What's the longest distance or most time you'd consider driving somewhere you needed to go instead of flying? As a car enthusiast I'm always willing to make an excuse to drive to places. Especially if it's less than a day, I'd drive instead of fly. But my upper limit is probably two days before I'd rather just fly. Do you purposefully drive everywhere instead of fly just to enjoy your car more, no matter the distance? Or do you have an upper limit where the gas cost, hotel cost, etc., is not worth it?
Context: Driving from San Francisco to Seattle in two days, and after looking at the gas, hotel, parking costs I wonder if flying would have been better, and I'm just wasting money and putting miles on my car for no reason.
I've done 8-10 hour trips before, but after about 6 hours I have to start slapping myself in the face or screaming to music just to not fall asleep. I sleep a lot.These days, I'd keep it to 3-4 hours.
>>28942597I'd much rather drive cross country than fly, it's not always possible given time constraints though.I drove out from Portland OR to KCMO a couple times in college, I wouldn't trade those memories for anything. It goes a long ways to appreciate our country driving across it. Flying at this point is probably more convenient, and cheaper -- but driving will always be an adventure :)
I drove from NJ to California
>>28942597out here in the west there's many places that you can't fly into so you get used to long distances. I drove from seattle to yellowstone a few years back and thats about as far as i'd go, otherwise im flying to denver or salt lake
Could get rid of some hotel cost if i drive this in one day. Is it possible?
one "day" of driving is like max 8 hours total for me now and I'm not having fun anymore if it's hotel, wake up and start driving again.
>>28942617Yeah but the experience depends on the vehicle. It would be easy in a big comfy highway cruiser but a nightmare in a tiny buzzy econobox screaming away at 4000rpm. You obviously want comfy seats. Make sure you get up and stretch a few times. Blood clots and embolisms and shit can happen if you sit for 12+ hours at a time
>>28942597It mainly depends on the circumstances:Do I need my car at the destination?If it is within a city, probably not, if it is in the countryside probably yes. Cost of a rental car?Also how much baggage do I want to take with me? Just clothes and a bag? Tools, Sports equipment, bikes?How many passengers? Someone to change with?
>>28942617I had a friend that would drive from Tampa FL. To Vegas nonstop.27 hours.I cant do it, im like >>28942603 so 100% on your ability.
>>28942617It's a real slog and it will realistically take longer than that estimate says. The longest runs that I'll do without any hotels is about 8 or 9 hours.
>>28942617With fuel and food stops you're at 15-16 hours. Last time I did a drive that long I got a hotel halfway
>>28942617driving one way>13 hours>$161 in gas (840 miles / 30mpg * $5.75/gallon)>add another $100-$200 if you get a hotelflying>3 hours (including security, checking in, etc)>$90unless you have a ton of shit you're bringing or actually enjoy that drive, just fly>>28942597depends on where i'm going and what i'm doing. but usually 4-6 hours unless i can snag a really cheap flight
>>28942790Don't forget the taxi trip to and from airport + renting a car. I'd say it depends if you need a car where you're going. Personally, I'd fly and rent a car. It saves me 2 days driving round trip and time is worth more than money.t. Paid $400 for airpor parking
>>28942597if I need to be over 900 miles in 12hrs im just not going.
>>28942617yes, easily.what's with all the retards in this thread who think driving all day is some feat. It's boring obviously but pretty easy. Put on some music or an audiobook you'll be done in no time.
>>28942597I live in Chicago and I like to take road trips by renting either a pickup truck, or a minivan where I spent anywhere from 1 to 2 weeks living out of the vehicle, driving around the United States. I never get a hotel room, I only sleep in the rental. I shower at truck stops, or camp grounds with nice amenities.I refuse to drive west towards Colorado or the West Coast anymore, so in that case I will fly there, and rent the vehicle from Denver, and do my trip that way. I typically drive 3,000 to 4,000 miles per trip.Downside is that I am limited with what I can fly with.If I am exploring the Appalachians, South, or North East, I will rent locally, and drive from Chicago with everything I need.That being said, I've driven from Chicago to LA, Portland, Denver, Reno before, and I have zero interest in doing that again. I'd rather fly, and spend money on buying supplies when I get there that I couldn't fly with, like a cooler, air mattress, tent, etc. These items become one time use that I give away or throw away when I fly back.My only limit is time. I would love to drive to Denver again but never take a single highway. All backroads, many stops, many detours. Unfortunately, I simply dont have the extra 2, 3 days for this type of trip anymore.Fuel cost is irrelevant to me.The longest I've driven solo was from Chicago to LA via Denver/Cheyenne, Reno, Las Vegas, and back through Phoenix, Tulsa over two weeks staying and visiting friends in each major city.The longest I've driven nonstop was from Chicago to Miami to visit my GF. It was over 24 hours. I took a lot of Adderall.
>>28942790I actually was doing the calculation before lol, the uber rides to the airport are actually a significant portion of the cost. Remember, flying round trip = 4 ubers. >>$161 in gas (840 miles / 30mpg * $5.75/gallon)LOL. I was planning to do it in my camaro, so more like 19 mpg. And yeah two hotels, maybe if you cheap out its $90 at motel 6. > actually enjoy that driveWould be my first time doing the drive. Idk maybe someone can convince me that going through norcal and oregon this way is absolutely worth it. I'm starting to lean towards no. So it isn't completely about minimizing cost, but the time and cost difference are starting to not look worth it.>>28942802Nope don't need a car in seattle.
I drove from New England to northwestern New Mexico over the course of 3 days. I left Saturday morning and arrived Monday around 6pm.Aside from day 2 being an absolute slog through the nothingness that is Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, and a good chunk of Colorado, days 1 and 3 were fucking beautiful. Coming down out of the mountains and into this valley with a huge lake in Eagle Nest, NM was amazing and I'll never forget it.
>>289425973 hours. Beyond that it's faster to just fly. I won't even drive from Dallas to Houston.
>>28942597I mean I get paid to do it so I drive anywhere. Anything over 24 hours straight is a long drive. 40 hours is roughly but doable with a 2-4 hour nap every morning.
>>28942617>Is it possible?easily. over that distance you could probably beat the gps time by an hour if the road conditions are good. for a car enthusiast board the people here sure are pussies about driving.
>>28942601Sleep in car and travel couldn’t be cheaper
