I am driving from Maryland to Missouri for a wedding in a couple weeks. My longest drive has been six hours straight, though the day itself was 18 hours with 9 total hours in a car. I've done plenty of races that are 3 hours away and I've come back on the same day. I plan on leaving at 9 p.m. after a nap. Any advice on the best way to approach the drive. Thanks.
Caffeine Pills. And have people to call if you'll be by yourself.
I did Chicago - Boulder // Ft Collins - Chicago last summer straight through, hungover both ways.
I only stopped for gas (so every 4-5 hours), and got lunch / dinner at those stops. Power napped around 8 hours into it for 20 minutes.
I went through stages with music. Country, 90's, Modern, then had a few 2 hour sections of silence.
Coming back was the worst. I actually stopped in my old college town (Quad Cities) for an hour or so, ran an old 6 mile route and got food. I needed the break, but holy crap, getting back in the car at 10:30PM and still having 2 hours to go sucked.
You know your limits. When do you usually take stops on your long drives? Make sure to stop if you are getting drowsy at all and take some time to freshen up.
For me, I have found that what helps me stay awake is to snack slowly. I'll have a bag of chips or pretzels or something in front of me and eat it slowly during the trip. The munching and chewing keeps me awake and focused. Also a good idea to have someone who knows you call you in the middle of it to check up on you or chat for a bit.
I've done a few 12+ hour drives before.
Personally I would rather start around 7am and drive through the day. You'll be less likely to fall asleep while driving, and you can just crash at your final destination. After driving that far you likely won't have the energy to do anything worthwhile.
Just wear comfy clothes and make sure your car has cruise control. I've always done these long drives with a passenger which can be a lot of help. I'm not sure what I would do solo. Make sure you have enough music/podcasts/books on tape to keep you entertained.
The longest drive I did was approximately 1000 miles, it took me about 16 hours to complete. I left at 5am and arrived at 9pm. This was all solo and no passengers. I really didn't take a long stop, the longest was about 20 minutes, half way for some subway. My trick was lots of coffee, and food to snack on slowly. I listened to public radio almost the entire way, aside from a few dead spots.
I think long drives just take a certain amount of mental toughness, similar to distance running.
That's Great! Thanks for posting!
The best way is to do it on PURE HATE!!
And Mountain Dew
Gatorade bottles, pb&j sandwiches, radar detector and a heavy foot, cut that time down a couple hours. Drink Gatorade then piss in the bottle only stop for gas.
What are you driving? Lots of cars can make that on one fuel stop which means you can too.
Adult diapers can be useful
A few years ago I drove straight from Labrador City to Buffalo NY. 21 hours with no breaks other than to get gas or take a piss. 4 or 5 5 hour enegys did it for me.
V1per41 wrote:
I've done a few 12+ hour drives before.
Personally I would rather start around 7am and drive through the day. You'll be less likely to fall asleep while driving, and you can just crash at your final destination. After driving that far you likely won't have the energy to do anything worthwhile.
Just wear comfy clothes and make sure your car has cruise control. I've always done these long drives with a passenger which can be a lot of help. I'm not sure what I would do solo. Make sure you have enough music/podcasts/books on tape to keep you entertained.
^^^
This is the best answer I've seen so far. Don't try to drive through the night. I've tried that and it was a nightmare. I was so tired I had to pull off at a rest stop to get an hour or so of sleep. Then I went to the restroom and locked my keys in my car because I was so out of it. Not good.
I've done numerous 12-hour plus daytime drives without incident. It's not a big deal.
[quote]Is this for real? wrote:
The pussification of America.
Is this for real? How to drive 12-13 hours?
You start your car and go.
A friend and I drove 18 hours one day for the hell of it.
Wow. Wuss.
[quote]groomsman wrote:
Wow teach me your ways of badassery. I want to become a total badass like you one day
This is actually the best advice I've seen on this thread so far. What's the big deal? Get in the car and go. If you get tired, stop for a snack or whatever. Then get back in the car. It's not like running where you have to train for it. You're sitting on your a$$ the whole time with a/c and a radio and snacks.
Is this for real? wrote:
The pussification of America.
Is this for real? How to drive 12-13 hours?
You start your car and go.
A friend and I drove 18 hours one day for the hell of it.
Wow. Wuss.
If you go at night you can meet some really cool people at rest stops. I met my boyfriend that way!
Try to download an audiobook before you go. if it's something interesting, it helps pass the time. Carrot sticks are a good snack.
Is this for real? wrote:
The pussification of America.
Is this for real? How to drive 12-13 hours?
You start your car and go.
A friend and I drove 18 hours one day for the hell of it.
Wow. Wuss.
groomsman wrote:I am driving from Maryland to Missouri for a wedding in a couple weeks. My longest drive has been six hours straight, though the day itself was 18 hours with 9 total hours in a car. I've done plenty of races that are 3 hours away and I've come back on the same day. I plan on leaving at 9 p.m. after a nap. Any advice on the best way to approach the drive. Thanks.
THIS. My god what is wrong with you? You just get in your car and you drive. WTF is there to make a thread about?
I did this 2 days in a row when I moved by myself from DFW to Boise. Talk about a boring drive.
I suggest starting in the morning and driving during the day. Break it up at least half way through. Like go for a run (find a running store) and then eat at a sit-down restaurant instead of a drive-thru.
Do not think of the drive as a big deal. Some people like to drive, you might be one of them. When I was in college 30 years ago, my parents used to drive 12 hours each way to my cross country and track meets. Before cell phones, they never could find me on campus, but they knew I would be at the meets.
foo wrote:
V1per41 wrote:I've done a few 12+ hour drives before.
Personally I would rather start around 7am and drive through the day. You'll be less likely to fall asleep while driving, and you can just crash at your final destination. After driving that far you likely won't have the energy to do anything worthwhile.
Just wear comfy clothes and make sure your car has cruise control. I've always done these long drives with a passenger which can be a lot of help. I'm not sure what I would do solo. Make sure you have enough music/podcasts/books on tape to keep you entertained.
^^^
This is the best answer I've seen so far. Don't try to drive through the night. I've tried that and it was a nightmare. I was so tired I had to pull off at a rest stop to get an hour or so of sleep. Then I went to the restroom and locked my keys in my car because I was so out of it. Not good.
I've done numerous 12-hour plus daytime drives without incident. It's not a big deal.
+1. Drive during the day. It is easier on your eyes.