Longest drive in RV?

[jbrostek]

Even on the return trip we schedule two days. It just is not worth the push heading home.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

Even on the return trip we schedule two days. It just is not worth the push heading home.

Yes. We are leaving on Sunday to be home on Monday.

 

[jbrostek]

That is a great plan to me. Given our starting point being further south and our start time for the drive, I cannot make a lot of recomendations on campgrounds. But I can say that the South of the Boarder campground is not that bad for an overnight. I never used their facilities, but it was cheap, pull through, gated and far enough away from 95 that I barely noticed the noise.

I have also stayed at Santee Lakes Campground, again reasonable for overnights, I did not use their facilities but I did enter them and can say most would not be happy wiht them. It is a somewhat tight campground to navigate at night, but again its a reasonable overnight for me.

In GA I have stayed at New Green Acres which is open, easy in and out and reasonable, but our favorite is Point South KOA. It is tighter due to the trees, but they guide you into the site so that is nice. They also sell Pizza on site, its no competitor for good NY pizza (or NJ) but by the time we are done being shown into our site and setup for the night, they show up to deliver the order to our site. Which after 12 hours in travel mode is very nice.

Those are our prefrences, though this winter when I make my trip down I will be starting a bit earlier in the day and pushing a llittle longer since I have to leave a day later then the rest of my traveling group.

 

[mikron]

I should note that its a 980 mile drive, and should take about 16 hours

In our Class A I drive with a full tank of 75 gal of gas at 7 MPG untill I must stop for a fillup. Sitting high and wide open cab could drive stright to Boston 1,300 miles but would run empty. Wife has all the room for her and the dog so no stoping for this that and the other.

If you are going to use an RV on a regular bases check site iRV2. over 100,000 members with everykind of experiance. Average miles for traveling in an RV full timers and vacation people 250 miles per day.

 

[jbrostek]

thats a fulltimer heavy average. My non full timer average is about 450 miles a day.

 

[ClaudeZ767]

How true is that?!?!?

Well, I am a tad cynical cause it happened to me, and I don't want to discourage you. It's just with the prevalence of all these devices that distract our attention from the road, my biggest fear is that some texting/surfing/yakking fool will cut me off and I will have to stand on the brakes and hope I can maintain control and stop in time. My advice is just to have an abundance of caution and vigilance and you'll be fine..

 

[KristinU]

Well, I am a tad cynical cause it happened to me, and I don't want to discourage you. It's just with the prevalence of all these devices that distract our attention from the road, my biggest fear is that some texting/surfing/yakking fool will cut me off and I will have to stand on the brakes and hope I can maintain control and stop in time. My advice is just to have an abundance of caution and vigilance and you'll be fine..

Sorry, I didn't type my inflection right...but I meant it in a total agreement tone. I share your cynicism. So many people see your increased following distance and see it as a green light to jam their car right in front of you, or even do a multi lane change in front of you.

I agree, I don't want to scare anyone, but it has happened to us a couple of times in Jacksonville (once was reeeeealy close) and more times that I can count up here in the northeast where we are known for well-mannered, calm, considerate driving

And I agree again, anticipate the jerks and you'll be OK

 

[super_camper]

In our Class A I drive with a full tank of 75 gal of gas at 7 MPG untill I must stop for a fillup. Sitting high and wide open cab could drive stright to Boston 1,300 miles but would run empty. Wife has all the room for her and the dog so no stoping for this that and the other.

If you are going to use an RV on a regular bases check site iRV2. over 100,000 members with everykind of experiance. Average miles for traveling in an RV full timers and vacation people 250 miles per day.

75 gals of gas at 7MPG would mean your are driving non-stop for 525 miles. All I can say is good for you and I hope I am not on the same road you are!

You're an accident just waiting to happen!

 

[Teamubr]

You're an accident just waiting to happen!

That's a bit harsh. This July I drove from St Louis to High Plains Raceway outside Denver. (about 800 miles) Unloaded 3 race cars and then raced a 3 hour enduro (endurance race) in our Miata and came in 2nd. Pretty sure I wasn't a hazard or an "accident waiting to happen."

A lot depends on what you are driving, your experience and comfort level. I can drive the race hauler or my BMW for 12 hours and feel great. 6 hours in my Mini and I'm worn out.

If your petrified and nervous while towing something that is close to its limits, 500 miles might be a problem, but that doesn't say everyone is in that situation. Many of the bigger rigs tow very comfortably.

j

 

[jmrothermel]

75 gals of gas at 7MPG would mean your are driving non-stop for 525 miles. All I can say is good for you and I hope I am not on the same road you are! You're an accident just waiting to happen!

Why is that an accident waiting to happen? Everyone has their limits, and Im sure the poster knows theirs. Don't you think long haul truck drivers drive 525 miles in a day? My DH does the straight drive from PA to FL - with just stops for gas! We also carry 75 gals, but Im hoping to get closer to 9mpg this trip . Wishful thinking, right?!

 

[jbrostek]

If driving 525 miles is an accident waiting to happen, I think every tractor trailer on the road would be sitting in the ditch somewhere daily. I don't think that is the case at all and I run 500-600 miles in a single day as well. I dont have 4 days each way to make a 900-1000 mile trip and still have time to relax before I head home and back to work.

But I could never run that non stop as my bladder would not allow it. I generally run 3-3.5 hours straight before I need to stop for a quick break, streach my legs. I try to keep those stops productive such as stopping for fuel or food. Heck this weekend I am hitting the road on Friday morning to head 250 miles, once I get there we need to setup in the paddock and pits before we start practice and qualifiying in the afternoon, then the team will run a 13 hour enduro shared between 3 drivers.

 

[Teamubr]

once I get there we need to setup in the paddock and pits before we start practice and qualifiying in the afternoon, then the team will run a 13 hour enduro shared between 3 drivers.

WOW! Someone speaking my language! I should probably take this off line, but who do you race with and where is the there a 13 hour enduro this weekend?

j

 

[jbrostek]

We can definitely take it offline, but the event is a SCCA sanctioned event at VIR in Alton, VA. I am just DTR and crew this weekend, but I also race in the WDCR SCCA MARRS series. When I am not racing or crewing, I am usually working EV (Emergency Services elsewhere) at Summit Point and sometimes VIR or NJMP.

 

[Teamubr]

the event is a SCCA sanctioned event at VIR in Alton, VA.

Fun! Been to VIR a few years ago. Too bad about the oak tree. We race with NASA Central for the regional championship, but like to do other regions events to hit some of the historic tracks. Used to run Midwest and Great Lakes regions full time. Probably going to start the season in February at Barber in Birmingham. We have a pair of Mustangs and a Spec Miata. Facebook team page is in my sig.

Now back on topic. To the OP, have we convinced you you'll be fine driving the Class C down? Short of one rolling hazard comment, everyone else has been pretty supportive.

j

 

[JimPGH]

Now back on topic. To the OP, have we convinced you you'll be fine driving the Class C down? Short of one rolling hazard comment, everyone else has been pretty supportive.

j

Yeah I still want to try it. This trip keeps getting put off for different vacations. I look at those pictures on the Fort of the day thread and it looks so nice. I think if I get my chores done around the house it can happen this fall maybe.

 

[mightyexplorers]

This is totally doable. We drive our class A from MN. It is 1700 miles.
We leave after work, and do about 450 miles the first night.
The second day we do just under 700 miles
The last day we do about 550.

I do all the driving and the excitement of getting to the Fort keeps me energized the whole way. The nice thing with a motor home is, if you get tired, you can just pull over and sleep for a bit. Which for us is much more likely to happen on the way home.

 

[rbork]

OP - Agree with the other positive comments. It is totally doable.
Take your Class C for a test drive. Get used to the feel. It is a different feeling when a tractor trailer is passing you - a little sway action. Know ahead of time how to handle it. Anticipate the ppl that will cut you off. We just returned from a stay at FW. We tow a pup straight through. I planned on two days this past trip to return but still did it without stopping overnight. Love the idea of the Class C being able to pull off and catch a power nap if needed!
oh and can you believe traffic was backed up completely at Quantico VA at 0100hrs? Traffic has always been lighter through DC during the night but this past trip I was appalled at the traffic at 0100hrs.
Good Luck OP and have a great trip in your class C.

 

[RandolphNY]

Hello,

Since I just returned, I will provide you my take in a Class C:

On our trip down, Approximately 1,300 miles, we attempting a non-stop trip via: I86 to I90 to I71 to I75 to Florida Turnpike. 29 Hours with gas/stretch breaks and a 2 hour pull over.

Our return trip was Approximately 1,200 miles:
I4 to I95 to I26 to I77 to I90 (Cleveland) to I86 home. We stayed just outside of Charlotte (10 hour drive and 12 hours overnight) and finished the trip (14 hours). Total return trip was 36 hours.

I will never travel non-stop again.

Frankly, even from Pittsburgh, I would still stop overnight.