro's Campground" overnight. Then next day I'm in FL and setting up. There have been trips when I've been too tired to set up the PUP, so spent the night in a motel on the road.
My trips are usually a total of 14 hours, most of which is spent on I-95.
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