You pass Columbus about halfway through - perfect time to take a break and say hi to TAA/Flag Pole/both. That should re-energize you to survive the Crossroads of America, the most honest and self deprecating state motto in the country.
Another great post by HardLoper
Hydrate for sure and pack a cooler full of ice cold drinks. I've made plenty of these long drives and it makes a HUGE difference.
I have driven from D.C to St. Louis before but I left D.C around 5 PM stopped somewhere in Ohio, grabbed a cheap hotel and then finished up next morning. This wasn't ideal but its not a bad drive, plenty of food/gas stops along the way. If you have to work the day you leave I would just be packed and ready to go once you clock out. The nap won't do you any good.
I've done many 900-2000 mile solo drives and IMO the easiest option is almost always leaving around 5 or 6 AM and simply driving with minimal food/gas stops until you hit your destination or 9 PM. Driving through the night is extremely boring, drastically increases your chances of being pulled over by cops, and brings all the creeps out at gas stations, etc. And it can be dangerous, as there seems to be a weird tendency to fall asleep right around dawn.
Pack a small cooler with sandwiches, crackers, oranges, a gallon jug of water and try to get a book on tape/ CD/ mp3 or something. Music gets boring after a while.
Cruise control at 5-7 mph over the speed limit the whole way. Be my guest if you want to try and drive faster. Speed limit is 65 in Illinois and you will get busted if you speed going across southern Illinois with out of state plates.
Is there a reason you can't fly from D.C./ Baltimore to St. Louis or K.C.? Weekend car rentals are cheap and if you're going out solo the difference between driving/ flying is usually not that much depending on ticket price vs your cars average gas mileage. If you've got a nice car, why put a bunch of miles on it and if you've got a beater why chance a breakdown in bufu Egypt. Also, the drive back with a wedding drunk well liquor and champagne hangover will suck.
Sorry to sound like a mother hen but I've done a lot of long road trips and some of them have been pretty miserable.
start at 7 am.
It is all about average speed including stops.
Don't tire yourself speeding and then stop at restaurants, you pass the same slow trucks again and again.
Pack sandwiches and fruit.
If you are a libtard listen to right wing talk radio it will fascinate you for hours.
Conversely if conservative, listen to npr or other public radio
Be sure to ignore the people at the 7 hour point who are holding the signs saying you are halfway there.
Also, I would recommend you drive a little out of your way to northeast Ohio and get the hot wings at a little play called Quaker Steak & Lube....
Try to get your normal runs in, maybe cut them a bit shorter. If you double, I suggest doing your first run right away in the morning, then hop in the car and go. Breakfast either while driving or an hour into the drive. About half way through the drive go for your run - use mapquest to find a trail or town to run in or something. Then drink a coffee or something you like with caffeine. If you get tired, drink caffeine again. Stop for lunch and dinner at a fast food place somewhere, or pack something and eat at a rest stop or in a parking lot if you want to pull off the interstate. Plan on taking all day. Bring some snacks because this drive will be boring. It would help to split the driving between 2 or even 3 people.
I drove from Atlanta, Georgia to NYC New York in 14 hours including stops. To two things that really helped me were
1) don't get too comfortable, this is how you get tired. Take off your shoes if you aren't used to that, the pedal sensation will keep you alert. Keep the inside of the car cool as this keeps you alert, open a window or blast the AC. Whatever works.
2) Don't drive crazy fast. I did the trip at about 75 miles an hour. I could have done it faster but that would have really drained me. The amount of focus and attention it takes to travel at 90+ miles a hour, paying attention to the road and watching for cops will fatigue you like you wouldn't believe. It just isn't worth it.
All in all be safe and have fun.
Did Miami - LI a few times, Red Bull works wonders when your body is not used to it. Start in the morning, a nap in the evening before you leave will only last so long.
It is not a big deal. Stretch and walk a bit when you stop for gas.
I'm choosing to drive because of some of the logistics. The wedding is 1 hour south of St. Louis so I need a rental car for that. Then the rehearsal dinner is another hour away from that. The reception is several miles from the wedding too so by the time I pay for a rental and associated costs, I'd be saving some time and money. One of the groom's friends will be going with me. Just found out he hadn't planned his trip out so that'll help.