How far do you drive per day when towing?

[Teamubr]

My F150 I was using for towing at the time had a 25 gallon tank. We found ourselves stopping once every 180-200 miles.

My first F250 had a 27 gallon tank (short bed). I did get 10-11 mpg towing (I love diesels), but I had to make sure there was a truck stop every 200-225 miles. My current truck has a 37.5 gallon tank and a 60 gallon auxiliary. 97 gallons means I can get to the Fort (1003 miles) in 1 stop. I figure it saves an hour drive time not having to make 3-4 stops for fuel.

j

 

[rideswithchrist]

Oh yeah! That is one of the main reasons we moved to a popup- no nasty bathroom breaks, we can pull to a safe place and use the camper. We hope to even have some lunches ready so we can get out and stretch and run. We have pulled into local parks with the popup, but we will be quite a bit longer, but not terrible with the 21' hybrid.

We will average 9.5-10mpg I assume, so that will be a factor in refueling and bathroom breaks too. We have a 30 gallon tank so we will plan on 200 miles between fill-ups just to be safe. I hope that the more we tow, the more we will be used to is, but 6-8 hours is likely going to be it so we arrive fresh and ready for the Fort and not tired and cranky. We don't have a ton of leisurely time, but my husband works remotely anyway, so we may end up taking pitstops for him to work anyway.

We are going to plan a trip to Arkansas this summer, which is a 7.5 hour drive per Google Maps, so knowing how long that actually takes will give us a better idea.

 

[Stork]

Pulling a 5er with a GMC Dually.
Conditions permitting, I tow at 60 mph; gives me some leeway to pass slower traffic without exceeding 65. (When towing, nothing good ever happens above 65 mph).
360 miles a day is our plan (6 hour driving day=8 hours with potty/fuel/food stops), maybe less on first day (seems like we can never leave on time to get that desired "early" start).
Only 3 days in a row without 2-night stay on the 3rd day.
We, too, like to get to FW early. On some FW trips we've been able to set up camp before noon.
As you probably know I-10 through Louisiana is very uncomfortable, especially towing. We would plan 3 plus days from Buda to get to FW. Using your 2.5 day goal, I'd plan to stop somewhere short of Baton Rouge (450 mi), then Tallahassee RV (450 mi), then on to FW (250 mi via FL turnpike).

 

[jbrostek]

I alway bank on the 50mph average for interstate towing/travel. And if I was a little further north would likely break the tow into 3 days, two 8-10 hour days and 1 short day/early arrival. As it stands it kind of works out for an early start, from our house we can easily make it to Savannah in about 12 hours. We could stop earlier in SC, but usually we are willing to get a little closer. The one time I did a 3-4 hour run after work the day before and got south of richmond, I made it to St. Mary's exit 1 GA in the same drive time with more then enough time to enjoy the pool.

 

[BarbLynnM]

We drive from northwest Michigan to south of Lexington Ky the first day--that usually takes us 10/12 hours depending on how many stops we make. The second day we try to get south of Atlanta Ga. if we don't have to go through the city during rush hour traffic. We usually get to the Fort around check in time. That all said, we've changed the routine a bit to arrive in northern Fla to camp overnight so we're not having to hustle getting to the Fort quite so much.

So, we stagger the drive time, doing the most the first day and tapering off so we're not totally exhausted and grumpy when we arrive. We end up having more energy to pitch camp and perhaps have more time in the parks before our "official" vaca starts.

 

[rideswithchrist]

As you probably know I-10 through Louisiana is very uncomfortable, especially towing. We would plan 3 plus days from Buda to get to FW. Using your 2.5 day goal, I'd plan to stop somewhere short of Baton Rouge (450 mi), then Tallahassee RV (450 mi), then on to FW (250 mi via FL turnpike).

YES_ that Beaux Bridge forever drive is awful.
That sounds like what we have done the last two trips down, so we will plan for a similar path.

We may add in what @BarbLynnM mentioned and stop short of the Fort, depending on what time we get close so we can get a very early start the next day.

How much luck has everyone had just calling and finding an open spot to overnight at an RV park VS needing to have a reservation?

 

[PaHunter]

My first F250 had a 27 gallon tank (short bed). I did get 10-11 mpg towing (I love diesels), but I had to make sure there was a truck stop every 200-225 miles. My current truck has a 37.5 gallon tank and a 60 gallon auxiliary. 97 gallons means I can get to the Fort (1003 miles) in 1 stop. I figure it saves an hour drive time not having to make 3-4 stops for fuel.

j

Wow, one stop for fuel that is horrible.

 

[Stork]

YES_ that Beaux Bridge forever drive is awful.
That sounds like what we have done the last two trips down, so we will plan for a similar path.

We may add in what @BarbLynnM mentioned and stop short of the Fort, depending on what time we get close so we can get a very early start the next day.

How much luck has everyone had just calling and finding an open spot to overnight at an RV park VS needing to have a reservation?

We live in Tallahassee only 5 hours from FW which includes the one rest area stop. We've changed that recently, however, going over to St Augustine Beach KOA for a couple of nights to enjoy a little civilization before immersing into the crowds in DW. That puts us about 2 hours from FW.

Once I have a plan and selected potential overnight stop locations I'll call and get a res. Nothing worse than have a spouse expect to be somewhere and then have to adjust on the fly. Yes, contingencies occur but they are the exception not the rule. And yes, it takes away some of the spontaneity from the trip, but I like having a daily "target" and confirmed location for the much deserved happy hour at the conclusion of the day's activities.

 

[Stratman50th]

We live in Tallahassee only 5 hours from FW which includes the one rest area stop. We've changed that recently, however, going over to St Augustine Beach KOA for a couple of nights to enjoy a little civilization before immersing into the crowds in DW. That puts us about 2 hours from FW.

Once I have a plan and selected potential overnight stop locations I'll call and get a res. Nothing worse than have a spouse expect to be somewhere and then have to adjust on the fly. Yes, contingencies occur but they are the exception not the rule. And yes, it takes away some of the spontaneity from the trip, but I like having a daily "target" and confirmed location for the much deserved happy hour at the conclusion of the day's activities.

I always make reservations for the entire trip. I like to know I have a place to stay at the end of the drive.

 

[FtW Mike]

RWC as has been pointed out before Everyone is different. The tow vehicle they are driving, the roads and routes they take, need to stop for fuel and potty breaks, number of drivers. etc. No one knows you and your family the way you do. We can only tell you what what works for us.
We don't tow as we have a Class A. Ours is a gasser with an 80 gal. fuel tank that gets @ 7mpg. I am the sole driver. Both Lucille and I are over 60 yrs. of age and the Savage Sisters our dogs have just turned 4 a month ago. We have found that a stop about once every 2 to 2.5 hours works very well for us. While there have been a few instances that my DW has walked back and used the potty while we drove along they are the rarity.
Our route is essentially straight down I 95 once we finish bypassing DC. As we have done the trip several times now we know where we can stop and those are places that meet our needs. Fuel stops that are located near the roadway and are either set up for RVs or have pumps situated in such a way that they can easily and safely be accessed and exited from. Our stay over for the night have sites with easy access to dog parks ( Our little girl Sky believes it against the law for her to go while on her leash outside of emergency situations) They are also within our guidelines ie We can arrive by 4pm so I am not setting up in the dark. Have clean and and easily accessible Comfort Stations for our use.
That being said our trip to Ft Wilderness frmo here in Central Delaware is 971 miles according our Magellan GPS. Day 1 we travel 293 miles, We make 1 stop in Virginia for potty break north of Richmond and a second for fuel just prior to entering NC where we stop for the night. Day 2 is a trek of 374 miles. Stop 1 is a Cracker Barrel for breakfast approx 100 miles into trip. Fuel is next another 100 miles down the road after we enter SC a 3rd stop will be made if we need it before we reach overnight stop 2. Day 3 we try to get within an hour of Ft W so we can be at check in early enough to ask for one of our prefered sites if we aren't assigned it

 

[rideswithchrist]

Great tips everyone! I guess we can plan better once we get some trips under our belt and know what towing looks like for us.

 

[jbrostek]

Great tips everyone! I guess we can plan better once we get some trips under our belt and know what towing looks like for us.

That is the best to figure out for yourself. Also, you will find it takes some trips to build the stamina to tow a bigger trailer.

 

[StormyCA]

Our trip to WDW is around 3000 miles one way, 31ft TT with an F350 Diesel. We also do other long trips, but WDW is the 'longest straight haul'. We normally average between 500-600 miles per day (MPD) at an average of 58-60 MPH (that includes stops). We boondock at truck stops. There have been days where he's driven 650-700 miles in a day if he 'felt up to it'. So our days have been between 8-12 hours. The drive to WDW takes 6 days (leaving early the first morning and arriving in the afternoon of the 6th day).

DH has now said that he feels that's just too much and pushing it like that and 'sleeping rough' at a truck stop takes the joy out of the drive. So we're going to reduce our drives to between 400-450 MPD and we'll be staying at RV parks. It only increases our cross country drive to WDW by one day, so 7 instead of 6 days and we figure will add about $250.00 to trip costs. I can live with that.

With major trips cancelled for this year (so far) next year's trip to WDW will be the first one using the new 'rules'. DH is normally the 'antsy' one who says "Let's keep going" so we'll see how it goes.

 

[rideswithchrist]

Our trip to WDW is around 3000 miles one way, 31ft TT with an F350 Diesel. We also do other long trips, but WDW is the 'longest straight haul'. We normally average between 500-600 miles per day (MPD) at an average of 58-60 MPH (that includes stops). We boondock at truck stops. There have been days where he's driven 650-700 miles in a day if he 'felt up to it'. So our days have been between 8-12 hours. The drive to WDW takes 6 days (leaving early the first morning and arriving in the afternoon of the 6th day).

DH has now said that he feels that's just too much and pushing it like that and 'sleeping rough' at a truck stop takes the joy out of the drive. So we're going to reduce our drives to between 400-450 MPD and we'll be staying at RV parks. It only increases our cross country drive to WDW by one day, so 7 instead of 6 days and we figure will add about $250.00 to trip costs. I can live with that.

With major trips cancelled for this year (so far) next year's trip to WDW will be the first one using the new 'rules'. DH is normally the 'antsy' one who says "Let's keep going" so we'll see how it goes.

Yup, that was the other consideration: we will not be boondocking at Walmart/Truck Stops so we can get a good night's sleep, so we will plan on 450miles and see how far we can get and what campground are around Also- I'll quit being forlorn about a 3 day drive now seeing it takes you a week to get there.

 

[Lumpy1106]

I've always found that the time-per-day on the road is actually longer when I am towing or driving an RV because stopping is such a PITA.

 

[StormyCA]

Yup, that was the other consideration: we will not be boondocking at Walmart/Truck Stops so we can get a good night's sleep, so we will plan on 450miles and see how far we can get and what campground are around Also- I'll quit being forlorn about a 3 day drive now seeing it takes you a week to get there.

Boondocking never interfered with our sleep, we live (relatively) near railroad tracks. I guess your mind just learns to tune out the noise. He's just tired of rolling in with just enough time to eat and then go to bed. Plus, no AC since no hookups.

You know, we really enjoy the drive. We don't do any 'sightseeing' (other than what passes by the window) but we get a kick out of watching the scenery and doing 'logistics' during the drive. We love logistics lol.

Our trip last year 'coming back' was from WDW to Great Smoky NP to Yellowstone then home to No California. Lots of driving but lots of fun.

Our annual trips, regardless of destination(s) are usually between 5000 - 8000 miles.

 

[rideswithchrist]

Boondocking never interfered with our sleep, we live (relatively) near railroad tracks. I guess your mind just learns to tune out the noise. He's just tired of rolling in with just enough time to eat and then go to bed. Plus, no AC since no hookups.

You know, we really enjoy the drive. We don't do any 'sightseeing' (other than what passes by the window) but we get a kick out of watching the scenery and doing 'logistics' during the drive. We love logistics lol.

Our trip last year 'coming back' was from WDW to Great Smoky NP to Yellowstone then home to No California. Lots of driving but lots of fun.

Our annual trips, regardless of destination(s) are usually between 5000 - 8000 miles.

We are close to a train too, but my husband would not be able to settle in knowing that people are walking around outside our camper- and not in a campground lol. It would be a dire straits sort of need to boondock like that for him. I on the other hand, have slept in my truck at rest stops by myself ha. We do enjoy the drive too, it is just so much harder for him to actually take time "off" because working remotely means he is always plugged in, so no one leaves him alone. But, taking the trip a free hours at a time will be nice. I want to go to Mt. Rushmore this coming year too and do some more road trips like that too!

 

[StormyCA]

We are close to a train too, but my husband would not be able to settle in knowing that people are walking around outside our camper- and not in a campground lol. It would be a dire straits sort of need to boondock like that for him. I on the other hand, have slept in my truck at rest stops by myself ha. We do enjoy the drive too, it is just so much harder for him to actually take time "off" because working remotely means he is always plugged in, so no one leaves him alone. But, taking the trip a free hours at a time will be nice. I want to go to Mt. Rushmore this coming year too and do some more road trips like that too!

People are funny, my nDH (non-Disney Husband) feels more secure with the truckers walking around the lots and trucks coming and going. He feels there's less opportunity for mischief with people walking around. Although I can see that truck stops wouldn't be particularly 'restful' with 4 kids! Not a lot of room to runaround. For us, it's just nDH, me and our Dachshund. I'd say he has the energy of 4 kids, but at least we can put him on a leash! Plus, we're retired, so no remote work for either of us.

We saw Rushmore in 2016, it's pretty impressive. Be sure you take the time to see the Crazy Horse Monument (in progress), too. They're not that far apart. That trip was Badlands NP, Custer SP, Yellowstone, Glacier, & Crater Lake NPs (and points between). Highly recommend Custer SP's Game Lodge CG, the sites have E&W. Custer's pretty centrally located for sightseeing too.

 

[rideswithchrist]

That sounds like an amazing trip!

 

[rideswithchrist]

Good news.
Driving 1 hour was painless