Long distance driving tips

[jdogric12]

So the longest I've ever driven at once was about 9 or 10 hours. Next week I am going to be doing a 15-hour drive in one fell swoop. Any tips, or things to watch out for? I plan on stocking up on fresh fruit and 5-Hour Energy poppers. No Red Bulls, though, they make me sleepy after an hour or two. Perhaps a certain truck driving forumite will chime in???

[paologregorio]

I've done 8 hours solo on a motorcycle, and 5-6 hours in a car, but that's it solo. It was a little easier on the motorcycle, because it was a 1964 BSA, which has no fuel gauge, and the Speedo has no odometer, so I had to gauge my mileage by road sign, and since the tank only held about 2.5 U.S. gallons, stop every 100 miles or so for fuel. Having to stop broke things up.

In a car, I'd say the 5 hour energy bottles are a good tip, because those work for me wrt keeping me alert and awake for sustained periods. AC helps as well, so long as it isn't too cold. singing along with your CD changer or MP3 player helps as well. I'd suggest stopping somewhere along the way and resting for a few hours, because 15 hours is a long trip, especially when you're solo and there's no one to play slug bug with.

Also, if you get bored, and have unlimited cell phone minutes, and decent coverage in the area you're driving through, you could probably catch up with a few friends via mobile phone I had a nice chat with a couple of siblings during my last trip to San Jose.

[jdogric12]

Thanks! I reckon I'll stop for lunch at a decent sit-down place off the highway somewheres.

Note to self before moving north: stop using y'all, reckon, and somewheres.

[bosco64]

Note to self before moving north: stop using y'all, reckon, and somewheres.

Nah, you'll be still saying "y'all"; you're heading to the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Cradle of the Confederacy!

Y'all have a safe trip next week!

[rickenbrother]

Every time I'd been in Virginia, I heard y'alling all over the place!

[ajish4]

One bit of advice,

If you see this guy.............DON'T STOP!

[jps]

Good luck Jdog, the longest I've done in one haul is about 12 hours, with rest stops: the scenery didn't hurt, either, driving through Arizona and New Mexico.

[atomic_punk]

I did 23 hours from Michigan to Miami once. It was fun, once we got into Florida I let my sister drive so I could crash in the back seat. I looked up after about 20 minutes and she was doing 55 on the freeway, I said, pull over, I'm driving....and finished the trip.
Keys for me, great music, start out at night so when it is daytime you will be less likely to inadvertently fall asleep.

[bluewhale]

... Next week I am going to be doing a 15-hour drive in one fell swoop. Any tips ... ?

I've been told that chewing on a piece of gum can help prevent falling asleep at the wheel.

[beatbyrd]

So the longest I've ever driven at once was about 9 or 10 hours. Next week I am going to be doing a 15-hour drive in one fell swoop. Any tips, or things to watch out for? I plan on stocking up on fresh fruit and 5-Hour Energy poppers.

When I was 29, a friend and I drove his van (fully loaded with equipment) towing my van (fully loaded with equipment) from Los Angeles to Hartford, CT. - non-stop*. Let me qualify 'non-stop'. We did a 3 hour stop at a Sears to replace a tire and we'd stop for a one hour meal break occasionally. Around 3200 miles in less than 72 hours, as I recall. It was over 100 degrees most of the way and his van had no AC. The towing meant speeds under 60 MPH. There were a number of very close calls on the trip, including some interesting fish-tailing with the blown tire, but we made it safely.
Being a lot older and wiser now, I look back at that trip in complete disbelief at how crazy we were. If I were making your 15 hour SOLO trip, I would err on the side of caution and break it into 2 days - 9 hours on day 1 (which you have done) and the rest after a decent night's sleep, a shower, and a meal or two. Total dollar cost would be, what, 100 bucks for a reasonable room and some food? The risk of falling asleep or even reacting too slowly to a hazard while tired could be catastrophic. A hundred bucks seems like a small price to pay to avoid potential trouble. You'd also be less likely to push the speed up, trying to get there faster because you were getting tired.
Slow and steady wins the race.... Get there safely. That's my old fogey advice. Tom

[kiramdear]

I also would break it into two days' driving, relax somewhere mid-way, and arrive fresh and cheerful.

[teb]

Obviously, there is no truly safe way to do this, but there are those times when there may not be other options. I think my longest straight shot was 23-24 hours from Champaign, Illinois to Albuquerque, New Mexico driving a hot-air balloon van loaded with propane tanks. We had to fly over football games in Champaign on Saturday (advertising) and then immediately head to ABQ for the Balloon Fiesta. I generally drive the speed limit so that I don't have the added stress of watching for cops, I make frequent short stops to stretch and get some fresh air and just take it easy in general. If you start getting drowsy, you can use the old WWII pilot's trick for a little quick stimulation. It sounds silly, but it works. Very lightly, run the tip of your tongue along the roof of your mouth. It kind of tickles and it will temporarily wake you up. Realistically though, if there is any way to break the trip up into two sections with a comfortable night's rest between them, it's a lot more pleasant. Remember, there are a whole lot of people out there bent on running into you. If you take ten typical cars you pass, the number of those drivers who are drunk, distracted, sleepy, on the phone, texting, messing with their kids, not paying attention or just plain dumb is not a comforting thought. The more alert you are to watch out for them and the less like them you are, the better.

[egosheep]

I drive from Atlanta to Toronto 5-6 times a year and while I have done it in on go, I normally drive 770 miles to Ann arbor, sleep there, then it's just a few hours more to TO.

Lifesavers for me are plenty of varied fruit/snacks, long phone conversations, and the last few times I have put the iPod on shuffle which I never usually do. Jumping around randomly between 8,000 songs tends to keep me awake.

One other tip: when I feel sleepy, I often stop at a gas station and just sleep for an hour or so. When I wake up I'm always ready to roll.

[ken_j]

If your schedule is that tight then see if you can get a freind to share in the driving and spring for his/her return flight.

[weemac]

I also would break it into two days' driving, relax somewhere mid-way, and arrive fresh and cheerful.

And alive!

Eden.