How long of a drive (or vacation) is TOO long?

[pryncess527]

We are planning a trip to Vancouver this summer. While pricing flights today, I started to have the crazy idea that we should drive instead -- but it's a 30 hour drive.

But, I started pricing it out and I think we can take our time driving for about the same price as 3 plane tickets are going to cost. And instead of just seeing Vancouver, we'd see some random stuff along the way, stuff we'd probably never see otherwise, like Mt Rushmore and Salt Lake City.

But the loose itinerary I put together turns a 9 day trip into a 20 day trip. That's a big difference in time away from home, time away from our dogs, time in close quarters together.

I have the vacation time. The gas/hotel costs are about the same as the airfare, we we'd just have "extra" spending on dining out and any touristy stuff we do.

So, would you turn a 9 day vacation into a 20 day cross country drive?

And if so, any must-see, non-obvious things to visit in Nebraska, South Dakota, Idaho, Utah or Kansas?

 

[Cadiewampus]

personally anything more than 12 hours is too long and I have only done that once.

 

[Hikergirl]

Yes I would do a 20 day cross country drive. Dh and I drove across the country when we were younger but it was in about 5 days to just get to our destination. We stopped places just to sleep, not to see anything.
We always say we should do it again as a road trip. I would take my dog though, that is a long time to be away.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I wouldn't do it, but only because of the pet concern. Otherwise, it's a trip I would thoroughly enjoy!

 

[Squirlz]

We drive to an annual event (car related) that is 10 hours away. Even then we split it into a 2 day drive as we don't like to get up early or drive at night. That trip is 8 nights total. 2 weeks is as long as we care to be away as it takes so long to catch up with orders and customers get unhappy. So driving somewhere like Orlando or Key West just puts us out of the office for too long.

 

[MamaLema]

To me there is no such thing as a road trip thats too long. Last year we drove 30 hours from Toronto to Miami. Next year we will do a big road trip from Toronto to Grand Canyon.

DH was part of a group that drove from Canada to El Salvador donating ambulances.
We love road trippin!

 

[Gumbo4x4]

To me there is no such thing as a road trip thats too long. Last year we drove 30 hours from Toronto to Miami. Next year we will do a big road trip from Toronto to Grand Canyon.

DH was part of a group that drove from Canada to El Salvador donating ambulances.
We love road trippin!

Agreed! We did 7,500 miles in 6 weeks in 1977, sleeping in a popup all but 7 or 8 nights.

Personal best is 1,085 miles in one day (splitting driving duty with my brother in law).

 

[Praying Colonel]

I love road trips but would have difficulty driving to Vancouver. It would be difficult to drive straight through and not stop and see things along the way. And if I stopped along the way to see all the things I'd want to see, the trip would be a lot longer than I can take.

One day I do hope to take those kinds of trips and take my time doing them, but I just don't have the vacation time to do it at this time.

We've driven several times to/from Orlando and it's about 850 miles from our front door. That's the farthest I'd want to do in 1 day. Including stops along the way, it's about 13 hours. At the end of the day it's hard to go to sleep because I'm still driving in my mind.

 

[Klayfish]

For me, about 7-8 hours with kids in tow is about as far as I'd drive for vacation. Beyond that, I'd rather fly. I suppose if the trip were a 20 day trip, I'd stretch it to 12 hours. But 30 hours driving with kids in the car? No thanks. That would be the limiting factor. Not pets (we have a dog, but not to be rude, he's not my favorite, he's for the kids), not anything else, just don't want to drive that long with them in the car.

 

[jdb in AZ]

We used to drive 14 hours each way to visit family. When the kids were little we'd set the cruise control and the van would automatically steer us to Disneyland six hours away. Now my driving limit is about 2 hrs.

 

[pryncess527]

Yes I would do a 20 day cross country drive. Dh and I drove across the country when we were younger but it was in about 5 days to just get to our destination. We stopped places just to sleep, not to see anything.
We always say we should do it again as a road trip. I would take my dog though, that is a long time to be away.

Yeah, the loose itinerary I put together has us taking about 5 days to make the drive, each way. I don't think we can stretch it out any longer, but I was also worried that was too fast and we wouldn't really have enough time to enjoy . . .
The longest driving day on my itinerary is 10 hours. Most are closer to 5 with part of the day spent in a location along the way
The added benefit was that taking the dogs now becomes an option. Though our hotel in Vancouver isn't dog friendly . . .

No children. 3 adults to share driving

 

[Wendy31]

I would love to do a cross-country road trip - but not a straight drive through - I'd want to stop at the different interesting things along the way.

But I would want our dog w/ us.

 

[Christine]

It would be too much for me, but considering that it may become a "road trip" with stops along the way as part of the vacation, then that's a different thing. My parents have driven cross country and made a vacation with each stop.

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

Now that my kids are young adults, I could maybe see doing a long road trip with just my husband but to be honest, I'd rather just fly from place to place now. Food, gas and hotels add up quickly.

 

[bjscheel]

Our family does not do long drives. DH drives truck so really does not want to spend his vacation driving (which is why I plan vacations with no driving- WDW- or minimal driving). The kids hate anything over a few hours. We drove to Branson, 8 hours, and split that up with an overnight stay in KC both ways. Even then DD who was 10 at the time, was carsick and threw up.

It would be really hard for us to be away from home and pets (well, and work but that wasn't one of your concerns) for 20 days. My family is ready to go back home after a week. How do the others in your party feel about the idea?

 

[justussix]

There are two types of people in this world. Those that drive out of necessity, and those that enjoy the journey (yes - I know it's an oversimplification). To take on the adventure you're talking about, you have to be one that enjoys the journey. If you're just set on the destination, you will be miserable.

We did something similar last year. About 7,000 miles all in. We had a few multi-day stops along the way that were all a part of one big trip. Doing the same this coming summer, but not quite as long in time or distance. Probably two-thirds.

For me, I love the drive. Watching familiar landscape turn into prairie, turn into the foothills, turn into the Rockies (eastern side with much different character than the western side), followed by desert. We made it from the Great Lakes to the Pacific and back. Everyone survived, and we had a great time. The kids still talk about the desolate road leaving from Yosemite to the east that seemed like a roller coaster. It was a two lane highway where we went for stretches being the only car we could see in either direction. Or earlier in the middle of Utah watching the temp on dash indicate an outside temp of 114°F and everyone getting out just to see what it felt like to be that hot. I would have hated to fly over and miss those memories.

 

[pryncess527]

It would be really hard for us to be away from home and pets (well, and work but that wasn't one of your concerns) for 20 days. My family is ready to go back home after a week. How do the others in your party feel about the idea?

I'm dying to find out. I'll discuss it with them tonight when I get home - - it was kind of a random thought I had at work today when I realized it was going to cost us $1500+ to fly. For only a little more money we can triple the vacation and see a lot more stuff . . .

I've been getting more and more excited since I had the thought. I posted here hoping someone would help rain on my parade so I can be prepared in case my DH and FIL hate the idea. Neither like to fly though, so we'll see what they think

I may have to see how much trouble it would create to bring the dogs along too. I was a bit worried we'd miss them too much after 9 days, so extending it to 20 does create a problem there. But opens up the possibility for them to come along if we can work out the arrangements

 

[thepicklebee]

Many "pet friendly" still prohibit the dogs from staying alone in the room so I feel like that would extremely limiting in terms of what you would be able to do with them along for the trip.

 

[mamacatnv]

I'd leave the dogs - I have a dog, I love my dog but I don't want to have to craft a road trip vacation around him.
The idea sounds great, I'd do it. Can't wait to hear what the others think

 

[scrhsa]

We are planning a trip to Vancouver this summer. While pricing flights today, I started to have the crazy idea that we should drive instead -- but it's a 30 hour drive.

But, I started pricing it out and I think we can take our time driving for about the same price as 3 plane tickets are going to cost. And instead of just seeing Vancouver, we'd see some random stuff along the way, stuff we'd probably never see otherwise, like Mt Rushmore and Salt Lake City.

But the loose itinerary I put together turns a 9 day trip into a 20 day trip. That's a big difference in time away from home, time away from our dogs, time in close quarters together.

I have the vacation time. The gas/hotel costs are about the same as the airfare, we we'd just have "extra" spending on dining out and any touristy stuff we do.

So, would you turn a 9 day vacation into a 20 day cross country drive?

And if so, any must-see, non-obvious things to visit in Nebraska, South Dakota, Idaho, Utah or Kansas?

If I had the 20 days, I would do it in a heartbeat. The roadtrip was always my favorite part of vacations!!!! Though not as long as your trip, I am actually going to be spending more time in the car than my upcoming trip to Disney. I'll have 6 days, 3 each way, traveling and only 4 days at the parks. I'm really excited about the time in the van with my sister, Mom and Aunt!!