By Gary Jefferson
I have three modes when it comes to traveling in our Sprinter. When we traveled in our SUV, I didn’t do it like I do today in the van. In our SUV, the location of a good motel usually determined how far we were going that day. I knew we’d be stopping for photographs, meals, and before dark, so I’d factor all that in when I looked on the map for a probable destination. It was usually between 125 and 250 miles; more often closer to the 125 number.
In the Sprinter we don’t think about motels anymore. We already have one with us. So, when we are in travel mode, I’m moseying down the highway looking for good things to photograph. My wife is usually on her phone looking for interesting things nearby.
We stop, we look around, I take a photo or two and we continue on. However, if a location warrants it, we will sleep nearby and visit again the next day. Regardless, sometime early in the afternoon we start to think about where our traveling motel is going to stop. By late in the afternoon, we’re parked and relaxing at the end of our driving day. The interesting thing is that it’s usually after 125 to 250 miles. Our daily distance hasn’t changed much.
When we stayed in motels, it was expensive to stay in one place for more than one night. I know, you’re thinking, “You’d be in a motel anyway,” but we were not enjoying any new places as those dollars were spent.
Multi-night motel stays were for bad weather and a change of pace for a day or two. Now we can just park and enjoy one place for a while and we’re saving money on fuel. With the van we can enjoy a location for as long as we want. Our tendency is to enjoy sunsets (not sunrises, they are way too early for me) and beautiful views with the van. We didn’t do that as much in the SUV. The van allows us a much more leisurely travel experience.
At some point, maybe after a week, a month, or longer, we decide it’s time to be back in our fifth-wheel in Southern California. We usually have an idea of approximately how long we will be gone when we leave home. Since both of us are seniors, there are medications and vitamins that keep us alive — we are sure to take the right number of pills to keep us going during the trip. I know, many of you know nothing about that, but getting old isn’t for sissies (or people who can’t plan ahead).
Before the meds are gone, we head home. Our longest travel days have been coming home — sometimes 700 miles or more. I’m even driving the speed limit (maybe faster) on that part of our trip. It’s great to leave on a trip, enjoy the journey, and it’s great to head for home. That’s how we know it was a good trip.
From “The Story of RVing”
Gary Jefferson is the author of The Story of RVing, Van Living Explained, available at Amazon. When he’s not on the road, he lives in a fifth wheel trailer in Redlands, Calif., where he has photographed the downtown residents for five years, which he posts to a delightful Facebook page called Redlands People.
##RVT1072
Interesting way of travel. I am destination-driven when driving our car. It is pretty much the same in the RV. The difference is avetage speed and number of miles covered in a day. Both are much less in the RV than the car. I can imagine driving as little as 125 miles in a day, but our usual scenarios result in 400 – 600 miles as the daily average when traveling somewhere. Our average RV speed probably is 10 – 15 mph slower than our average speed in our car. Similarly, a long day of driving in the RV tends to be closer to 400 miles and closer to 600 miles in our car.
Here I am again, not fitting the template.We aren’t campers, we are travelers so when we are on the road, we are going somewhere we want to be. Our very old coach is also very comfortable, but as we are both older now (we didn’t have much choice there) we avoid really long days. Back in my log books is about a day while Mary was still working that we did a day of (25 road hours) 1106 miles to get to an event on time. Now, with the help of Street Atlas (yes,the 8 year old program) I schedule driving days at a maximum of 400 miles and try to keep them closer to 350. The real exception is when there is a wanted stop that is closer, but we have pretty much run out of those.
Our travel style is remarkably similar to Mr. Jefferson’s. Three or four years ago we started going on four to six week trips each Spring and Fall. Our motorhome will go about 200 to 250 miles on a tank of fuel so it works out just about right. We left on our most recent trip on September third and got back home to SW Washington State on October fifteenth. We covered 6500 miles, only occasionally staying more than one night at a location. It was a very leisurely and enjoyable trip.
While we are on the road our only concern is keeping up with previously made reservations. These we space according to things to do in the vicinity or 250 miles-ish, whatever comes first.
In our 45′ Class A we have what we call the “Rule of 3″….. 300 miles or 3PM whichever comes first
We limit our trips to a 2 day drive. We go to dog trials and it is quite a process to out everyone- including us- and get back to driving. It also is difficult to find a simple overnight stop to break-up the trip into non exhausting sections. No more 12 hour drives for us and 2 hour site set-ups.
We usually are out for 5-6 months at a time and try not to be in a hurry. Our target travel day is 3-350 km (180-210 miles). We also try to stay at one stop for 2-3 nights so we can tour the area and check things out. There are times we need to make better time and distance for different reasons but generally we like the target plan.
Now that we are older our max is 600 miles a day. Back in the day my wife and I would drive 1200 miles straight on thru, Da*n, being young and foolish was such fun.
Sorry, Kelly. You were bleeped by our picky filter (not me). So I edited your word slightly and folks can figure it out. 😉 Have a good night. 😀 –Diane
Darn filters!
Yep. Part of my job, apparently, is to filter the sometimes overly zealous filters. 😆 Take care. 😀 -Diane
My wife and I used to drive 3 hours on and 3 hours off for 24 hours, which would get us about 1200 miles. Then we’d stop for 12 hours, usually at a friend’s house, and do it again. That would get us coast to coast in 60 hours elapsed time. Ah, youth! These days it six hours max, maybe eight if we really want to get somewhere quickly., and only three if the schedule permits.
I live in Wisconsin and my one daughter lives in republic Missouri. Get up and drive it in one day. On the return trip I drive home in one day. 12 hours on the road. Stop for gas and bathroom breaks.
If we were travelling by car, I would often think it was a wasted day if I didn’t do 1000 miles. If I stopped at 5 PM then by 6 PM I would think “Gee I could be another 60 miles down the road”. Ah it was nice to be young and foolish. Now we really try to do the 3 and 3 – stop after 300 miles or by 3:00 PM. Actually doesn’t matter how far you drive, you only need to drive one safe mile at a time.
We’d never get where we’re going driving 125 miles a day. Our limit is 300.
Except our last trip back to FL, as a former truck driver I was capable of 11 hrs of driving, I kept asking DW when she wanted to stop, she said you’re driving so you pick where you want to stop, we wound up back home, 624 miles later. Our Toyota Camry hybrid allows us approximately 540 miles of range on 13 gals.of gas so I had filled up about 100 miles into the trip after we got into GA where the gas tax had been suspended so we only stopped for restroom breaks and something to eat. Lol
We use the 3 and 3 method: 300 miles or 3 PM, which ever comes first…then it’s time to stop for the day.
That’s pretty much how WE do it. 3pm is, after all, cocktail hour.
We like the 3-3-3. for us 3-350km, in by 3:00, and stay 3 nights to investigate the area or just relax.
We do the 2/2/2 method give or take a few miles and maybe only one night stay if it is only an “in route ” stop. Shortest move ever…this week between two camp grounds 2 miles apart…
I measure by hours. 4-6 hours on the road is good.
200 – 300.
“Our longest travel days have been coming home — sometimes 700 miles or more.”
Even OTR truckers don’t drive this long! Or are you just saying the last part of your trip is 700 miles? That’s 12-14 hours of driving (figuring an average of 50 mph with stops for ‘whatever’ along the way).
Think, “Our” maybe TWO people driving the rig, no big deal.
I’ve driven 700 miles in a day a few times and 500 miles often with just me driving. I like to drive and I have a 5er hitched to a diesel pickup and that combination is very stable and easy to drive. Where I travel those long distances (Nevada hinterlands) it is easy to average more than 50 mph, closer to 60 – 65. There are only two or three fuel stops and we carry snacks to eat while underway. It’s not for everyone but that’s the way my wife and I like to travel for two days when escaping cold NW weather. Then we park for a couple weeks.
Driving 700 miles a day used to be typical for us, before retirement. We drove back from Whistler, B.C. to our home base in SW Michigan, in 3 days. That was pulling a 5th wheel and only 1 driver comfortable with pulling the trailer. Not all that unusual, for us, back when we had to be back at work and wanted to see North America during a 2 week vacation.
Now when retired, it’s all a matter of what we want to take the time to do. We may drive less then 250 miles but 400, or more, are not out of the question. We also share the driving in a Motorhome, pulling a toad, these days.
My reaction too!
One of the benefits of getting older; besides staying upright and mobile; is enjoying the trip at our pace.
Yes, indeed !