AARoads Forum

I'm curious how you all road trip. I'm always amazed by some of your travels and was curious how you personally do it. I've found that I've falsely assumed that some of you regularly take massive trips, while instead you've accumulated mileage on lots of shorter trips.

How many day trips do you venture on per month? per year?

How many overnight trips do you venture on per month? per year?

When you go overnight, do you usually stay in a hotel, sleep in your vehicle, or stay elsewhere?

For long distance trips, how long do you go?

Do you use paid vacation time for your long distance trips?

Are your long distance trips usually circular or do you fly somewhere and rent a car?

Have you ever driven all the way across the USA?

How often do you eat packed groceries versus fast food versus sit-down food on a trip?

When you travel, do you make the roads the main attraction, or do you work the roads around a main attraction (like visiting a family member or a destination city)?

How often do you stop to look at nearby sites (anything from roadside americana to stopping at a museum or national park)?

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AM
I'm curious how you all road trip. I'm always amazed by some of your travels and was curious how you personally do it. I've found that I've falsely assumed that some of you regularly take massive trips, while instead you've accumulated mileage on lots of shorter trips.

How many day trips do you venture on per month? per year?

How many overnight trips do you venture on per month? per year?

When you go overnight, do you usually stay in a hotel, sleep in your vehicle, or stay elsewhere?

For long distance trips, how long do you go?

Do you use paid vacation time for your long distance trips?

Are your long distance trips usually circular or do you fly somewhere and rent a car?

Have you ever driven all the way across the USA?

How often do you eat packed groceries versus fast food versus sit-down food on a trip?

When you travel, do you make the roads the main attraction, or do you work the roads around a main attraction (like visiting a family member or a destination city)?

How often do you stop to look at nearby sites (anything from roadside americana to stopping at a museum or national park)?

Good question. I'll try to go bit-by-bit, keeping in mind that 1) I myself do not do the driving due to medical issues and 2) most trips to date have been with family members.

1) I have never just randomly driven all the way across the country. (That may be happening sometime in 2014/15...my mom may be heading to Reno, NV for a job there.)
2) Day trips per year: 1-2
3) Long distance trips: 1 per year, and when this is done, I stay in a hotel for the overnights. This body, with two titanium rods in there, doesn't like sleeping in the car or on a hard ground. Vacation isn't used because I don't work outside the home...and if I'm on the road, it's as likely to be for stormchasing as it is vacation!
4) Stopping at places: Unfortunately, it's rare. I need to get off the beaten path more, because really, as they say, "All you see on the interstate is interstate."
5) Usually, the trips are very circular. However, the next trip I take may change that.
6) Packed groceries vs sit-down vs fast food: This depends on the purpose of the trip. If the trip is to let's say...board a cruise ship, we pack a bunch of snacks and then it's otherwise fast food on the way unless there's an IHOP or somesuch nearby. If we're driving to a timeshare, we'll do the packing of snacks, fast food on the drives, and then once we're there, we may buy a few groceries and then other meals eat at the local joints. On a trip to Anaheim, California in 2012, I ate a bunch of fast food. It probably wasn't good for me...though I did enjoy my first In-and-Out and Jack in the Box experiences.
7) The road taken is based on: 1) Where are we going, and 2) What's the fastest way there? If it were up to me, I'd be on a road clinching spree...but it's not. That said, I love being able to say, "I clinched road x in state y", because I got I-95 and I-16 in Georgia, I-75 in Kentucky and Tennessee, I-70 in Illinois, Ohio, and WV, and I-64 in Illinois and Indiana in this manner.

I like to drive about 20 hours a day.

I like to poo about 20 hours a day.

Just a quick partial response to Laura's OP, since I'm on the road right now (in Laredo TX).

I average about one overnight trip a month, but that really fluctuates, with some really long trips followed by many months at home.

While my truck has a camper shell with a sleeping bag in back, even when I'm driving the truck rather than my car I almost always stay in a motel.  I'm really a four-walls-and-a-roof kind of guy, don't like to camp -- but it helps when I go places where lodgings are completely unavailable, either out in the middle of nowhere or the local lodgings are full.  I do try to get daily Internet access, which is easier with motels but many campgrounds have wi-fi as do many fast-food places if I couldn't get my Internet fix at a motel.

I usually drive about twelve hours a day, depending on available daylight (I don't like night driving) but also my endurance doesn't allow for much more than twelve hours even on long summer days.

I'm retired, but when I was working I used paid vacation time for my road trips (as a senior Federal worker, that was about five weeks a year).  The downside was that my job's workload had irregular and unpredictable fluctuations, which made it possible to quickly schedule road trips in the lulls (not having to make plane reservations was a plus there) but also forced me to cancel or reschedule trips.

I rarely do one-way car rentals, so even when I fly out (usually to the west coast or beyond) I do a circular itinerary returning me to the same airport. 

I've done about a dozen cross-country road trips, including two from the east coast to Alaska and back (those two trips included other destinations, each lasting eight weeks or more).

My road diet is pretty much fast food that I can eat behind the wheel, or a sandwich (usually from Subway) I can eat in my motel room at the end of the day.  I shop at grocery stores mainly to restock on sodas.

My road trip level varies, but I probably do five overnight trips or so per year.

When I do longer trips, such as to the US Southwest, I tend to stay in hotels that I usually book day of during my trip.  I tend not to make a hard and fast itinerary, but rather have specific objectives of things I like to see.  Sometimes, for things such as touring Alcatraz, I need to make an advanced booking to ensure I get a spot.  I tend to fly to destinations further away, and drive to places within a one day drive.

When I am touring in Ontario and Canada I am much more likely to sleep in the car, or camp, but still sometimes stay in hotels or motels.  I camped a lot when I was younger, but have gotten away from it as my level of disposal income has increased.

I tend to eat a lot of fast food when I am on the road, though I try to eat at places that I don't have at home.  I also tend to stop at a grocery store on the first day of a multi-day road trip to pick up a jug of water and some snacks, such as nuts, and energy bars, so that I don't have to eat fatty foods ALL of the time.

On a road trip, my passenger seat tends to be a complicated arrangement of snacks, road maps and cameras.  It's a good time.

I do quite a few "local" trips for work.  Usually to Peoria, Rockford, or somewhere else within a few hours.  I do a few on my own, probably 6-8 times per year right now.

I haven't had an overnight trip in a while.  When we have them, sometimes we will say in a hotel, sometimes we drive straight through.

That depends on the destination.

Usually, I do my trips on weekends, and usually within a day.

I don't typically fly for a road trip unless it is to help family move from one area to another (or Hawaii).

No, I have not driven all the way across the US.  I've driven from California to Illinois (and the reverse).

I'd rather travel light and eat out cheaply.  I tend to bring small snacks and drinks.

Usually there is a destination.

Sometimes, but sometimes these are the destination, or known destinations along the way.

Quote from: NE2 on March 03, 2014, 05:10:53 AM
I like to poo about 20 hours a day.

Always knew you were full of shit.  :pan:
/Left yourself open to that one.

I have done all of the above except coast to coast on trips although I am planning a coast to coast under 50 hours on my motorcycle. I have been coast to coast and border to border, and across, but not in one trip. 

I still camp, stay in hotels, free load off of relatives and friends. The last time I actually slept in the car for any time has been a few years ago.  However, I do not hesitate to pull over for a nap in the car or on the motorcycle (Iron Butt Hotel). I always have snacks, water, and taking actual food along is done at times. 

I am now retired so vacation is not in the equation unless my wife goes with me in the car. I have her still working. Hey, someone has too.  :bigass:  In the past I had to plan around vacation, kids school, or long weekends.  Day trips are often now. I try to do at least one multi night road trip each month.  Two years ago I think between motorcycle trips and car trips I had 50,000 miles by July 1. 

I like to keep flying to a min. as I hate airports. I would rather drive to a place in two or three days than fly in one. Usually regardless of where I am going, getting there is at least half the fun. I can turn a 200 mile trip into 400 without trying.  I like back roads but I will super slab it at times and run over 20 hrs just to get somewhere that has good stuff to do or good roads to ride on. 

Quote from: leroys73 on March 03, 2014, 11:40:03 AMa nap ... on the motorcycle

how does this work?  wouldn't you fall off once you fell asleep?

No, just prop yourself up with legs on handle bars and rest against a seat bag. I have just sat on the seat with my legs down and leaned back, caught a few zz's :sleep: for about 15-20 minutes and I am good for a few more hours.  Usually I find a picnic table to nap on, it is more comfortable. Some just lay beside their motorcycle. I don't. I will nap in the grass in a park.

So if you see a motorcyclist sleeping on a motorcycle or on a picnic table it might be me. Some do but I haven't done it for a real sleep, just naps.     

Quote from: leroys73 on March 03, 2014, 12:18:11 PM
No, just prop yourself up with legs on handle bars and rest against a seat bag. I have just sat on the seat with my legs down and leaned back, caught a few zz's :sleep: for about 15-20 minutes and I am good for a few more hours.  Usually I find a picnic table to nap on, it is more comfortable. Some just lay beside their motorcycle. I don't. I will nap in the grass in a park.

So if you see a motorcyclist sleeping on a motorcycle or on a picnic table it might be me. Some do but I haven't done it for a real sleep, just naps.   

and now I know!

I've definitely slept on a picnic table before.  sleeping bag and pillow?  perfect. 

You bet. Sleep when and where you need it.

You guys remind me of my rail fan friends.   They rent a car or drive their own, and sleep trackside.  Small tent and sleeping bags they carry.  Fast food all the way on their rail trips.

I was often wondering if anyone has done that only roadside instead of trackside.  You came close.

All of my multi-day trips have photographic evidence of them posted on my site, so you can get a pretty good idea of how my travels usually are (except for those routes for which I've pretty much quit taking pictures, like I-79 in West Virginia, since I've been on it so often).

My idea of roughing it is a motel room with basic cable and no refrigerator, so no camping for me. I try to find inexpensive accommodations, however, and am a member of several motel chains' rewards programs so I try to stay in places that are running promotions for extra points, free nights, etc.

I have never flown somewhere to take a road trip. And I always drive my own vehicle instead of renting.

I take plenty of pop, and I take along a cooler in case my room doesn't have a fridge, and I also have a DC-powered cooler in my vehicle to keep the drinks cold. I will take some snacks along but generally, I drive through somewhere for lunch during the day (unless I'm in Sheetz country) and at night, most of the time I get fast food and take it back to my room, although sometimes I will dine at a sit-down place.

I use vacation or comp time for my trips. Often, I will use a sick day for my getaway day and will have a doctor or dentist appointment in the morning and then leave later that afternoon. On several trips, I've done my annual optometrist visit at Morehead and then headed east on I-64 afterwards for the trip.

I try to get where I'm going before dark, for two purposes: 1.) photography, and 2.) deer. I'm not a morning person, so it takes an effort to get up and get going in the AM.

I have never driven all the way across the country. The longest trip I have done was a 10-day or so vacation with my dad and brother about 23 or so years ago. That trip was basically I-64/I-70 to Grand Junction, US 550 (Million Dollar Highway) and US 666 via the Four Corners to Gallup, I-40 and Petrified Forest and US 180 to the Grand Canyon, then back south to I-40 to US 93 to Vegas, then I-15/US 89 to Yellowstone, then US 14/I-90 east via Mt. Rushmore and the Black Hills, then I-29/I-80/I-74 back home.

I would not road trip on a boat. I would totally road trip on a goat.

  I try to take at least 2 5+ day road trips per year.  The purpose of my trip is to clinch as many interstates and counties that I can, when I'm alone.  I generally won't hit any tourist attractions when alone.  If I have a friend traveling with me, I'll pick one that can tolerate my road geeking while going to/from some attraction. 

  I always stay in motels; whether alone or traveling with someone.  I don't like to drive in the dark in unfamiliar areas, so I've never napped in my car while traveling.   I would, however, if I was in a remote enough area.

  If I'm alone I'll eat fast food almost exclusively.  Exception being if there's a microwave in my motel room and a store to grocery shop at is convenient.  In which case, I'll likely get some sort of microwavable dinner ad eat in the room.  Other than that, I don't look for grocery stores on trips.  I bring water/soda and snacks for the trip.  When I travel with a friend, breakfast will often be fast food or continental at the motel (if it's at all decent-some are).  For dinner, I will go out to a sit down meal with whomever I'm with.  If I'm alone and only a sit down place is available at dinner, I'll either eat at the bar (if available) or order it for take out. 

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AMHow many day trips do you venture on per month? per year?

Now?  Virtually zero--but as an undergraduate, I took about four to six day roadtrips per month, always on weekends (I only rarely exceeded a one-way distance limit of about 200 miles).  I have had a visit to the Woolaroc ranch near Bartlesville in mind for a while (150 miles one way), but haven't actually done it.  Similarly, I haven't made trips to Oklahoma City to see the new art museum, Stillwater to use the OSU library, or to the Maxwell wildlife refuge to say Hi to the bison, though these are all day trips I have seriously considered in the past year.

QuoteHow many overnight trips do you venture on per month? per year?

Per year, I think the average works out to two.  In 2012 it was Colorado and New Mexico for about five days; in 2013 it was northeastern Kansas for three days, northwest Arkansas for about four days, and then northeastern Kansas again for two days.  When I was younger I travelled more often, but nowadays I have less appetite for the schedule disruption involved in picking up and going somewhere.

QuoteWhen you go overnight, do you usually stay in a hotel, sleep in your vehicle, or stay elsewhere?

Usually I stay in a motel.  In the past I have camped, especially on long roadtrips where it made sense to carry camping equipment on a just-in-case basis and on-road Internet access for forward booking was much less reliable than it is now.  I didn't camp on the Colorado/New Mexico roadtrip in 2012, however, because I was able to cover all but the last two nights with advance reservations.  I am a tent camper, but for comfort reasons I generally prefer to stay at RV campgrounds, since they generally attract a somewhat older and generally much more mature clientele.

QuoteFor long distance trips, how long do you go?

It varies.  Colorado/New Mexico in 2012 rolled over at 2000 miles exactly.  I took a monthlong roadtrip in 2003 (KS-NE-WY-ID-MT-AB-BC-AB-BC-WA-OR-CA-NV-UT-CO-KS) that ran to about 10,000 miles.

QuoteAre your long distance trips usually circular or do you fly somewhere and rent a car?

I usually return to my starting point--I am not a fan of fly-drive arrangements.  The main exception was a trip to Alaska in 2004 I made with two other people (usually I travel alone).  I floated the idea of driving the Alaska Highway, but my companions didn't feel they had a week to spare just for the transit to Alaska, so we flew into Anchorage and rented locally.  Another exception was a trip to southern Arizona in 2009 where I flew into Tucson and borrowed a car from a relative for local travel.  When I fly somewhere for leisure travel (a scenario that comes into play more often in western Europe than in the US), I generally try to get around on the ground by rail.

QuoteHave you ever driven all the way across the USA?

Nope, not in a single trip.  I have done quite a few Kansas-to-coast trips in both directions though.

QuoteHow often do you eat packed groceries versus fast food versus sit-down food on a trip?

Typically I try to have at least one (usually two) sit-down meals a day, and to carry nonperishable snacks (Cheez-It crackers, beef jerky, etc.) and long-lasting fruit and vegetables (apples, grapes, carrots, etc.) for eating inside the car.  I snack while I drive but I have a rule of never buying food for eating on the road that I cannot handle entirely by feel, preferably without having to lean far out of my usual driving position.  The front seat is for food and travel material; the floor in front of it is for a trash receptacle (generally a reused plastic grocery bag).

A sit-down meal might be in a fast-food restaurant if I cannot find a better alternative, but usually I do try to find a restaurant with table service, especially at dinnertime once I have checked into my overnight accommodation.  I never try to eat fast food behind the wheel because I feel that only sets the stage for hard-to-clean messes.

Besides the schedule disruption, another reason I don't do very many overnight roadtrips is constipation.  It is difficult to avoid on a steady diet of restaurant food and the kinds of tough, hard, or chunky meats and vegetables that will keep without refrigeration.  I usually double my daily apple ration to compensate, but that does not always help.  Travel also typically means that coffee (which acts as a mild laxative) is consumed after showering and dressing in the morning, rather than before, and that leads to its own comfort issues.

QuoteWhen you travel, do you make the roads the main attraction, or do you work the roads around a main attraction (like visiting a family member or a destination city)?

I usually have a series of landmark destinations in mind (typically chosen from the AAA-designated star attractions--now called "GEM" for "Great Experience for Members"--listed in AAA TourBooks for the states or provinces I am visiting), but I try to route along highways which have scenic interest, or which just look interesting to me on the map.  I once drove on SH 28 in Idaho to see if it was as straight and as flat as it looked on the map (it was, but the mountain views were stunning).  I also stop to visit friends when I travel and, for me, these are landmark destinations in their own right.

I don't aim to clinch routes or counties.  What I do try to do is to avoid retreads, especially on routes that are not scenic and which I do not otherwise have to use for short-term commuting (e.g. I-880 while spending a few days with a friend in Berkeley).

QuoteHow often do you stop to look at nearby sites (anything from roadside americana to stopping at a museum or national park)?

I consider the national parks landmark destinations, so I don't just visit them casually, though much of the time I confine myself to auto touring along the park roads with an occasional hourlong hike along marked trails (in my experience, auto touring and multi-day backcountry hikes are not an easy mix).  A lot of what people would call "roadside Americana" (examples:  the Garden of Eden in Lucas, Kansas, or Carhenge near Alliance, Nebraska) are in fact landmark destinations for me, though I have made casual unplanned stops at the Corn Palace and Wall Drug (both in the I-90 corridor in South Dakota).  I have passed Boot Hill in Dodge City many times, but never once visited.

I take a few regional trips now and then.  I used to take more when gas and the economy were better.

To answer the overnight trip question, I used to do two a year, now I am lucky to get one in.

Motels, usually the budget type, although in the Northeast its hard to find them these days.  Twice I stayed in my car at a rest area, and once I camped in my car at a KOA.

I usually go for five days, but I did go for 11 days when I went to South Dakota.  Mostly traveling as I only spent two nights there.

As far as drive or fly to drive question goes I have done both.  Did five fly to drives and I cannot count how many drive only I have done.  On route to South Dakota I drove through Kansas City and redid my previous year's fly-drive where I flew into KCI and rented a car to drive to Vegas and back there.  I even took some of the I-35, US 54, and I-40 route the second time around to get photos missed the first time.

Nope have not made it yet from coast to coast, but almost covered the ground in between.  Bartow, CA to Las Vegas, NV is the only exception of pavement not completed.

For food mostly fast food.  Cracker Barrel, Whataburger, Jack In The Box, and even other small regional chains.  Pizza Hut is one, as I very rarely eat them at home, and lately Golden Corral.

As far as roads go, yes roads are main focus, but sometimes if a friend is a long its whatever he wants.

Last question is that I do wander off to see other sites.

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AM
I'm curious how you all road trip. I'm always amazed by some of your travels and was curious how you personally do it. I've found that I've falsely assumed that some of you regularly take massive trips, while instead you've accumulated mileage on lots of shorter trips.

How many day trips do you venture on per month? per year?

How many overnight trips do you venture on per month? per year?

When you go overnight, do you usually stay in a hotel, sleep in your vehicle, or stay elsewhere?

For long distance trips, how long do you go?

Do you use paid vacation time for your long distance trips?

Are your long distance trips usually circular or do you fly somewhere and rent a car?

Have you ever driven all the way across the USA?

How often do you eat packed groceries versus fast food versus sit-down food on a trip?

When you travel, do you make the roads the main attraction, or do you work the roads around a main attraction (like visiting a family member or a destination city)?

How often do you stop to look at nearby sites (anything from roadside americana to stopping at a museum or national park)?

We made a goal for 20 day trips this year.  So far we've been on one.  We do the massive annual trips you mention.  We usually go out west and stay for 1-2 weeks in motels, hitting as many National Park as we can.  Most in one trip were 10 parks & 3 monuments.  We drive from home and generally bring a cooler for lunch, have a motel intercontinental breakfast, and eat a good dinner at a restaurant.  I look at as many old roads (and bridges) that I can get away with.

I do about 3-4x more overnight trips than day trips.  I usually can dedicate an entire weekend, so I may as well go ahead and do so.

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AM
How many day trips do you venture on per month? per year?

In the summer months, I more or less take a day trip every other weekend. In the winter, it's rare.

Quote
How many overnight trips do you venture on per month? per year?

Nary a three day weekend goes by that I don't take a roadtrip, so that covers MLK Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, the fourth of July sometimes, Labor Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day.

In addition, I'll take 1-2 more substantial trips per year.

Quote
When you go overnight, do you usually stay in a hotel, sleep in your vehicle, or stay elsewhere?

Depends on weather and time of year. If there's family nearby, I'll try to crash at their place. Otherwise, I use hotels. I stick with Wyndham and Hilton for most of my travels, using Wyndham in smaller towns and Hilton (usually Hamptons) in bigger cities.

I try really hard to collect and conserve rewards points. For instance, on my St Louis trip I'll be on the road for ten nights, but I'm only paying for a hotel for three of them. One night is with family, my roommate in St Louis is covering another night, and then I have five rewards nights saved up (and I'm careful to only burn reward points at best bang for the buck hotels. You have to be tricky about it, but it's doable), and that helps pay for road trips a lot.

I do enjoy sleeping under the stars, but that only happens once or twice a summer. I don't want to see people if I do that though (unless I'm with people I know)- I just want to drive down a logging road on some public land, find some dead wood, build a fire, and go to sleep, and that can be tricky to do sometimes (especially in a rental car) and rules out campgrounds. On occasion if I rent a midsize sedan I'll fold the back seat down, put my feet in the trunk, and crash that way. My Jeep Liberty is about 3 inches too short to sleep in comfortably.

Quote
For long distance trips, how long do you go?

Usually three day weekends, since I don't have to burn vacation. I do make 1-2 longer trips per year. At ten days, the one this week will be my longest alone (I have done longer with friends in the past). The last few years my longest trips were five or six days, but I'm hoping to change that now that I have a job with generous vacation policies.

Quote
Are your long distance trips usually circular or do you fly somewhere and rent a car?

Always circular. I'm probably going to break that this summer for the NYC meet, as I plan on flying out there and renting a car to drive to Quebec. It's not that I'm opposed to flying and renting, but it's a logistical hassle to book plane tickets a couple months in advance and airfare isn't terribly cheap out of Montana to begin with.

I also work for the government. Time off is easy to come by, but I'm not exactly swimming in cash, so cost savings at the expense of time almost always trumps convenience at the expense of cost.

I do usually rent a car for road trips if the numbers add up.

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Have you ever driven all the way across the USA?

My longest would be western Idaho to Portland Maine and back. Not quite coast-to-coast, but just about.

Quote
Do you use paid vacation time for your long distance trips?

I effectively get 16 vacation days a year in addition to paid holidays. I use two of them at Thanksgiving time and two of them at Christmas time. That leaves me with 12 extra days- I'll generally burn two of them on stupid stuff. So that really leaves me with 2 weeks. I'm stingy about them and try to save them for those bigger trips, which is how I'll get to drive to St Louis via Georgia this weekend and fly to New York and spend a week in French Canada this summer.

Next year will probably be one big trip (10 day) and one smaller trip (5 day), and then in 2016 I'd like to do a big eastern Europe trip, depending on finances.

Quote
How often do you eat packed groceries versus fast food versus sit-down food on a trip?

I buy snacks in advance and pack those. For lunch, I try to find a carryout place that is not a chain or is a regional chain (my affinity for Steak n Shake is well known). If there's a real good sit down restaurant that I can't pass up, I'll suck it up, but I'd rather maximize my daylight time on the road.

I scout restaurants well in advance. Some people would hate traveling with me because I more or less time everything to the second before I hit the road, so I'm not wasting time on the road trying to figure out what to do.

I only buy groceries in advance if I don't know where I'll get food- usually if I'm planning on camping.

For dinner, I'm more apt to sit down, but I sitll don't really like going to sit down restaurants alone unless it's Denny's or something, so I still try to find a local carryout place.

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When you travel, do you make the roads the main attraction, or do you work the roads around a main attraction (like visiting a family member or a destination city)?

It seems like most of my major roadtrips are roadmeet centered and will be for a while, so I guess that's that. For 3 day weekends, I let the roads steer me to my destination. I clinched the state highway systems in Arizona, Washington, and Wyoming and I'd like to finish Idaho up this year, so the roads are in total control there. For the longer trip, it's usually a bit of a hybrid, where I have things I want to see, and then I see if I can work the roads around that.

I nearly always...if it's a three day weekend, I'll leave after work on Friday and drive in the dark until I get near unfamiliar territory, then wake up in the morning and there's new stuff.

I drive sunrise to sunset in unfamiliar territory and try to avoid interstate as much as possible. For the trip coming up, I'm planning on 5,620 miles. 909 of those miles will be on the interstate. 104 of those miles will be on interstate outside of Montana, so yeah.

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How often do you stop to look at nearby sites (anything from roadside americana to stopping at a museum or national park)?

I try to work it in. Most times I don't go inside, just look at the outside, but I try to find quick and easy roadside attractions along the way. Sometimes I make time if I feel like I need to- I'm planning on spending a few hours at the New River Gorge next week, and on my trip to the Wichita meet last summer I checked out Nauvoo, Illinois pretty well. I try to get my culture by listening to local radio and eating at non-chains while driving off interstate, as opposed to necessarily getting out of the car. 

Before I began building cars I would take one day trip a month. Since then I've cut back a lot. I rarely took longer trips due to not want to leave my dog alone. I usually get fast food for both lunch and dinner, unless I'm with someone else, when I'll eat at a sit down place.

I don't know how you guys manage on fast food for days on end while driving. Being sedentary all that time thanks me feel bad enough — there's no way I can ingest 1200 calories per meal on top of that.

I find supermarkets are actually a really good way to eat something decent while not spending a lot of money and time on it. They usually have some of the healthier take out options, and particularly if you carry a cooler goes it a long way.

I tend to drink a lot of water, which can be a problem if you're trying to keep moving and you have to keep stopping to use the bathroom. My compromise is usually to eat fruits and vegetables, which provide a measure of thirst relief while not filling up the bladder so fast. During clementine season I have those things rolling around the truck all the time – easy enough to peel even when driving.

Don't get me wrong — I still stop and get a hot meal every now and then, particularly if it's at a place where locals will chitchat with you about what's what.  And I try to make sure to do stops that involve a lot of walking from time to time, because again, it's no good for your body to be sitting in the car for long periods for days.

Quote from: Pete from Boston on March 03, 2014, 05:21:20 PM
I don't know how you guys manage on fast food for days on end while driving. Being sedentary all that time thanks me feel bad enough — there's no way I can ingest 1200 calories per meal on top of that.

I stop and get out of the vehicle to eat, even if it is Wendy's, Subway, or something else.

QuoteI find supermarkets are actually a really good way to eat something decent while not spending a lot of money and time on it. They usually have some of the healthier take out options, and particularly if you carry a cooler goes it a long way.

It depends on what you buy at a restaurant.  However, I find grocers to be very good for snacks and drinks.  They beat gas stations and vending machines on price and variety every time.  And sometimes they have a gas station as well.

Two long trips, several weekend trips each year.

Weekend trips
* 1-day: Out in the early morning, sometimes as early as 2 AM. Back by midnight. I'll stop to eat dinner once it gets dark, but otherwise I'm just driving.
* 2-3 day: Same as above, but I stay over somewhere. For St. Louis, for example, I have a decision to make: drive 5 hours Thursday night and stay in Youngstown, or leave at 2 AM on Friday morning and head straight through. I usually do the latter. Again, I only stop to eat once it's dark - usually I check into the hotel and then go eat, but if I'm getting in at a time when restaurants typically close (7:45, 8:30, etc.), I'll eat first.

Long trips (1 week or 2 week): I won't leave at 2 AM for these. I just drive sunrise to sunset. Typically there will be events or sights interspersed - sometimes a 14 hour day will only have 6-8 hours of driving, other times there will be 14.5 hours packed in. Otherwise the same as the 2-3 day trips.

If I'm running ahead, I'll spend more time at various sites (museums, roads) or detour to an old waterfall or bridge that I didn't know about but I see a sign for.

Food: I always dine out. I try to sample something local everywhere I go and avoid chains.

Types of trips: 1-day trips are always circular. 2-3 day trips usually are, but not always. 1-2 week trips used to be, but aren't anymore because I've exhausted this side of the country, and it saves so much time to fly halfway out and then continue.

How many day trips do you venture on per month? per year? 
I'll go for an all day excursion a couple of times a month.  I'll also take partial day trips when I can, so that is usually a few times a month there.

How many overnight trips do you venture on per month? per year? 
For the purposes of taking a road trip, I'd venture about 10 times a year.  I am not counting trips to visit family or friends who are not involved with our hobby, but of course, I'll combine some extracurricular road tripping on the way there or back.

When you go overnight, do you usually stay in a hotel, sleep in your vehicle, or stay elsewhere?
I stay with friends or family when possible, because it gives me a good opportunity to catch up with friends or family.  When that is not an option, I find I stay at a hotel.  I don't break the budget when that happens, but I'll also check Yelp or TripAdvisor when possible so I can find a clean room at a decent price.  I rarely sleep in my vehicle anymore, only to take a nap at a tail end of a trip when it's a late night and I'm only a couple of hours from home.

For long distance trips, how long do you go?
It can range anywhere from a few days to a week and a half.

Do you use paid vacation time for your long distance trips?
Depends on the circumstance.  Some of my three day trips I try to schedule during a holiday weekend so I can maximize my time off and maximize my mileage.  A week long trip will always involve some form of using vacation time.

Are your long distance trips usually circular or do you fly somewhere and rent a car?
Usually circular, although I do fly a few times a year.  Since I live in New York, I will almost always fly if I am visiting the West.  There's also occasions for long distance trips that I rent a car when the trip involves no flying, as to give my car a break and not put so many miles on my own vehicle.

Have you ever driven all the way across the USA?
Yes.  I went cross country once growing up, going from New York to Oregon, but I was a passenger then as I did not have a driver's license.  A couple of years back, I flew out to Salt Lake City and drove back to Upstate New York.  Later this year, I am planning to drive from New York to Oregon and fly back.

How often do you eat packed groceries versus fast food versus sit-down food on a trip?  I used to be in the practice of going to a grocery store as opposed to grabbing fast food or having a sit down meal.  Going to the grocery store on most of these trips is a habit I should get back into, since it's generally healthier.  Having a sit down meal at the end of the day is a nice way to cap off the day, though.

When you travel, do you make the roads the main attraction, or do you work the roads around a main attraction (like visiting a family member or a destination city)?  I tend to work roads around a main attraction.  As fascinating as roads, bridges and signs are, roads take me to places I want to go, like waterfalls, hiking, historical attractions, cities, national or state parks, etc.

How often do you stop to look at nearby sites (anything from roadside americana to stopping at a museum or national park)?  I try to fit in at least one site to stop at each day, more if I can help it.  Sometimes it may involve checking out a lighthouse for a few minutes, spending an hour at a historical home or spending most of the day at a national park.

Replying to Laura's questions one at a time...

QuoteHow many day trips do you venture on per month? per year?

Highly variable, even factoring out deployments of recent years.  I've often had months where the answer was zero, and other months where I had several.  My average would probably be around 2/month.

QuoteHow many overnight trips do you venture on per month? per year?

Definitely less than 1 a month.  In the past few years, my overnight trips have basically been limited to Raleigh, DC, or Vermont.  I haven't been west of the Appalachians since mid-2011.

QuoteWhen you go overnight, do you usually stay in a hotel, sleep in your vehicle, or stay elsewhere?

Depends on the circumstance.  I'll either stay with family/friends or stay in a hotel....on a military base if possible.

QuoteFor long distance trips, how long do you go?

Highly variable, depending on the situation.  But almost always less than 2 weeks.

QuoteDo you use paid vacation time for your long distance trips?

The military-equivalent, yes.  Any trip more than a weekend overnight to Raleigh or DC requires me to take leave.

QuoteAre your long distance trips usually circular or do you fly somewhere and rent a car?

Almost always circular.

QuoteHave you ever driven all the way across the USA?

No.  I did about 3/4 of it back during my 2005 vacation/duty-station-transfer, but not all the way across.

QuoteHow often do you eat packed groceries versus fast food versus sit-down food on a trip?

Occasionally I'll pack snacks.  Otherwise, I rely on convenience stores/fast food.  Almost never do sit-down unless I have passengers or I'm the passenger.

QuoteWhen you travel, do you make the roads the main attraction, or do you work the roads around a main attraction (like visiting a family member or a destination city)?

For daytrips, the roads are usually the main attraction.  For overnight/multi-day trips, whatever's at the other end is the primary motivator (whether it be running/biking/racing in Raleigh, DC events, or my Megs).

QuoteHow often do you stop to look at nearby sites (anything from roadside americana to stopping at a museum or national park)?

Going solo, I typically don't, unless there's an antique store or old bookstore that happens to catch my eye (and, BTW, I collect more than just maps).

To answer the questions you asked (and didn't ask) (the long versions, nonetheless) in no particular order...

Most of my roadtripping adventures are over the course of several days, up to about 1 ½ weeks. And some of them are due to the fact my wife doesn't like to fly...although we have flown several times over the past several years.  And for a point of reference to the below, I live in South Jersey, just outside of Philly.

Of my longest, 2 of them involve New Orleans (not during Mardi Gras...btw, Happy Mardi Gras to those of you that celebrate it). :-)  A few of them involve sporting events as well.

The first was 9 months after Katrina...I wanted to go down there and see the area.  Then I also wanted to visit my Cousin...in Toronto.  I figured...what the heck, I can do both.  My 2nd trip to NOLA was for the Jaycees annual conference. That one was a bit more direct, although it included a stop in Atlanta to catch a Phillies game.

My longest road trip was last summer, to catch the Phillies in Milwaukee, Minneapolis & Denver. Over 4,000 miles long. This was also the furthest across-country trip I drove originating from home.

My longest road trip that involved flying was our first trip to Vegas.  From Vegas, we drove to the Grand Canyon (both North & South Rims), San Diego, LA, then back to Vegas.  The trip also included a separate day trip mentioned below.

Of my day trips, the longest occurred in Vegas, as hinted above.  Drove around Death Valley in a rented Jeep Wrangler.  I put about 540 miles on that jeep in 1 day. We've done several day trips that are 100+ miles originating from Vegas as well.  Hawaii actually provides some nice day trips, because, honestly, the roadways are limited, you can't really go all that far on many of the islands, and the scenery is wonderful.  Outside of that, I haven't done too many long day trips originating from home, outside of checking out the NJ Turnpike construction, visiting my brother, visiting the Jersey Shore, etc.  At least I'll select routes that allow me to check things out on these local trips.

My longest single overnight trip was to Pittsburgh for dinner.  Took the PA Turnpike out; took I-80 back.  I'm planning on doing an overnight trip to the Cleveland area this spring (about 8 hours each way).

Our most frequent road trip is to Florida, to visit friends in The Villages, a kick-ass 55+ retirement community, which now eclipses 100,000 people.  We are in our 30's, and absolutely love it there...so much to do.  Riding around in golf carts everywhere is kinda fun also!

On our trips that involve 15+ hours of driving, often times we have slept in Rest Areas to catch a few hours' sleep. I remember in the first few years of meeting my wife, I mentioned about road tripping and sleeping in rest areas, and no way would she consider such an unsafe idea where, to paraphrase it, "˜We Would Certainly Be Killed Or Worse'.  But since we've been married, we've slept in rest areas several times without incident.  Depending on the cost or point values of hotels, we may sleep in a hotel as well.  Like what corco mentioned, I have a whole spreadsheet/calculation system on when to use points, or when to pay for the hotel.

Eating wise, we often will stop at fast food places along the road trip; sometimes places with servers, but we generally try to hit up places that aren't in our local area.  Rarely do we brown-bag actual meals, although my wife will bring enough snacks to keep us alive for about 47 years.

In a category you didn't ask (impromptu trips): Longest single night trip was the 5 hour Pittsburgh trip mentioned above.  Started talking about it at 2pm on a Sunday, and left the house at 3:30pm. On a multi-night trip, we decided to go see an Eagles playoff game in Minneapolis because tickets for the game were fairly cheap.  Decided to take the trip on a Wednesday.  Left Friday, getting out there Saturday.

QuoteHow many day trips do you venture on per month? per year?

Roughly 1 per month...these are by myself although two have been with Froggie

QuoteHow many overnight trips do you venture on per month? per year?

About 3 per year with my wife...try to go somewhere warm in the winter, someplace tolerable in the summer, SC in the fall.  one is usually paired with a business trip.

QuoteWhen you go overnight, do you usually stay in a hotel, sleep in your vehicle, or stay elsewhere?

Almost always in a hotel

QuoteFor long distance trips, how long do you go?

9-17 days.  This summer we have something scheduled for 26 days and we went to Europe in 2012 via boat that took 23 days.  For solo trips they last 12-18 hrs depending on the season.

QuoteDo you use paid vacation time for your long distance trips?

yes (not sure what other kind of answer you're after here..."no, I blow off work for a month? ;-)

QuoteAre your long distance trips usually circular or do you fly somewhere and rent a car?

Always circular (triangular when possible).  Neither one of us has been on a plane since the mid 70s.  Don't see that changing anytime soon.  i have once rented a car from my city and done a round trip.  This summer we are trying this: taking train to Denver, renting a car to go to Yeloowstone and Vancouver BC, then back to Denver for train ride home.

QuoteHave you ever driven all the way across the USA?

1997 - VA to MT; 2000 - VA to Yellowstone and Glacier NPs; 2010 - VA to Portland, OR with a business trip in Salt Lake City in between; 2013 - VA to Scottsdale, AZ (business) with a few days in Austin TX;
Also rode across; 1984 - SC to San Diego and 3-4 other times before the age of 4 and don't remember any of them.

QuoteHow often do you eat packed groceries versus fast food versus sit-down food on a trip?

For solo trips it is solely fast-food.  Since my solo trips start at 3 or 4 in the morning, I stop the day before for a fast food sandwich I can tolerate at 4 a.m. as a pre-breakfast.  Then at the first pee stop it is still breakfast time and get something then, fast food lunch around 2 and then I usually bring home something good for dinner for my wife and I to share (typically something not quite fast food).  On real trips it starts out as sit-down places then we get tired of it and go to Wendy's for "desperation salads"

QuoteWhen you travel, do you make the roads the main attraction, or do you work the roads around a main attraction (like visiting a family member or a destination city)?

Solo trips are all about roadgeeking.  Trips with my wife I work around whatever the purpose of the trip is.  We love national parks.

QuoteHow often do you stop to look at nearby sites (anything from roadside americana to stopping at a museum or national park)?

Since ebay came along I quit stopping at antique places looking for maps.  My wife likes to visit thrift stores in new cities.  Generally don't do museums en route to anywhere.

Mapmikey

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AM
How many day trips do you venture on per month? per year?

Not as many as I'd like, though one of my goals as the weather turns bearable again is to do more one-day exploring trips. A couple of weekends ago it broke 50 for the first time in what felt like 6 months, so I drove around the WV panhandle a bit. I definitely am going to aim to do more of that sort of thing.

QuoteHow many overnight trips do you venture on per month? per year?

This is kind of a trick question for me, because my girlfriend lives in Washington D.C., so I'll drive (or bus) down there usually two weekends a month. I almost don't even count that round trip as "travel" anymore. Other than that, I try to go somewhere at least one other weekend every, say, 2 months, though that can often be a trip that I end up flying or busing as well. I also am usually able to take a weeklong vacation once or twice a year, plus another week at Christmas. Then there are also work trips which are during the week and have ranged from 1-3 times per month, and are generally 2-3 nights.

QuoteWhen you go overnight, do you usually stay in a hotel, sleep in your vehicle, or stay elsewhere?

Stay with family or friends for free whenever possible. If that's not an option, I'll spring for a hostel if the destination is a city that's big enough to have one. Failing that, I'll try to find a cheap AirBnB offering. Hotels tend to be a last resort, for me. Work trips, on the other hand are almost always hotels.

QuoteFor long distance trips, how long do you go?

Unfortunately I'm not really able to take more than a week of work off at a time, so my big trips usually end up being 9 days (weekend-to-weekend).

QuoteDo you use paid vacation time for your long distance trips?

Yes, I have to. I wish I were independently wealthy just so I could do nothing but tool around the country...

QuoteAre your long distance trips usually circular or do you fly somewhere and rent a car?

It depends on the itinerary. I prefer driving my own car, but for anything much west of the Mississippi it's just not really practical due to time restraints.

QuoteHave you ever driven all the way across the USA?

Not yet! Closest I've come is Kent, OH to El Paso, TX, about 2,500 miles using the route we took.

QuoteHow often do you eat packed groceries versus fast food versus sit-down food on a trip?

My trips are short enough that I usually like to eat locally. I'm not against fast food, but I do try to avoid big chains wherever possible, unless it's a chain that I can't get back home (Jack-in-the-Box, In-N-Out, etc). Some day I'd like to do a super long trip where packing my own food would be a more financially prudent thing to do.

QuoteWhen you travel, do you make the roads the main attraction, or do you work the roads around a main attraction (like visiting a family member or a destination city)?

The major attraction of roads, to me, are the places they connect and the things you can see along them. So in a way, roads are a focal point of my travels, but I almost always do have a concrete destination in mind, as well.

QuoteHow often do you stop to look at nearby sites (anything from roadside americana to stopping at a museum or national park)?

As often as possible. In general, I like to stop somewhere every couple of hours at most, just to get a little walk in and keep my blood flowing. I do my best to try to coincide these breaks with something interesting - a park, small town, museum, etc.

How many day trips do you venture on per month? per year?
Varies depending on the time of year (more trips in summer than winter), but I'd say that I make maybe ~15 day trips for roadgeeking purposes in a year. Some of them to road meets, some of them with other roadgeeks not to a meet, some of them solo.

How many overnight trips do you venture on per month? per year?
A handful. Usually associated with a road meet not close enough to be a day trip.

When you go overnight, do you usually stay in a hotel, sleep in your vehicle, or stay elsewhere?
Hotel usually. Alternatively I may stay with a friend or family if I know someone where I'm going. But I've never slept in my car and doubt I could, I need to be lying down to sleep and there isn't enough room for that.

For long distance trips, how long do you go?
As long as it takes to do what I gotta do. :P

Do you use paid vacation time for your long distance trips?
For any weekday where I'm not working, yes.

Are your long distance trips usually circular or do you fly somewhere and rent a car?
Usually circular although I have done one fly and drive trip... roadgeeking wasn't the primary purpose of that trip, but a bunch of it was worked in.

Have you ever driven all the way across the USA?
Yes! This is something everyone should do at least once in their lives, roadgeek or not. It's a really eye-opening experience to see not just the coasts but also EVERYTHING in between and just how much of it there is.

How often do you eat packed groceries versus fast food versus sit-down food on a trip?
Being on the road means no time to cook, so it means a lot of fast food and munch on the go groceries (cereal, muffin, etc.). I'll do sit-down but only at someplace low-key and relatively quick like Denny's or a diner.

When you travel, do you make the roads the main attraction, or do you work the roads around a main attraction (like visiting a family member or a destination city)?
Roads are the main attraction when I am in motion, but visiting people will dictate the endpoint of my trip. This is both a blessing and a curse, since these people on the one hand give me an excuse to travel, but on the other hand visiting them consumes time I could be spending driving. :P

How often do you stop to look at nearby sites (anything from roadside americana to stopping at a museum or national park)?
If I'm traveling alone, virtually never. If I check anything out it will be of the pull over and quickly look around variety, since prolonged stops just cut into precious driving time. But when I am traveling with other people, there tends to be a desire to do more than just drive around.

I don't really go on any trips devoted solely to roads, as most of my family does not like to travel.

How many day trips do you venture on per month? per year?

I usually average about one per month. Most day trips I take are either west out to the mountains, or south to the Raleigh/Durham area. This adds up to about nine per year.

How many overnight trips do you venture on per month? per year?

About once a month. I generally take two trips to SC each year, one trip to Atlanta each year, another one to Philadelphia each year.

When you go overnight, do you usually stay in a hotel, sleep in your vehicle, or stay elsewhere?

Hotels, always.

For long distance trips, how long do you go?

I rarely travel anywhere that is further than 10 hours (~500 miles) away. My most recent trip longer than that was from VA to Ft. Lauderdale (~1000 miles) a few years ago.

Do you use paid vacation time for your long distance trips?

Yes.

Are your long distance trips usually circular or do you fly somewhere and rent a car?

Generally, if I'm traveling to the opposite side of the country (such as recent trips to AZ and Las Vegas) I fly and rent a car.

Have you ever driven all the way across the USA?

No. However, I have driven from Wyoming to visit relatives in SC.

How often do you eat packed groceries versus fast food versus sit-down food on a trip?

I almost always eat fast food. Sometimes I eat sit-down if I'm traveling with passengers.

When you travel, do you make the roads the main attraction, or do you work the roads around a main attraction (like visiting a family member or a destination city)?

I usually travel with my family, so we generally focus on the destination.

How often do you stop to look at nearby sites (anything from roadside americana to stopping at a museum or national park)?

Semi-often. I sometimes like to go to visit historical points on the way back from somewhere.

Ok, Laura, i'll try to answer your questions as best as i can.....everyone here is a bit different

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AM

Q: How many day trips do you venture on per month? per year? 
A: My road trips tend to be the longer ones.  Before my health went south i would do one or two trips per year, often going all up and down the East Coast....usually, they are anywhere from 6-9 days

Q:How many overnight trips do you venture on per month? per year?
A: Depends.  I do some overnights during train shows....but it works out to 2-3 per year


Q:When you go overnight, do you usually stay in a hotel, sleep in your vehicle, or stay elsewhere?
A: Stay in a hotel....i consider that part and parcel of road tripping

Q:For long distance trips, how long do you go?
A: Furthest I have traveled from Columbus Oh is the Bangor Maine area (sign shopping)

Q: Do you use paid vacation time for your long distance trips?
A: Yes

Q: Are your long distance trips usually circular or do you fly somewhere and rent a car?
A: Always drive myself

Q: Have you ever driven all the way across the USA?
A:  Nope, but would probably need two weeks off work for that one


Q: How often do you eat packed groceries versus fast food versus sit-down food on a trip?
A:  About 50-50%  I pack a few days worth of packed food, then restaurant it the rest of the way.  My tradition upon returning from New England is to stop into a Longhorn Steakhouse off I-80 in the Poconos for my final road trip meal

Q: When you travel, do you make the roads the main attraction, or do you work the roads around a main attraction (like visiting a family member or a destination city)?
A: Both.  Road tripping for me is as much about seeing the sights and attractions as it is seeking out interesting signs


Q: How often do you stop to look at nearby sites (anything from roadside americana to stopping at a museum or national park)?
A: If i can and the hours are good, i do stop.  If i am on US-30 in Pennsylvania i will stop by the 9-11 Memorial just off the highway

Hope this helps

How many day trips do you venture on per month? per year?

–These days, probably an average of one a month, though it can vary with the time of year (fewer during the winter, more during the summer). I include things like golf trips to courses out in the mountains or in Fredericksburg, and winery visits, among "day trips," especially if I can find a new way to come home afterwards (not always easy). These days, with the price of gas being what it is, about the only time I will simply go out for a drive just for the sake of driving is when I feel like our 1988 RX-7 needs to run a bit, especially if I've just jumpstarted it and I need to charge the battery. When I do that, I usually go over the Wilson Bridge to Maryland and then cruise around roads in PG or Charles County to try to pass through areas of Maryland I haven't previously visited and to clinch some new roads.....only tricky thing is figuring out where to go since that car doesn't have a sat-nav and I do not like fiddling with a mobile phone when driving. I can always pull off to look at the Google Maps app, though. Usually I'll take the RX-7 out on that kind of drive two or three times a year when the weather is nice enough to put the top down but not so hot as to make top-down driving unpleasant, and it usually adds up to between 70 and 100 miles of driving per trip.

How many overnight trips do you venture on per month? per year?

–Less than one per month. On average lately, probably four per year. We had an overnight trip to Hershey planned last month that turned into a day trip because the hotel had a three-day cancellation policy and a big snowstorm was forecast, so I cancelled in advance rather than risk having to eat the money. We still went up there for the game but drove back home afterwards.

When you go overnight, do you usually stay in a hotel, sleep in your vehicle, or stay elsewhere?

–Hotel, motel, or with friends/relatives (the latter typically when we visit Florida–we make a couple of stops and we stay with a friend in Venice, in a hotel in Fort Myers, at a timeshare exchange near Miami, and with a relative in Viera; sometimes also with a friend in Green Cove Springs). I have not slept in the car since my student days some 20 years ago and I will not do so again unless it's a serious emergency. I woke up aching and with a stiff back even back then, so I can't imagine trying it now, and my wife would never agree to it anyway! My camping days are in the past for now because my wife isn't into that either and because typically it's more hassle than I care to deal with at the present time.

For long distance trips, how long do you go?

–It depends on how much time we are taking off and how far the drive will be. For example, a two-week trip will be a driving trip unless we are going overseas (including Hawaii, of course). A one-week trip will probably be a driving trip if we are staying on the East Coast, including Canada. For example, if we go skiing at Mont-Tremblant we will always drive. It's a fairly easy one-day drive to get up there and the benefit of being able to pack whatever we want, have our own ski equipment and not check it with the airline, and not have to rent a car up there makes it well worth taking a day at each end of the trip to drive. A weekend trip to Florida would be a flying trip, as would a weekend trip further west than, say, Dayton, even if we extend the trip to a four-day weekend (an example might be our football trip to a UVA game at Wyoming over Labor Day weekend 2007–it's too far to make the drive reasonable, so we flew to Denver using miles and rented a car).

The tipping point on this issue is at what point we would spend as much, or more, time in the car in transit compared to the time spent at our destination. "At our destination" includes time spent driving around when we get there–for example, for a trip to Florida "in transit" means time spent on travel between home and our first destination, or our last destination and home, but it does not include time spent going from one place within Florida to another. For a trip to San Francisco (I've never been there), it's around 2800 miles. That would take us four days of driving at 700 miles per day and my wife would become extremely fed up with the driving after the second day. So four days out and four days back would eat up more than half of a two-week trip. Therefore, we would not drive that.

The outer limit of how far we've gone in a day in recent years was 734 miles a few years ago from Green Cove Springs, Florida, to home–left Florida at 12:15 PM and got home at 12:12 AM.

Do you use paid vacation time for your long distance trips?

–Not an issue for me since I'm self-employed (also explains how I can post on here whenever it suits me). My wife does use vacation time.

Are your long distance trips usually circular or do you fly somewhere and rent a car?

–Typically circular, including if we fly somewhere and rent a car (in that case it would be circular from that airport). Some of you would regard our Florida trips as an exception because we typically drive one way and take Amtrak's Auto Train the other way (overnight train ride that departs either Lorton, VA, or Sanford, FL, at 4:00 PM and arrives in the other of those two locations at 9:30 the following morning). But we still have our own car and we start and end at the same place (home).

Have you ever driven all the way across the USA?

–No. Would like to someday but don't see having the time any time soon.

How often do you eat packed groceries versus fast food versus sit-down food on a trip?

–I do not allow eating in the car other than the occasional candy bar or granola bar, and under no circumstances is fast food ever allowed in the passenger compartment. For lunch, usually we will get fast food (preferably not McDonald's, just too ubiquitous). We may stop at a particular local place if there's one we know of and like or have wanted to try (an example on the East Coast is the Varsity in Atlanta; if we were out west, I might like to try In-N-Out just to see what all the hype is about). For dinner, sit-down food whenever possible, preferably a local place but we'll do chains if that's what's available. Usually we try to quit driving by 6:00 or 7:00 at night just to have time for a relaxed dinner prior to bedtime.

"Fast food" includes what a friend of mine once called "uppity fast food," BTW, meaning places like Panera or Fuddrucker's that are faster than a full-service sit-down restaurant but slower than standard fast food. If we leave home early in the morning, we'll likely fill our travel mugs with coffee at home using the Keurig machine, drive two hours, and then stop at a place like Panera for breakfast (on trips south, for example, there's a Panera just north of the Charlottesville area and we'll likely stop there for food, coffee refills, and a toilet stop).

When you travel, do you make the roads the main attraction, or do you work the roads around a main attraction (like visiting a family member or a destination city)?

–The latter. I try to balance the desires to (a) take a different route in each direction and (b) find new routes we haven't used before against the desire to maximize the time wherever it is we're going, especially if we're visiting relatives. If the new route turns out to be a better way to go, so much the better (example: in fall 2012 on the recommendation of people here I used Corridor D and Corridor H on the way home from Dayton and we liked it better than taking the Interstate through Pennsylvania and Maryland).

How often do you stop to look at nearby sites (anything from roadside americana to stopping at a museum or national park)?

–Depends on what's there. Scenic overlooks depend on where they are (if it's one we've seen before, we're less likely to stop), whether a restroom is available, and whether we want to stretch our legs.

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AM
I'm curious how you all road trip. I'm always amazed by some of your travels and was curious how you personally do it. I've found that I've falsely assumed that some of you regularly take massive trips, while instead you've accumulated mileage on lots of shorter trips.

Breaking up the quote to answer the questions:

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AM
How many day trips do you venture on per month? per year?

Used to do 1 per month, lately I'm limiting my efforts to shift finances to buying a home (assuming someone in the family doesn't come in and insist I help them first :| )

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AM
How many overnight trips do you venture on per month? per year?

1 or 2 - If I do a "scenic route" to my hometown I'll stop for a night (since many of the routes on the way are clinched)

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AM
When you go overnight, do you usually stay in a hotel, sleep in your vehicle, or stay elsewhere?

Hotel or a relative's house - but if I do the latter, I make time to visit.

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AM
For long distance trips, how long do you go?
Vacation time's at a premium here - I'll go anywhere from 6 days to (rarely) 2 weeks.  Last year's exception was my drives to/from California because work paid for the drive.

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AM
Do you use paid vacation time for your long distance trips?

Yep.  No other way around it.

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AM
Are your long distance trips usually circular or do you fly somewhere and rent a car?

Circular - though for far-away trips I will rent a car.  Time - again - is at a premium. If I'm going to go highway or county clinching in Washington or Florida, I better have vacation time.

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AM
Have you ever driven all the way across the USA?

North-south only.  East-west is impossible for me given I'm half-way already.

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AM
How often do you eat packed groceries versus fast food versus sit-down food on a trip?

Preferred for lunches - Dinners, I'll stop at a local place.  I'll find a hotel that has a fridge and unpack the cooler (I had a plug-in cooler for a bit of time, but the connector melted while plugged in. Note to self - avoid Wal-Marts. :pan: )

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AM
When you travel, do you make the roads the main attraction, or do you work the roads around a main attraction (like visiting a family member or a destination city)?
Roads are the attraction for short trips only now, used to be both, but now I've been cutting back. 

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AM
How often do you stop to look at nearby sites (anything from roadside americana to stopping at a museum or national park)?

Depends on the situation.  I got lucky last year with being in California for a time to be able to catch several sights while getting every mile of Interstate in Arizona and California (south of I-80) that I didn't have already prior to being there last year.

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AM
I'm curious how you all road trip. I'm always amazed by some of your travels and was curious how you personally do it. I've found that I've falsely assumed that some of you regularly take massive trips, while instead you've accumulated mileage on lots of shorter trips.

How many day trips do you venture on per month? per year?

How many overnight trips do you venture on per month? per year?

When you go overnight, do you usually stay in a hotel, sleep in your vehicle, or stay elsewhere?

For long distance trips, how long do you go?

Do you use paid vacation time for your long distance trips?

Are your long distance trips usually circular or do you fly somewhere and rent a car?

Have you ever driven all the way across the USA?

How often do you eat packed groceries versus fast food versus sit-down food on a trip?

When you travel, do you make the roads the main attraction, or do you work the roads around a main attraction (like visiting a family member or a destination city)?

How often do you stop to look at nearby sites (anything from roadside americana to stopping at a museum or national park)?

These are good questions. Here are my responses:

1) I usually do about one every couple of months, depending on the weather and if I have time. Lately I have been pretty busy every weekend which has kept me from doing purely road trips for pleasure, but I try to do them every now and then. Plus, this cold winter has curtailed my pleasure road trips more than usual.

2) Usually if I go somewhere where I would have to stay overnight, I would go on a weekend where I have three days off at work (I have every other Friday off), so I can use the extra time to see more things or clinch more counties. Lately I have been doing one of these about every couple of months.

3) Usually a motel, but if there are people I know in the area, I may try and stay with them. I am not big on sleeping in my car. I just don't sleep well in a car, whether it is moving or stationary.

4) I assume you mean for how many days. It is usually a three day affair (Friday through Sunday), but if I do something farther away I have done five days, like when I went to Austin a year ago.

5) Usually I don't since most of them fall into the three day category. I do if it goes beyond three days, though.

6) Always circular. I have not flown anywhere and rented a car before. I may do that more often if I can find a super cheap flight somewhere, but I have stayed away from that option due to the expense involved with flying.

7) No, but I hope to do that soon. It is a short-term goal of mine, but it keeps slipping due to finances and other things that crop up.

8) I usually do fast food on the days that I drive, but sometimes I do sit-down so I can be out of the car longer. I don't like eating in my car unless I have to. I hardly ever bring groceries or pre-packed snacks and meals with me, but I do try and keep something on me to eat in case my blood sugar drops while driving.

9) It is a little of both, but more towards the latter. My recent Dallas trip was visiting family, and my Austin trip a year ago involved both visiting the city as well as a friend I have that lives there.  Usually there is something at the destination that I want to see road-wise, but I do try and make it more about roads some of the time.  ;-)

10) It depends on how much of a hurry I am in and how far I have to go. If I am completely on my own schedule, I don't mind stopping and seeing things along the way, but if I have to or want to be somewhere by a certain time or day, I don't stop much other than for fuel/restroom/food. My trip across the USA, if/when I ever take it, I will try and stop more than I usually do.

In the past several years, I've used Greyhound for several out-of-town events. Because of the unacceptable 6-hour delay in getting me home from St. Louis this past Sunday, that will change. I'm never using Greyhound again - once I use my refund voucher they promised to send me following Sunday's disaster.

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AMHow many day trips do you venture on per month? per year?

Usually at least one per month. Ottawa, Quebec City and Jay, VT are frequent destinations.

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AMHow many overnight trips do you venture on per month? per year?

A couple per year. Usually between 6 and 8.

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AMWhen you go overnight, do you usually stay in a hotel, sleep in your vehicle, or stay elsewhere?

I usually stay at hotels or with friends.

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AMFor long distance trips, how long do you go?

On solo trips, my limit seems to be 14-18 hours, after which I need some rest. With other people, well, I haven't reached my limit yet.

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AMDo you use paid vacation time for your long distance trips?

Quite often I'll work extra hours during a month so I can take a day or two off. On other occasions, I take vacation days.

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AMAre your long distance trips usually circular or do you fly somewhere and rent a car?

Circular. I've only flown once and we took the train the other way, and we took transit at our destination.

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AMHave you ever driven all the way across the USA?

Neither the USA nor Canada. I've taken a train to Vancouver, though.

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AMHow often do you eat packed groceries versus fast food versus sit-down food on a trip?

Mostly fast food, occasionally sit-down. I only buy groceries on trips that last more than three days.

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AMWhen you travel, do you make the roads the main attraction, or do you work the roads around a main attraction (like visiting a family member or a destination city)?

It depends on the trip. Roads are usually the main attraction on my solo trips, but I try to throw a couple of things into them when I can.

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AMHow often do you stop to look at nearby sites (anything from roadside americana to stopping at a museum or national park)?

It's happened a few times. I try to do it whenever possible, including museums and parks, although it's usually just americana (and canadiana?).

Ha, I never answered my own questions! Until now...

How many day trips do you venture on per month? per year? Usually Mike and I take at least one day trip per month. Sometimes these day trips are local-ish meets, other times they are to different parts of Maryland or Pennsylvania. So, about twelve per year.

How many overnight trips do you venture on per month? per year? For a while we were doing an overnight weekend trip every month or every other month, but I think those days have passed due to time/money and wanting to save up for longer trips. Our next overnight weekend trip will probably be the NYC meet at the end of June.

When you go overnight, do you usually stay in a hotel, sleep in your vehicle, or stay elsewhere? Depends. I've done all three. I never stayed in a hotel on solo trips and opted to sleep in my car in a parking lot (like Walmart or a truck stop). When Mike and I are going somewhere and would spend less than five hours in a room, we sleep in the car. My favorite motel/hotels are the cute little motor inns that are independently owned and well kept. When I can, I like to stay with family or friends, and usually do so when that is the primary focus of a trip.

For long distance trips, how long do you go? Usually a long weekend. I will occasionally get the opportunity to go on a week long trip, and hope to take at least one a year moving forward.

Do you use paid vacation time for your long distance trips? I work as a contractor, so I do not currently get any vacation time. This is why it's easier for me financially to go on a long weekend trip as opposed to a longer trip.

Are your long distance trips usually circular or do you fly somewhere and rent a car? I've only rented a car out of state once, when I was in California. My trips are usually circular. Exceptions have been when I've gone in a car in one direction and a train or bus in the other (obviously in someone else's car).

Have you ever driven all the way across the USA? No, but I really really want to drive across the country. The furthest I've gone west was with Alps for the St. Louis meet. I had an opportunity to drive with a roommate from Virginia to Oregon after graduation in 2009, but I had to turn it down due to my summer camp job (she left the week camp started in June.)

How often do you eat packed groceries versus fast food versus sit-down food on a trip?I usually pack my own food because I'm a weirdo with a sensitive stomach. I can only eat so much fast food until I get GI issues. If I'm going solo, I don't eat sit-down food at all. Mike and I will do a sit-down meal or two if we go on a weekend trip. If we go on a day trip, we'll get fast food at a place like Royal Farms or Sheetz (where I can pick something relatively healthy).

When you travel, do you make the roads the main attraction, or do you work the roads around a main attraction (like visiting a family member or a destination city)? I've been guilty of making the roads secondary to a main attraction most of the time. From 2005-2012, I took a lot of trips from my hometown to Lynchburg, VA (2005-09 when I was in college; 09-12 while I still had friends in college that I visited frequently).  During that timeframe, I also would randomly go visit friends on school breaks all around Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, NJ, and NY. Meets have become a good excuse to explore roads in various states. Rarely do I travel for the sake of the roads, and can only count a handful of trips where I did just that. I would like to do more road-specific trips in PA and VA to clinch US highways.

How often do you stop to look at nearby sites (anything from roadside americana to stopping at a museum or national park)? Far too often!!! Haha I am addicted to roadside Americana, so going out of my way to see Foamhenge or a giant ketchup bottle is up my alley.

Quote from: Laura on April 13, 2014, 09:37:44 AM
Ha, I never answered my own questions! Until now...

How many day trips do you venture on per month? per year? Usually Mike and I take at least one day trip per month. Sometimes these day trips are local-ish meets, other times they are to different parts of Maryland or Pennsylvania. So, about twelve per year.

How many overnight trips do you venture on per month? per year? For a while we were doing an overnight weekend trip every month or every other month, but I think those days have passed due to time/money and wanting to save up for longer trips. Our next overnight weekend trip will probably be the NYC meet at the end of June.

When you go overnight, do you usually stay in a hotel, sleep in your vehicle, or stay elsewhere? Depends. I've done all three. I never stayed in a hotel on solo trips and opted to sleep in my car in a parking lot (like Walmart or a truck stop). When Mike and I are going somewhere and would spend less than five hours in a room, we sleep in the car. My favorite motel/hotels are the cute little motor inns that are independently owned and well kept. When I can, I like to stay with family or friends, and usually do so when that is the primary focus of a trip.

For long distance trips, how long do you go? Usually a long weekend. I will occasionally get the opportunity to go on a week long trip, and hope to take at least one a year moving forward.

Do you use paid vacation time for your long distance trips? I work as a contractor, so I do not currently get any vacation time. This is why it's easier for me financially to go on a long weekend trip as opposed to a longer trip.

Are your long distance trips usually circular or do you fly somewhere and rent a car? I've only rented a car out of state once, when I was in California. My trips are usually circular. Exceptions have been when I've gone in a car in one direction and a train or bus in the other (obviously in someone else's car).

Have you ever driven all the way across the USA? No, but I really really want to drive across the country. The furthest I've gone west was with Alps for the St. Louis meet. I had an opportunity to drive with a roommate from Virginia to Oregon after graduation in 2009, but I had to turn it down due to my summer camp job (she left the week camp started in June.)

How often do you eat packed groceries versus fast food versus sit-down food on a trip?I usually pack my own food because I'm a weirdo with a sensitive stomach. I can only eat so much fast food until I get GI issues. If I'm going solo, I don't eat sit-down food at all. Mike and I will do a sit-down meal or two if we go on a weekend trip. If we go on a day trip, we'll get fast food at a place like Royal Farms or Sheetz (where I can pick something relatively healthy).

When you travel, do you make the roads the main attraction, or do you work the roads around a main attraction (like visiting a family member or a destination city)? I've been guilty of making the roads secondary to a main attraction most of the time. From 2005-2012, I took a lot of trips from my hometown to Lynchburg, VA (2005-09 when I was in college; 09-12 while I still had friends in college that I visited frequently).  During that timeframe, I also would randomly go visit friends on school breaks all around Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, NJ, and NY. Meets have become a good excuse to explore roads in various states. Rarely do I travel for the sake of the roads, and can only count a handful of trips where I did just that. I would like to do more road-specific trips in PA and VA to clinch US highways.

How often do you stop to look at nearby sites (anything from roadside americana to stopping at a museum or national park)? Far too often!!! Haha I am addicted to roadside Americana, so going out of my way to see Foamhenge or a giant ketchup bottle is up my alley.

1.  I believe I end up doing at least once a month since I am a college student and drive home every so often.  Job interviews and other things could be thrown into this as well.  I am unsure how this will change after I graduate in May.

2.  Not as often as day trips,  I have done overnight trips home from Blacksburg though to make the ride on I-81 smoother (maybe a couple per year).

3.  So far they have mostly been to my home so I have slept there.

4. I really have not done these recently (since I have been driving).

5. This is something that I haven't done yet, but I could do in the future.

6.  See #4.

7.  Not at this point, the farthest west I have been is to Atlanta, GA.  (My friend's wedding in the Cincinnati, OH, metropolitan area (it will be in Kentucky though) will come close when I go to it in August.)

8.  It really depends on where I end up.  I will do fast-food though depending on the situation so I can get back to driving.

9.  For me, it has mostly been trying to get to a particular place quickly so roads have been secondary overall (making me bored of US 460).  I am working on changing that some though.

10.  For me it really depends on what is there.  I may stop at some scenic views though and if I ever find those rhinos on US 460 west of Bedford.

I like to drive on a straight 4 lane freeway with little traffic, set the cruise to 85 and just relax.  I hate driving down 2 lane highways that go through speed trap towns and have speed limits that change over and over.

To each their own.  I've actually developed a preference to those 2-lane roads.  You see so much more than you would along a freeway.

Quote from: froggie on April 16, 2014, 08:16:17 AM
To each their own.  I've actually developed a preference to those 2-lane roads.  You see so much more than you would along a freeway.

I echo that sentiment. I like scouting out old alignments. Lots more to see like old bridges, decaying gas stations, old signs, etc.

Sometimes, I'll take the 4-Lane to my destination, then scout out the old 2-Lane on the way home.

Quote from: froggie on April 16, 2014, 08:16:17 AM
To each their own.  I've actually developed a preference to those 2-lane roads.  You see so much more than you would along a freeway.

Yeah but if you're in a hurry a freeway can't be beat.  If it is a road you drive often then the things you see get old really fast.

Quote from: froggie on April 16, 2014, 08:16:17 AM
To each their own.  I've actually developed a preference to those 2-lane roads.  You see so much more than you would along a freeway.

I enjoy two-lane roads, but it often depends on where I am, how much traffic there is, whether there are adequate passing zones, and whether I need to be somewhere by a specific time. I think there are few things quite as frustrating as getting stuck behind someone going well under the speed limit on a road that doesn't have any passing zones or climbing lanes, although I've driven in some places where the local routine seems to be that as long as there's no cop around you just go ahead and pass over the double yellow if someone is going inordinately slow (like 40 mph in a 55-mph zone). I'm wary of doing that even if I see the local drivers doing it because I never know who might know a local cop.

With that said, I almost always like a good twisty two-lane road in the mountains, even if passing might be difficult there.

Quote from: bugo on April 16, 2014, 10:35:56 AM

Quote from: froggie on April 16, 2014, 08:16:17 AM
To each their own.  I've actually developed a preference to those 2-lane roads.  You see so much more than you would along a freeway.

Yeah but if you're in a hurry a freeway can't be beat.  If it is a road you drive often then the things you see get old really fast.

That's why I switch between 540 and 71 heading up the mountain, or go to Springfield via Gateway instead of Joplin ;)

I much prefer taking old alignments instead of the active highway.

You won't get any argument from me. If I had my choices, I'd take the back roads. But since I'm not the one doing the driving, it's usually all major highways.

Quote from: bugo on April 16, 2014, 07:52:25 AMI like to drive on a straight 4 lane freeway with little traffic, set the cruise to 85 and just relax.  I hate driving down 2 lane highways that go through speed trap towns and have speed limits that change over and over.

Quote from: froggie on April 16, 2014, 08:16:17 AMTo each their own.  I've actually developed a preference to those 2-lane roads.  You see so much more than you would along a freeway.

John Steinbeck used to remark that the Interstates were the perfect way to travel all across the US without seeing any of it.

That said, my position on the two-lane versus freeway question is closer to Froggie's, but there are some nuances:

*  In general, I prefer roads of whatever type that offer smooth driving experiences--few  to no obligatory stops, good design consistency, and the ability to maintain a steady and relatively high speed legally and safely (which tends to imply both high LOS and fairly demanding standards of geometric design).  It is, however, more important to me that the speed be steady than it be high (see next point).

*  If I have to drive a road with tight curves and steep grades, I actually prefer the operating speed to be fairly low since this leaves more margin for error; drivers' and passengers' tolerance of side friction demand is generally much higher at lower speeds, curve widening is systematically provided since curve radii tend to be quite low, curve sharpness and superelevation is optically easier to evaluate, etc.  In the Colorado mountains, I-70 and US 160 (both designed for relatively high speeds over mountain pass segments) are more difficult and tiring to drive than US 550 (designed for very low speeds).

*  Oklahoma has an unusually irritating approach toward changing speed limits in the vicinity of towns--a driver approaching a town receives little if any advance notice of reduced speed limits, and then is confronted with a fiddly succession of closely spaced speed limit changes in 10-20 MPH increments.  In Kansas the usual practice is to have a sharply defined transition between the open-road and urban speed limits, with the reduced limit signposted far enough in advance that a motorist (depending on his or her vehicle's performance characteristics) can simply coast down to the lower limit.  Oklahoma also has a long history of underfunding its rural state highways, many of which have too-steep sideslopes, no shoulders, narrow lanes, and all kinds of sight-distance problems, so the gap in driving experience between freeways and the two-lane rural state highways is wider than elsewhere.

QuoteJohn Steinbeck used to remark that the Interstates were the perfect way to travel all across the US without seeing any of it.

I thought that was a Charles Kuralt quote...

Quote from: froggie on April 18, 2014, 11:21:44 AM

QuoteJohn Steinbeck used to remark that the Interstates were the perfect way to travel all across the US without seeing any of it.

I thought that was a Charles Kuralt quote...

It turns out that FHWA's highway historian has gone into this question, and found that both writers expressed similar sentiments--Steinbeck in Travels with Charley (1962), Kuralt in A Life on the Road (1990):

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/first.cfm

Most of our trips have been pulling a travel trailer behind our pickup. Then we stay in RV parks with full hookups, so we have electricity, water and sewer. This form of travel allows us to take the dogs and eat most of our meals in our unit. That limits our speed to about 65 or less, and cuts down on the daily mileage. We would take a few long weekends during the year and at least one two-week trip and a week or so. From Colorado, we've gotten as far as the Florida panhandle and the north coast of California.

That was when I was working and I took vacation. I had good PTO benefits. Now I'm retired as of last fall, and have only taken one RV trip since that time to South Texas. (But it's been winter since then too). We've had a couple of trips in the past two years, though, when we drove our car and stayed in motels. One was for family visit in South Dakota and Minnesota last year, and the other was the road meet in St. Louis. We then extended the trip to St. Louis to see Mammoth Cave, Nashville, and Chattanooga. Another family trip is planned for later this year that will put us in the car.

With the RV, I tend to stay on interstates or at least divided highways when the routing permits. In the wide open spaces of the West, two lane roads are OK because I don't hold anyone up for too long. With the car, I look more for routes I can take to fill voids in my lifetime "clinches" or otherwise drive on roads I haven't been on. For example, going to St. Louis, we drove U.S. 50 from Kansas City across Missouri to extend my clinch of that road. Coming back, we took U.S. 400 from its eastern terminus near Joplin because, first, it leads us to U.S. 50 and home; and second, I hadn't been on that route east of Wichita. Now I've clinched the entire route.

Otherwise, the stuff we see in day trips around the RV sites include points of general interest and roads that look interesting in their own regard. Now that warm weather has returned, I hope we can do some day trips as a break from working on two houses, in addition to some long trips as previously. I still dream of Alaska, but that would be an excruciatingly long trip dragging that trailer.

How many day trips do you venture on per month? per year?
5-10 day trips per year. These are mostly solo trips.

How many overnight trips do you venture on per month? per year?
My wife & I typically do one overnight weekend trip per quarter to Dallas. Then we also usually take a trip during Spring Break in March (9 days), one trip in July (typically 10-12 days; this year's is planned to be 14-15 days long), and one to St. Louis in the fall (3-4 days). Then I usually take a solo trip for a Spring/Summer roadmeet, and these are anywhere from 2-5 days in length.

When you go overnight, do you usually stay in a hotel, sleep in your vehicle, or stay elsewhere?
We stay in a hotel or with family. I worked for Marriott for several years so that helped me with hotel employee discounts. Now that I work for an independent hotel, I don't have nearly as many discounts available. But I do earn reward points with Choice, Hilton, and IHG, so after I rack up enough points, I can redeem them for free nights.

For long distance trips, how long do you go?
The March trip is usually in the 3,000-4,000 mile range over a 9 day span. The roadmeet trip length depends on where the meet is (ie. In 2013, I went to the Wichita meet and drove ~1,300 miles in 2 days around Kansas and the Texas panhandle; in 2012, I went to the Joliet, IL meet and drove there via Little Rock, AR, and returned back home to Oklahoma City via western Kentucky & Jackson, MS, so that trip was 3,150 miles over 5 days). The summer trip is usually 4,000-6,500 miles long over 10-12 days. The longest multi-day trip we've taken was the Summer 2010 trip my wife & I took to the Pacific Northwest; it was 12 days & 6,647 miles long. The most miles I've ever driven in one day was 890 miles in June 2004. Surprisingly, that trip was a one-day trip from OKC down to southeast Oklahoma and southwest Arkansas to collect some state highway termini in the southeast corner of Oklahoma, and to collect my final Oklahoma county (McCurtain County).

Do you use paid vacation time for your long distance trips?
Yes, which is why I didn't take a long trip during the summer of 2013, because I had just started a new job and had no paid time off to use yet. Thankfully, this summer should be a different story, as we're planning on taking a 14-day trip to the northeastern corridor & New England.

Are your long distance trips usually circular or do you fly somewhere and rent a car?
So far, they have all been circular. I almost always take a different route to and from the destination so I can see different roads & counties & scenery. Sometimes, the "destination"  is just the farthest point away from home.

Have you ever driven all the way across the USA?
In separate trips, yes (I've clinched all of I-40 & I-70, and almost all of I-10, most of I-80 & I-90). But never all in one trip, as it's kind of hard to do that when you live in Oklahoma City.

How often do you eat packed groceries versus fast food versus sit-down food on a trip?
We sometimes eat snacks from a convenience store while on the road. Typically, our meals are the hotel continental breakfast (or fast food breakfast if the hotel we're staying in doesn't offer continental breakfast), fast food for lunch, and then a sit-down meal for dinner. We try to eat dinner at restaurants we don't have in Oklahoma City.

When you travel, do you make the roads the main attraction, or do you work the roads around a main attraction (like visiting a family member or a destination city)?
On my solo trips, clinching highways & counties & taking pictures all along the way are typically what I'm going after. On trips with Mrs. OKRoads, we do tend to stop at one place and spend more than one night in that area before moving on to the next destination.

How often do you stop to look at nearby sites (anything from roadside americana to stopping at a museum or national park)?
On solo trips, I don't typically stop to look at nearby sites very often. When Mrs. OKRoads is with me, we stop at state capitols and college football stadiums along the way as she enjoys taking pictures of those. We have stopped at some national monuments also (ie. Niagara Falls, Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore, Golden Gate Bridge).

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AM
I'm curious how you all road trip. I'm always amazed by some of your travels and was curious how you personally do it. I've found that I've falsely assumed that some of you regularly take massive trips, while instead you've accumulated mileage on lots of shorter trips.

There was a thread here earlier this year that made me think the same thing.

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AM
How many day trips do you venture on per month? per year?

Roughly two or three a month, depending on the reason for the drive.

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AM
How many overnight trips do you venture on per month? per year?

At least two, and they tend to take about two days... sometimes even three.

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AM
When you go overnight, do you usually stay in a hotel, sleep in your vehicle, or stay elsewhere?

Oh, a motel. Honestly very little else is possible, since the rest areas are always closed to anyone trying to sleep overnight, and all the cars I've had on these trips are too small to sleep in, especially with the additional luggage.

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AM
For long distance trips, how long do you go?

I've never really paid attention to the mileage, and I can't give you an exact measurement, because I can't work the goddamn Google Maps to show my exact route. But I'd say roughly under 1200 miles up, and more or less the same distance back.

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AM
Are your long distance trips usually circular or do you fly somewhere and rent a car?

More often than not, they're close to circular, since I don't always take the same roads coming as I do going back. I really don't like to rent cars. They're too damn expensive, you never get the one you ask for (and no, renting online does not make it easier), and you have to rush to fill the gas tank back up for the next customer.

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AM
Have you ever driven all the way across the USA?

No, and I'm not likely to do so.

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AM
How often do you eat packed groceries versus fast food versus sit-down food on a trip?

I tend to do both.

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AM
When you travel, do you make the roads the main attraction, or do you work the roads around a main attraction (like visiting a family member or a destination city)?

Both, which is part of the reason I prefer driving as opposed to flying.

Quote from: Laura on March 03, 2014, 02:21:06 AM
How often do you stop to look at nearby sites (anything from roadside americana to stopping at a museum or national park)?

Quite often. Some might say too often.