Daily Driving Distance Question - Montana Owners Club

RKassl · 03-01-2006, 08:36 AM

Planning our first extended trip with the Monty and I have a question for you more experienced travelers. Trying to figure our daily distance for the trip, looks like 350 to 400 at the most per day. Is this a doable distance pulling a 5'er? I would plan rest brakes at most rest areas to stretch and check tires?

And suggestions or advice? In about 40 months, I won't have to ask this question because we will have NO schedule to contend with, Retirement!

Thank, and Happy Camping!

DHenry · 03-01-2006, 08:43 AM

RKassl, those are doable miles but will make for a long day. I usually plan 250-300 miles and that takes about 6-7 hours with all the break stops including lunch. If you go to areas with heavy traffic or mountains to contend with then you will naturally have to add time to your day.

JH Sechelt · 03-01-2006, 08:51 AM

I agree with Doug,

250 Miles works for us, but if your on a schedule we will go up to 450 miles per day.

J & D

CountryGuy · 03-01-2006, 09:12 AM

400 is our max, done only under duress (that reads, leaving the north for the south in January!! and we have to FIND a campground that is open and we are in a big hurry to get someplace warm enough to put H20 in Montana).

Preferred is 250 to 300 MAX.

That said, we all have different tolerance levels, therefore can drive different distances.

This has been discussed before, but is probably buried in the archives.

Have fun on that trip!

richfaa · 03-01-2006, 11:05 AM

Since both of us share the drive time we COULD drive a long distance if we wanted to but we usually will run 6 to 8 hours a day including fuel and rest stops however far that may be.When it gets to be 4 or 5 Pm we start to look for a CC. Helen likes to drive a lot more than I do so it is sort of up to her how far we go in a day.

lawrenceb42106 · 03-01-2006, 11:28 AM

Join the 230 club. 230 miles or in a campground by 2:30. Works for us. That is @ 5-6 hour drive with breaks.

kdeiss · 03-01-2006, 11:32 AM

We pull out about 6AM or so drive for about an hour stop for breakfast lunch in the Monty and off the road in a CG by 3Pm.

rlwhit · 03-01-2006, 11:42 AM

We like to leave camp mid AM arrive next camp mid PM. I should say for us mid AM is 10:00. Mid PM is no later than 3:00 PM. When you are retired what is the hurry? Yes, we have driven 7 or 8 hours only because there was a have to. Most times there is no have to. Take it slow and enjoy. Enjoy your time together. Does not have to include driving. Do not like anything over 275 miles per day. As we all know we have the best apartment right behind us.

jrgwdenner · 03-01-2006, 11:48 AM

We agree that 350 - 400 miles makes for a long, long day and seems to take its toll. Our main objective when stopping early is to be sure we are parked before the sun goes down. There's nothing worse than trying to park in the dark in an unfamiliar campground.

Glenn and Lorraine · 03-01-2006, 12:51 PM

250 and on a rare occasion 300 miles. Never over 300 and never ever after dark. As full timers we have no reason to hurry and all the time in the world to get there. I always start the day with a full tank of fuel and when the gauge gets down to near 1/4 I start looking for a cg.

RKassl · 03-01-2006, 01:03 PM

Thanks everyone, I have a really GOOD idea now. Glen, the thing I look foreword to the most in about 40 months is NO SCHEDULE! I think the day we pull out of our driveway for our Alaska Trip, I will put a hammer to the alarm clock!

Thanks to all and Happy Camping!

Parrothead · 03-01-2006, 03:04 PM

We do the tank of fuel idea and so we can be settled before dark. We have in the past done some longer days and usually pay for it the next day or so.
Happy trails........................

firetrucker · 03-01-2006, 04:53 PM

A few years ago we made it from Edmonton, Alberta, to Gardnerville, Nevada in three days; about 450, 400, and 650 miles in each leg. I had to pry my hands from the wheel, and it took me about a week to recover. We hadn't made any plans for what to see or do on the way home, I was driving Big Red, and it was a challenge to my masculine (pig-headed) nature. NEVER AGAIN! We are now pretty much members of the 230 club, although it usually turns out to be 230 miles rather than 2:30 pm.

And Sue, since the truck holds 225 gallons, ain't no way I'll ever use that as my limit. I cringe even thinking about it.

Bob

ols1932 · 03-01-2006, 05:19 PM

We usually travel 5 hours, 6 at the most. This allows us to cover 250 miles. I'm always amazed at the numbers of "campers" who pull into RV parks after dark and have to back into spots. That's not for me. As for sharing the drive time, it doesn't help me get any rest! I'm just as keyed up (if not more) than if I'm driving myself.

Why push it? We arrive fairly fresh and able to enjoy the surroundings!

Orv

patodonn · 03-01-2006, 06:59 PM

The biggest factor isn't distance..it is time. For us, it is really important to be in the selected RV Park before dark...preferably an hour or so prior. IF we decide on a long day(anything over 250 miles)the departure time is the only place to make up the difference.

You can't (make that "shouldn't", IMHO)try to drive at automobile speeds while towing, for many reasons, most of them safety related. Some States limit you to 55 mph while towing (Calif, for example) We figure 62 mph on freeways, unless further restricted in speed, then add time for expected rest/gas stops. Be realistic. A "30 min gas and lunch stop" almost always really takes an hour. Just a simple refueling stop at at freeway location usually takes at least 20 min, counting everything.

I think you are a lot better off taking 4 days at 250/day rather than 3 days at 330/day. You will be a zombie on the day after arrival if you do the 330/day or more routine. Again, IMHO, but based on 3 years full timing. We won't even consider doing a 300+/day unless under some extreme schedule duress, and then only one day at that distance. I know lots of folks do lots more, and most of them make it OK.

scattershot · 03-02-2006, 09:16 AM

My wife and I share the driving in 2 hour shifts. We have driven as far as 600+ miles in a day, but have seen the error of our ways. 300 is just about right, and you can get off the road and into a CG at a decent hour. Ever driven through a big city at rush hour? No fun at all! (In Dallas, we try to leave at 4:00 AM to avoid the traffic, which is HORRENDOUS!)

Northstar · 03-02-2006, 10:15 AM

Experience has taught us to not exceed 300 miles per day. At this point in our lives why hurry! And it's much better setting up at a cg when it's still daylight.

Imp · 03-02-2006, 04:48 PM

We agree on the 300 miles a day. When we were still working and had limited time to get to places we did more and thank heaven we will never do that again. We hope to also stop for a few days on our way to the west coast in May, take the time to explore.
Myrna

mobilrvn · 03-07-2006, 05:50 AM

RKassal, In Mexico we also use the 230 rule, bu it is kilometers instead of miles. Usually it takes us about the same amount of time to drive 230kms it does 230 miles in the US. But sometimes it is longer because we perfer a CG with hookups vice boondocking. If you want CGs on your Alaska trip, you may have to drive a bit longer also. For your Alaska trip make sure that you have the current copy of "Milepost".

Montana Sky · 03-07-2006, 03:56 PM

My average day driving w/o rv is 1,100 miles and with rv is 650 miles. I am no where near retirement and would rather spend a few more days at my destination than on the road getting there. But it does require a long time in the seat while getting there. =)

You may also like: