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National Boards => General Highway Talk => Topic started by: leroys73 on May 31, 2015, 12:19:16 AM

Title: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: leroys73 on May 31, 2015, 12:19:16 AM
On our recent family trip we hit eight states in one day without really trying.  These in the order we drove through them:  VA, WV, MD, PA, NJ, NY, CT, RI.  We did 5 and 6 other days on the same road trip. 

We totaled 15 states, 5542 miles in 15 days.  In two different locations we spent three nights at each place and two nights in one location. The remaining nights were each in different locations.

The longest mileage in one day for this trip was over 900 miles.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: jp the roadgeek on May 31, 2015, 12:38:35 AM
As a passenger 7: NC, VA, MD, DE, NJ, NY, CT
As a driver 6: CT, NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD
Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: cpzilliacus on May 31, 2015, 01:01:01 AM
Most states I have done driving is 7 8 in one sitting - Md., Del., N.J., N.Y., Conn., R.I., Mass. and N.H., a little over 500 miles.

Also Md., Pa., W.Va., Ohio, Ind., Ill., and Mo. (less states, but more miles, at about 850).
Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: halork on May 31, 2015, 01:19:46 AM
10: Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: DandyDan on May 31, 2015, 02:52:40 AM
I imagine the record would be from somebody who was driving in the Northeast, with all the small states there.

As far as the Midwest goes, I got Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas (which was essentially a trip across the Missouri River at St. Joseph and back), Illinois and Kentucky, for 6.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: SignGeek101 on May 31, 2015, 02:57:30 AM
Only 3 for me:

NY, PA, NJ, coming from ON.

But considering I've only been in the US twice by car, it's not bad.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: noelbotevera on May 31, 2015, 03:50:47 AM
Back in 2009, my family and I (5 years old at the time) had went to Providence for family stuff. We stayed in a hotel in Massachusetts, after staying in NYC. Starting from Pennsylvania, here's the states I vividly remember.

PA
NJ
NY - stayed
CT
RI
MA - stayed

Six states.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: froggie on May 31, 2015, 09:12:39 AM
I've had two, both a 9 and a 10.  The 9 was a marathon drive from the DC area to Minneapolis the day after my father passed:  VA-WV-MD-PA-OH-IN-IL-WA-MN

The 10 was a couple of drives from Vermont back to the DC area and Norfolk when I was still active duty, and took a side detour into New Hampshire:  VT-NH-MA-CT-NY-NJ-PA-DE-MD-VA
Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: JakeFromNewEngland on May 31, 2015, 10:16:03 AM
When me and my family went to DC back in 2010 these are the states we went through:

CT- Started here
NY
NJ
PA
MD
DC- Ended (not technically a state but whatever)
Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: Jim on May 31, 2015, 10:20:25 AM
If we're talking any 24-hour period, at least some of my Williamstown, MA, to Naples, FL, trips went MA-VT-NY-NJ-PA-DE-MD-VA-NC-SC-GA-FL, for 12 states, and it would take under 20 hours to hit the FL line (though it's 7 more to Naples once you get into FL).  More recent trips start in NY and hit 9 or 10 states, depending on route.

I never did it, but it appears possible to hit ME-NH-MA-RI-CT-NY-NJ-PA-DE-MD-VA-NC-SC-GA-FL in under 24 hours.

Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: 1995hoo on May 31, 2015, 10:32:21 AM
The most I can think of is nine. We were driving up to Portland so that we could take the ferry to Nova Scotia the following morning. Portland is a pretty easy single-day drive from the DC area. If we'd had to push on to Bar Harbor (the other ferry terminal at the time), that might have been tougher for a one-day drive.

Nine states that day: Virginia (starting point), Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine (end point).

Come to think of it, I guess we did nine states on the way home two weeks later as well except we went through Pennsylvania instead of Delaware. We took the ferry back to Portland, stayed overnight at the same motel we'd visited on the way north, and then drove all the way home.

I routinely drive a longer distance than that in a single day but pass through fewer states because, as has been noted above, the states in the Northeast are so small. In general, I'll do up to about 700 miles in a day (give or take maybe 30 miles depending on where I'm going and where I am come dinnertime), although I tend to think more in terms of the number of hours spent in the car. I'll generally do up to 12 hours, including stops, but Ms1995hoo gets pretty grumpy after about 10 hours unless we're almost to our destination. Driving south, it's about 700 miles to Jacksonville and it usually takes about 10 hours, including stops. It's only 160 miles further to my sister-in-law's house, but we've never made it all the way in a single day. We'd rather stop around 6:00 to 7:00 PM, relax, have dinner at a sit-down restaurant, etc.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: jeffandnicole on May 31, 2015, 11:05:00 AM
I've done NJ-DE-MD-DC-VA-NC-SC-GA-FL (9) many times.  I could easily alter my trip adding an extra 5 minutes and take in PA as well, but never done so.

There is at least one other thread on this subject.  I believe the 24 hour record is 21 states. 
Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: hotdogPi on May 31, 2015, 11:27:33 AM
Quote from: jeffandnicole on May 31, 2015, 11:05:00 AM
There is at least one other thread on this subject.  I believe the 24 hour record is 21 states.

One day, but 26 hours (time zone change, daylight savings time change)
Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: leroys73 on May 31, 2015, 11:47:09 AM
I thought there was another thread on this but couldn't find it so started this one. 

Prior to the above trip my record was 7 by car and 7 by motorcycle in the NE. 

Agree the NE makes high numbers a little easier.  Out west, southwest, south, and mid west things might be a little tougher.  Texas it is over 600 miles by I-10 from one side to the other. 

I think the most states in one day I have done in the above regions is 6 taking 17 or 18 hours by motorcycle from Dallas, TX to near St. Cloud, MN. Also 6 in the south by motorcycle once and several times by car, FL, AL, MS, LA, TX, OK.   

Gotta love road trips.  It is like baseball in the statistics department, always something to keep track of:  most miles, most states, most National Parks, most speeding tickets in one trip  :banghead:....
Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: Alps on May 31, 2015, 12:39:53 PM
Probably six for me: NJ-NY-CT-MA-NH-ME, or NC-VA-WV-MD-PA-NJ.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: dfilpus on May 31, 2015, 01:20:54 PM
Six during one day: NC-VA-WV-KY-OH-MI and if DC counts: NC-VA-DC-MD-DE-PA, NC-VA-DC-MD-DE-NJ
Seven in 24 hours: NM-TX-OK-MO-IL-IN-MI
Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: leroys73 on May 31, 2015, 02:16:11 PM
I started the thread and I'd count DC, might even throw in provinces.  The Iron Butt Association counts them.  This is by road not air.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: 1995hoo on May 31, 2015, 03:08:21 PM
If DC counts, then my total goes up to ten in one day by virtue of the smidgen of DC airspace I-95 crosses between Virginia and Maryland.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: cl94 on May 31, 2015, 03:53:57 PM
One day? 8. NY-NJ-PA-MD-WV-VA-NC-SC.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: Ian on May 31, 2015, 04:22:25 PM
On the times that I don't stay over night at my buddies place on the North Shore, my drive to and from Maine includes 7 states; PA-NJ-NY-CT-MA-NH-ME. There have been a few times where I've cut through Rhode Island on my trips to Maine, so there's 8.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: hbelkins on May 31, 2015, 05:00:40 PM
Off the top of my head, I can think of a trip that involved seven: CT-NY-NJ-PA-MD-WV-KY.

And now that I think about it, here's eight: SD-IA-NE-IL-IN-OH-KY

Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: jas on May 31, 2015, 05:39:44 PM
Last year's trip to Orlando - NJ, DE, MD, VA, NC, SC, GA and FL - left Carney's Pt, NJ around 5:30 and arrived in Yulee, FL around 7:30...and long and tiring drive.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: hobsini2 on May 31, 2015, 07:03:42 PM
IL, IN, OH, PA, NJ, NY, CT in one trip as far as states go from Bolingbrook IL to Groton CT. 934 miles.

But the longest I have driven in one day is from Park City UT to Bolingbrook IL. 1366 miles.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: Zzonkmiles on May 31, 2015, 11:27:20 PM
As a driver, my record is six: NY-PA-MD-VA-NC-SC and then SC-GA-FL the very next day, all with no cruise control.

But yeah, I think driving from one end of Texas to the other along I-10 or the entire length of I-5 through California is much more impressive than driving from Maryland to Maine and hitting all those tiny states along the way.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: Darkchylde on May 31, 2015, 11:55:49 PM
For me, ID-UT-WY-CO-OK-TX-LA in a 24 hour span, splitting driving duties.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: DTComposer on June 01, 2015, 12:34:29 AM
It's only six, but they're all big: MT-ID-UT-AZ-NV-CA, and in one fell swoop (only stopped for gas, meals eaten in the car) and I drove the whole way. 19 hours, 1360 miles.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: ET21 on June 01, 2015, 12:38:36 AM
3 in one day,

weak I know
Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: oscar on June 01, 2015, 12:51:24 AM
Probably also my longest drive in one day:  VA-MD-PA-OH-IN-IL-WI, for at least seven states (probably also WV, on either I-68 or I-70, but that trip was so long ago I forget the exact routing).
Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: mrose on June 01, 2015, 02:18:40 AM
Mine is 8.

In the spring of 1991 we drove from Myrtle Beach, SC to Janesville, WI non stop. SC-NC-TN-KY-OH-IN-IL-WI. Ohio was kind of a cheat though; basically it was just a little corner cut of I-275 around Cincinnati. Left at 6 am and got home about 11:00 pm, with one hour picked up going from Eastern to Central. On the way down there we stopped for two days in Virginia, so I actually visited nine on the trip.

I've had two other occasions where I did six. One of those was driving to Wisconsin from Orlando, which was actually a longer trip than the above one, but we took I-24 from Nashville up to I-57 so I went from KY right into IL and missed out on IN and OH. That one we left about noon and got home about 6 am the next morning. I got assigned the graveyard driving shift and drove pretty much the entire length of Illinois bottom to top in the middle of the night.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: spooky on June 01, 2015, 07:09:57 AM
Mine is 10. TN-VA-WV-MD-PA-NJ-NY-CT-RI-MA
Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: The Nature Boy on June 01, 2015, 07:12:56 AM
Last week I did:

SC - NC - VA - DC - MD - DE - NJ - NY - CT - MA - NH - ME

12 in one day, without stopping other than for gas and food. I'm just now catching up on sleep and getting my body back in order.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: leroys73 on June 01, 2015, 11:02:39 AM


But yeah, I think driving from one end of Texas to the other along I-10 or the entire length of I-5 through California is much more impressive than driving from Maryland to Maine and hitting all those tiny states along the way.
[/quote]

Driving I-10 might qualify as torture. That will be in another category.    :ded:
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: Pete from Boston on June 01, 2015, 12:18:09 PM
9, including DC.  Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, DC, Virginia, North Carolina.

If it was my goal to max the list, that day could have included Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania with only a couple of extra hours' effort.  But if Ifs and Buts were candies and nuts, as they say... so 9 it is.   
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: kkt on June 01, 2015, 01:00:00 PM
Not that many.  Five:  Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: odditude on June 01, 2015, 01:52:34 PM
FL-GA-SC-NC-VA-(DC-)MD-DE-PA-NJ.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: MikeTheActuary on June 01, 2015, 03:19:17 PM
My longest day driving or riding:  AL-GA-SC-NC-VA-WV-MD-PA-NJ-NY-CT for 11 states.  It was almost 13 states, since I started near the AL-FL border, and ended near the CT-MA line.

That was a day I'd rather not repeat, due to the length, amount of rain, and the food poisoning that made the last 4 hours oh-so-pleasurable.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: mvak36 on June 01, 2015, 03:35:08 PM
8 for me: NJ-PA-WV-OH-IN-IL-MO-KS. About 21 or 22 hrs of alternating driving with 2 others.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: PHLBOS on June 01, 2015, 03:45:18 PM
7 back in 1989: MA-CT-NY-NJ-DE-MD-VA.

7 again, PA-NJ-NY-CT-MA-NH-ME on the day of the Portsmouth, NH meet.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: Thing 342 on June 01, 2015, 04:24:55 PM
As a rider:
VA-(DC)-MD-DE-PA-NJ-NY-CT-RI-MA (9, 10 with DC)
As a driver:
IL-IN-OH-KY-WV-VA (6)
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: signalman on June 01, 2015, 04:26:55 PM
As a driver, I think my record is 6: NJ-PA-MD-WV-VA-TN and NJ-NY-CT-MA-NH-ME.

As a passenger, it's either 7 or 8 depending on how a "day" is defined.  If a day is only 24 hours, then it's 7.  If a day constitutes one continuous trip with only stops for food and fuel, then it's 8: NJ-PA-OH-IN-IL-IA-NE-(maybe, depending on the definition of day)WY.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: Ace10 on June 01, 2015, 08:21:17 PM
10 states in one day. That was a trip back home from NY. 10 states (plus DC). That one took about 22 hours.

New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, DC, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi.

Crossed a state line 12 times on that trip, with crossing the MD/DC state line three times - first at DC 295, second at I-295, third on the Woodrow Wilson bridge/Capital Beltway.

Second best - and definitely the longest distance (over 2,000 mi!) - in one day is 9. Technically it was over a 31 hour period, but the longest I ever stopped for gas/food/restroom was under an hour, so I'm counting it as one continuous day. Started the trip in the morning in Fort Lauderdale, saw the sunset in Georgia, saw the sunrise in Illinois, and saw a second sunset in South Dakota.

Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, (back into Georgia along I-24, back into Tennessee along I-24), Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, (back into Iowa along I-680), South Dakota.

Overall crossed a state line 11 times that day (GA/TN three times and IA/NE twice).
Title: Re: Most States in One Day
Post by: Pete from Boston on June 01, 2015, 08:28:04 PM
Quote from: The Nature Boy on June 01, 2015, 07:12:56 AM
I'm just now catching up on sleep and getting my body back in order.

And this is why I'm in no hurry to get atop this list.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: BamaZeus on June 02, 2015, 11:28:50 AM
11 on one trip SC-NC-VA-MD-DE-NJ-NY-CT-RI-MA-NH

We used to go from CT to SC as well, to visit family.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: roadman on June 02, 2015, 01:45:29 PM
7 for me (multiple times).  MA-CT-NY-NJ-DE-MD-VA
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: slorydn1 on June 02, 2015, 02:16:53 PM
Hmmm...

No matter how I slice it I guess it would be 6 for me.

All the trips I took as a kid from Schaumburg IL to Levittown or Deer Park NY crossed 6 states (IL-IN-OH-PA-NJ-NY) (and those were 1 day marathons) or from Schaumburg IL to Sunny Isles or Hallandale FL (IL-IN-KY-TN-GA-FL) (these were 2-3 day affairs though, 3 especially in the nationwide double nickel days). I wonder if I get to count the TN-GA-TN-GA portion of I-24 to I-75 separately because then it would be 8 (again, though, not fitting the OP's criteria of one day).

As an adult being the driver its 6 from New Bern NC to Deer Park NY (NC-VA-MD-DE-NJ-NY) unless I get to count that 266 feet of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge that's technically in DC as going through a state then maybe its 7.

Looks like I gotta get a trip to Maine in one of these years, LOL.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: democraticnole on June 05, 2015, 02:22:51 PM
When I was in college, I did some long road trips as the driver. Three trips I can think of had some lengthy drives:

-- FL, AL, TN, KY, IL (Tallahassee, FL to Peoria, IL). Not that many states, but a lot of miles, all driven by me. In six days, we did a triangle of FL, AL, TN, KY, IL, IA, MO, KS, OK, TX, LA, MS, AL, FL.
-- FL, GA, TN, KY, IN (Tallahassee, FL to Indianapolis area)
-- FL, GA, SC, NC, VA, DC, MD, DE, NJ, NY (Jacksonville, FL to New York City). Ten states is my personal longest driving in one day (13 hours I think).
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: roadman65 on June 05, 2015, 02:54:06 PM
FL, GA, SC, NC, VA in 1995.
NJ,DE, MD, VA, NC, SC, GA, FL in 1998.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: TEG24601 on June 05, 2015, 04:09:36 PM
Going over it, I can only come up with 6, at most in one day.  However, I have driven straight through before and did more.


One Day (6) - WA, OR, ID, UT, WY, NE or MI, IN, IL, WI, MN, ND.
Straight Through (7) - WA, OR, ID, UT, WY, NE, IA or IN, IL, IA, NE, UT, ID, OR
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: noelbotevera on June 05, 2015, 05:06:39 PM
Only 4 states. New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts (July 2009 or July 2010)
3 states for the previous day: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York (this was a Providence trip for my family)
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: Buck87 on June 05, 2015, 08:10:52 PM
8 - OH, WV, KY, VA, TN, NC, SC, GA

I've gone between Portsmouth, OH and Toccoa, GA many times, which is usually a trip covering 6 states in about 8 hours on US 23. I can remember one specific time that I purposely went slightly out of the way to include WV and SC to the trip as well.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: roadman65 on June 05, 2015, 08:21:41 PM
I think that the better question would be how many miles in a day (which was already covered) we have gone as states like California, Texas, and Montana do not stand a chance.  Crossing them states equals the same amount of mileage covered among many states along I-95 on the east coast.

Look at Texas with I-10.  Over one third of it is in Texas, so you have the TX-LA State Line closer to Jacksonville, FL than the NM-TX State Line on the other side of where I-10 runs in the Lone Star State.  So to travel I-10 in LA, MS, AL, and FL may be through 4 different states and could be done in a day, traveling the whole I-10 freeway in Texas is only one state which takes about 12 hours, but you traveled farther in mileage even though you remained intrastate.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: corco on June 05, 2015, 08:23:40 PM
I live in a bad part of the country for this.

If Canadian provinces count, I've done WI-IL-IN-MI-ON-QC-VT-NH in a day.

Beyond that, I've done 6 a few times:
OH-IN-IL-MO-KS-CO
AL-MS-KY-TN-IL-MO
TN-KY-IL-MO-IA-NE
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: slorydn1 on June 05, 2015, 10:39:41 PM
As a passenger/teenager back up driver for dad: 6 (IL-IN-OH-PA-NJ-NY) Several times in the '80's...

As THE driver: 5 (NC-VA-WV-KY-TN) A "Just Because" road trip my wife and I did in late January this year.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: TheHighwayMan3561 on June 06, 2015, 02:36:43 AM
Did WI-IL-IN-OH-PA-NY in a single drive session once, but I wasn't behind the wheel.

Traffic not withstanding I think I-95 would be the champ easily. You can start in Kittery, ME and be in North Carolina in 11-12 hours through ME, NH, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, PA, MD, VA, and NC.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: slorydn1 on June 06, 2015, 06:42:05 PM
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on June 06, 2015, 02:36:43 AM
Did WI-IL-IN-OH-PA-NY in a single drive session once, but I wasn't behind the wheel.

Traffic not withstanding I think I-95 would be the champ easily. You can start in Kittery, ME and be in North Carolina in 11-12 hours through ME, NH, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, PA, MD, VA, and NC.


I have thought about doing that (although in reverse, LOL). Even my wife is on board. The issue I see about doing it in just one day, though, is not distance, its the horrendous traffic between DC and points north. The last time I went north to visit family I was lucky to have averaged 45 mph for the whole trip. I am not sure I could be in ME in 12 hours from here.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: hotdogPi on June 06, 2015, 06:47:50 PM
Quote from: slorydn1 on June 06, 2015, 06:42:05 PM
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on June 06, 2015, 02:36:43 AM
Did WI-IL-IN-OH-PA-NY in a single drive session once, but I wasn't behind the wheel.

Traffic not withstanding I think I-95 would be the champ easily. You can start in Kittery, ME and be in North Carolina in 11-12 hours through ME, NH, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, PA, MD, VA, and NC.


I have thought about doing that (although in reverse, LOL). Even my wife is on board. The issue I see about doing it in just one day, though, is not distance, its the horrendous traffic between DC and points north. The last time I went north to visit family I was lucky to have averaged 45 mph for the whole trip. I am not sure I could be in ME in 12 hours from here.

Do it in the middle of the night?
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: davewiecking on June 06, 2015, 08:01:38 PM
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on June 06, 2015, 02:36:43 AM
Traffic not withstanding I think I-95 would be the champ easily. You can start in Kittery, ME and be in North Carolina in 11-12 hours through ME, NH, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, PA, MD, VA, and NC.

If you're staying on 95, you'd have a tough time not including DE and DC.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: jeffandnicole on June 06, 2015, 08:35:56 PM
Quote from: 1 on June 06, 2015, 06:47:50 PM
Quote from: slorydn1 on June 06, 2015, 06:42:05 PM
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on June 06, 2015, 02:36:43 AM
Did WI-IL-IN-OH-PA-NY in a single drive session once, but I wasn't behind the wheel.

Traffic not withstanding I think I-95 would be the champ easily. You can start in Kittery, ME and be in North Carolina in 11-12 hours through ME, NH, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, PA, MD, VA, and NC.


I have thought about doing that (although in reverse, LOL). Even my wife is on board. The issue I see about doing it in just one day, though, is not distance, its the horrendous traffic between DC and points north. The last time I went north to visit family I was lucky to have averaged 45 mph for the whole trip. I am not sure I could be in ME in 12 hours from here.

Do it in the middle of the night?

The trick is getting around NYC. Assuming no construction, anywhere from about midnight to noon going south and noon to 4am going north will get you thru without much of an issue. Relatively speaking, of course.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: froggie on June 06, 2015, 09:54:54 PM
Although it doesn't always happen, I have had success in the past at traversing the Cross-Bronx at/near the posted speed mid-day on Sunday.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: Pete from Boston on June 07, 2015, 09:16:29 AM

Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on June 06, 2015, 02:36:43 AM
Did WI-IL-IN-OH-PA-NY in a single drive session once, but I wasn't behind the wheel.

Traffic not withstanding I think I-95 would be the champ easily. You can start in Kittery, ME and be in North Carolina in 11-12 hours through ME, NH, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, PA, MD, VA, and NC.

This was my longest, minus the extra hour and a half needed to include Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.  I left Friday night after rush hour, stopped for a couple of hours in New Jersey, and drove through the night.  No real congestion until I hit horrendous vacationer traffic south of DC the next day.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: ekt8750 on June 07, 2015, 03:07:12 PM
Did 9 in one day and drove about 65% of it. PA, DE, MD, VA, WV, TN, AL, MS, LA. By far my fav road trip.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: The Nature Boy on June 08, 2015, 09:28:04 AM
As bad as traffic is north of DC, people really underestimate the amount of traffic south of DC. You have all of the vacationer traffic stuffed into two lanes in Virginia and the Carolinas. It can be a nightmare.

And you are not making it to Kittery in 11-12 hours from the NC border unless you have amazing luck and miss all the traffic. Passing through DC, Baltimore, Philly, New York and Boston's metro areas, you're going to hit some traffic at some point.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: froggie on June 08, 2015, 09:34:01 AM
QuoteAs bad as traffic is north of DC, people really underestimate the amount of traffic south of DC. You have all of the vacationer traffic stuffed into two lanes in Virginia and the Carolinas. It can be a nightmare.

If your definition of "nightmare" is that you're stuck going 65 because of a slow truck or bus passing a slower truck or bus, then yes...

A lot of people on this forum slam 95 through southern Virginia and the Carolinas, but from an operational and traffic flow standpoint, 95 really is not that bad.  There are certainly far worse roadways out there...
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: The Nature Boy on June 08, 2015, 10:06:23 AM
Quote from: froggie on June 08, 2015, 09:34:01 AM
QuoteAs bad as traffic is north of DC, people really underestimate the amount of traffic south of DC. You have all of the vacationer traffic stuffed into two lanes in Virginia and the Carolinas. It can be a nightmare.

If your definition of "nightmare" is that you're stuck going 65 because of a slow truck or bus passing a slower truck or bus, then yes...

A lot of people on this forum slam 95 through southern Virginia and the Carolinas, but from an operational and traffic flow standpoint, 95 really is not that bad.  There are certainly far worse roadways out there...

I've seen standstill traffic on I-95 in some rural areas of North Carolina. All it really takes is a small accident to create a bottleneck. Is it the worst in the country? Of course not, but at times, it does reach over capacity.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: froggie on June 08, 2015, 10:11:47 AM
If it takes a crash to create the bottleneck, then it's not over capacity.

North of Richmond (and especially Fredericksburg north) reaches over capacity...where additional flow is enough to create unstable  and breakdown conditions.  But in the Carolinas, that doesn't happen.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: The Nature Boy on June 08, 2015, 10:15:33 AM
Quote from: froggie on June 08, 2015, 10:11:47 AM
If it takes a crash to create the bottleneck, then it's not over capacity.

North of Richmond (and especially Fredericksburg north) reaches over capacity...where additional flow is enough to create unstable  and breakdown conditions.  But in the Carolinas, that doesn't happen.

I don't think anyone argues that you're going to have standstill traffic on a regular basis in rural NC/SC/VA. It's just that the current arrangement is prone to overcrowding and anything going wrong causes a bottleneck. It works fine but it's not clear sailing and open road like one might expect in rural areas. You might possibly run into some delays.

And the immediate DC area is a nightmare traffic wise.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: ekt8750 on June 08, 2015, 10:23:05 AM
Quote from: The Nature Boy on June 08, 2015, 09:28:04 AM
As bad as traffic is north of DC, people really underestimate the amount of traffic south of DC. You have all of the vacationer traffic stuffed into two lanes in Virginia and the Carolinas. It can be a nightmare.

And you are not making it to Kittery in 11-12 hours from the NC border unless you have amazing luck and miss all the traffic. Passing through DC, Baltimore, Philly, New York and Boston's metro areas, you're going to hit some traffic at some point.

I sat in three different backups on 95 between the Richmond and DC beltways two Saturdays ago and they were all volume related. I was pretty surprised to say the least.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: Mapmikey on June 08, 2015, 10:26:27 AM
Quote from: froggie on June 08, 2015, 10:11:47 AM
If it takes a crash to create the bottleneck, then it's not over capacity.

North of Richmond (and especially Fredericksburg north) reaches over capacity...where additional flow is enough to create unstable  and breakdown conditions.  But in the Carolinas, that doesn't happen.


My 35+ years of experience with I-95 in the Carolinas/Virginia is pretty much this...

Holiday weekends/periods can get crowded enough that there can be pockets of relative slow traffic (e.g. can't run wide open if that is your style) around clusters of trucks or RVs but true jams had a wreck or other mitigating factor such as bad weather.

95 in SC causes backups in Georgia where it drops from 3 lanes to 2 and that could indicate 6-laning I-95 in SC at least to Exit 33 (US 17 split towards Charleston) can be justified.

North of Richmond 95 can get slow sometimes from volume and frequently does this above Exit 126 Massaponax.

Mike
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: jeffandnicole on June 08, 2015, 11:03:49 AM
In my trips down 95 South, I noticed that you really don't hit "rural" 95 until you're past Richmond.  There's a LOT of traffic between Richmond and points north.

I try to limit my driving on holiday weekends because of the increase in traffic...and especially because these people don't know where they're going.  Doesn't matter if they're in Virginia and their destination is in Georgia. They're going to drive in such a manner that they hope not to miss their exit.  Same thing on my work commute home - if it's near a holiday or significant event (graduations, like around this time of year), I know I'm going to have to deal with more out-of-staters.

On my NJ Turnpike toll booth days, I remember one person coming thru my booth and complaining why there was so much traffic.  I asked what he was doing...He said he's on vacation.  My response: That's what everyone else is doing also.

It just goes to show that people think that everyone else is the problem.

Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: NWI_Irish96 on June 08, 2015, 01:13:34 PM
Six, several times in several different configurations.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: noelbotevera on June 08, 2015, 02:30:45 PM
If you are clever, what you can do is drive to Scranton, take I-84 for a free bridge (Newburgh-Beacon), enter CT, then take CT 8 south or US 7 south to I-95 in Danbury and Waterbury to Bridgeport or Norwalk. If you favor skipping Providence and points south up to Philadelphia, take I-84 all the way to I-90 in MA, and take I-90 east to I-95.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: DeaconG on June 09, 2015, 07:44:31 PM
Including DC, 9: PA-DE-MD-DC-VA-NC-SC-GA-FL.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: cl94 on June 09, 2015, 08:48:05 PM
Quote from: noelbotevera on June 08, 2015, 02:30:45 PM
If you are clever, what you can do is drive to Scranton, take I-84 for a free bridge (Newburgh-Beacon), enter CT, then take CT 8 south or US 7 south to I-95 in Danbury and Waterbury to Bridgeport or Norwalk. If you favor skipping Providence and points south up to Philadelphia, take I-84 all the way to I-90 in MA, and take I-90 east to I-95.

Bridge is tolled EB. All Hudson River bridges south of Albany have an EB toll ranging from $1.25 to whatever crazy rate the Port Authority now charges. Have to go up to US 9/20 or I-90 for a free crossing.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: iBallasticwolf2 on June 09, 2015, 09:15:50 PM
Whenever I go to Florida from Kentucky for the summer I always manage to go through KY, TN, GA, and FL (A total of 5 states). The drive is actually almost 950 miles as the drive starts in northern Kentucky.
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: Sykotyk on June 10, 2015, 11:00:08 PM
Well, nobody brought up this guy:

https://www.barrystiefel.com/21_states_in_one_day/21_states_in_one_day.htm

21. Though there's two caveats. He went from ET to CT, which added an hour. And he did it during the switch for DST, which added another hour. In a 24-hour span, he hit 19 states.

ME, NH, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD, WV, VA, TN, NC, GA, AL, IL, MO... and then AR and MS in the 2 additional hours during that calendar day.




Most I've ever driven in one day was a little over 1,000 (1,023 to be exact). Though that was out west (AR, MO, KS, OK, TX, NM). I have run through the Northeast from Maine into WV (ME, NH, MA, CT, NY, NJ, PA, MD, WV). I'm sure sometime in my life I did a longer trip that might have hit more northeast states at once. It was never a goal of mine. Just as a lot of my trips when I was younger were never about hitting counties, which irritates me because I know I came close to many that are still blank on my atlas and have to go out of my way to hit today...
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: hotdogPi on June 11, 2015, 05:40:11 AM
Quote from: Sykotyk on June 10, 2015, 11:00:08 PM
Most I've ever driven in one day was a little over 1,000 (1,023 to be exact).

It caps at 1023 (210-1).
Title: Re: Most States in One Day by Road
Post by: JCinSummerfield on June 12, 2015, 02:31:32 PM
8: MI-OH-WV-VA-NC-SC-GA-AL