Driving long distances

[69ChrisCraft]

Sunflower seeds, books on tape, Metallica and energy drinks.

 

[realunlucky]

I drive about 3000 miles a month. One tip is see when you'll hit the metro areas and avoid or nap during peak times. nothing worse than driving long distance that battling rush hour for a couple hours and hardly moving. Check the states dot schedule for road repairs especially if traveling at night because they can shut a bunch of lanes off sometimes for major projects its that time of year If your budget allows get a cheap room sleeping in a bed is more restful than the car seat and a shower alone can almost be worth the money. You don't want to drive there but than take a couple days for your body to recover because you push yourself to hard.

 

[mt hunter22]

ive done a few 12-13 hours and the only thing that keeps me awake is audio books choose a good one and it easy to find some that are 20 hours or more.but if the ol eyes start drooping better to pull over and take a quick nap than chance it.. they also have a pill that they use on shifts where they are doing long shifts and switching from days to nights and such that some of the people that work in the mines in nevada swear by,, not sure what they are called... and if you drink enough energy drinks at least you have to stop and pee every 50 miles so that helps

 

[Tony Trietch]

27 hours total with about 4 of that spent pulled over power napping. That is the usual to get my self to Montana.
First stop this year will be Co, so it will be a bit less. Then up to Montana, not sure on that distance yet.. Then 1800 back home for a little while to get everything in place at home. Then Illinois and back home, then Kansas and back home.. but those are 10 and 18 hours each. Lots of miles on the truck each fall.

 

[JWP58]

I drive back home to Texas at least once a year. Its 16hrs and I can usually do it without stopping (except to piss and gas up). But that with Redbull.

I drove to Boise last year (10hrs) and it was cake. I too want to drive to northern NV or SE OR this year for chukar, should be about 12hrs or so...

 

[charvey9]

I have driven from northern Michigan to the west coast multiple times. I would usually shoot for a 1000 miles per day, which would be about 15-16 hours. However, once you get on a roll its not that hard to push on a little bit farther. If you have the time and want to take it easy, use two days, but 18 hours is doable.

 

[ohhiitznik]

I drive from southeast Michigan ~33 hours to Boise. I do it on 2 hours of sleep because I'm so excited once I hit the west that I stay wide awake.

 

[marc]

I used to drive non stop from Seattle to Madison Wi. 2000 miles and 32 hours. Now that I am stationes in Massachusetts it is 2200 to colorado but not sure if I am heading there or down to Maryland to chase those tasty Sika deer this year.

 

[mAv]

Lots of good advice here, I frequently drive CO-IA via 80 which may be the most boring drive in the world as far as scenery goes (~13 hours) - I always drive it straight through. Going out is fast and I feel great, coming back generally tends to drag along. I limit myself to coffee/energy drinks/snacks, and most of the time I feel like shit before I get there. This past trip we left at 7pm both directions so the little guy could sleep, and heading back was no issue, coming home was a disaster- made it until about 4am and body had enough.

NIf you are looking to be in top condition when you arrive, plan on breaking it up a bit.

 

[rodney482]

Driven 33 hrs straight to OR.. Brutal and probably not safe.
3 hr shits.

We now do about 18 then catch some sleep.

 

[Sooner]

I have a 16 1/2 hour drive this year. From eastern Oklahoma to the western slope of CO. I'm not looking forward to it.

 

[bz_711]

First year to Elk camp was solo 14-15 hours each way...drove straight through 3 gas breaks and that was it.
Now it's a little longer with big trailer and more guys...I still drive all but 1-2 hours for quick nap...I have to be driving, terrible passenger.

But no matter what - use your head - I'll have no problem pulling over (and tell other driver same thing)...if feel tired, just pull off next exit and lets nap for a bit...no biggie to be a couple hours late to camp. BE SAFE!

My overnight mix is one 5 hour energy, followed with Red bull about 3 hours after that...its the only time I touch 5 hr energy each year...

 

[njdoxie]

I've driven straight from SC to CO, but not anymore, I fly out with 2 big suitcases with all my gear and rifle....friend picks me up at airport and.drops me off at trailhead, I hike in 6 miles for 8 day solo 2nd rifle elk hunt....I have an elk packer on speed dial, always have Verizon signal

 

[sodaksooner]

I routinely (3x per year) drive from Tulsa OK to Sturgis SD. About 13 hours. If I am by myself I stop 2x for gas and that is it. I have gotten the trip down from 16 hours to just over 13 over the years.

For elk, I can make it to Denver in about 10 hours so will leave from work at noon if I can get away and get a motel in the denver area. Meet up with my crew there, coming down from SD and head up to the mountains(about 2.5 more hours) in the am. ALthough I have driven that one straight through too.

My driving tricks I have learned over the years.

No big meals,
Go easy on drinks. Usually have a cup of coffee at every stop, maybe a bottle of water.
Sunflower seeds...keeps the subconscious busy while driving and I feel it staves off sleepiness because of it. Use a mild flavor because the salt will kill the inside of your mouth after 12 hours.
If I do drive overnight, I usually will stop at a rest stop and grab a nap for a couple of hours.
Satellite radio...radio stations are slim pickings in that country, unless you want to listen to local ag reports all day long.

 

[5MilesBack]

I used to do it all the time by myself. I like getting up early like 0200 and driving until maybe 10pm. Or if longer plan to arrive first thing in the morning, that usually keeps me up the rest of that second day, then crash. I always have LOTS of coffee, food in a cooler, and a couple pee bottles. Only stop when I need fuel, and that's just a quick stop and fill and go again. With my F-350 that equates to about every 650 miles.

 

[bcimport]

20 hours north, after a full day of work. Stop and sleep in the truck when needed, otherwise energy drinks and light snacks.

 

[Vids]

Good advice here, I also say don't push it and sleep if you need to. I've done 14 hours in one day and that's about it for me. When I leave CO to hunt MN and IL I usually bail from work early, drive until dark (6 hours or so) and then do 7-8 hours the next day and get there early afternoon. It's no fun to get there and be so wiped out that you can't function.

 

[tstowater]

Mine is Iowa to Nevada. About 1400 miles +/- depending on the route. I'm plannning on 2 days unless I can find something to hunt on the way out and that might change things. This would be 2-9 to 10 hour days. That's enough for me. I would rather drive during the daylight as I will be heading into the deer rut (I hope) and frankly not interested in a deer grill ornament. Still trying to figure out whether I want to go across Colorado or Wyoming. Man, eastern Utah (Green River area) is desolate. If I'm really lucky, I will win the Henry Mountains mule hunt and do that on the way. Wouldn't that be a blast?

 

[WestDan]

13 hours for me this year, that's cake compared to some of these other drives, will just fire out in a day for this one.

drove from NY to vegas straight through one year, that was a little crazier.

 

[Brendan]

Planning on Massachusetts to Montana, solo right now. Roughly 2400 miles over two days. 17 hours of driving per day, may end up finishing up on the 3rd morning if needed.