Unrealistic Driving Times/Mileage

[jeffandnicole]

You know those websites/billboards/advertisements that tell you you're thisclose, when it's virtually impossible to get there within the time/distance stated.

One such example I came across today:  New Castle Airport near Wilmington, DE, which claims one is only a 25 minute drive to Downtown Philadelphia.  http://www.newcastleairportilg.com/

Per Google Maps, http://goo.gl/maps/QToF9 , the distance between the two is about 37 miles, and 44 minutes of driving.  In order to get there in 25 minutes, one would need to average about 89 mph, and that includes driving on local streets as well!

[hotdogPi]

I-95
16 miles
14 min

Not quite unrealistic, but still above the speed limit. Seen on I-93 in Massachusetts. However, this one is official.

[agentsteel53]

somewhere in the midwest (I-80 in Iowa) is an advertisement for a Best Western, explicitly stated to be 110 miles distant.

"only an hour away!"

[Molandfreak]

I bet Wall Drug gets their driving times wrong quite frequently

[TCN7JM]

I bet Wall Drug gets their driving times wrong quite frequently

Huh? Around here it's usually just the number of miles to the tourist trap, never an estimated amount of time.

[Molandfreak]

I bet Wall Drug gets their driving times wrong quite frequently

Huh? Around here it's usually just the number of miles to the tourist trap, never an estimated amount of time.

There are far too many signs, though. At least one of them has to have a time estimate.

[SD Mapman]

I bet Wall Drug gets their driving times wrong quite frequently

Huh? Around here it's usually just the number of miles to the tourist trap, never an estimated amount of time.

There are far too many signs, though. At least one of them has to have a time estimate.

I haven't seen one. EVER. (and their ice water is horrible)

[Molandfreak]

I bet Wall Drug gets their driving times wrong quite frequently

Huh? Around here it's usually just the number of miles to the tourist trap, never an estimated amount of time.

There are far too many signs, though. At least one of them has to have a time estimate.

I haven't seen one. EVER. (and their ice water is horrible)

True fact. So is their coffee.

[SD Mapman]

There are far too many signs, though. At least one of them has to have a time estimate.

I think that's because SD is very vague about taxing billboards and other signs... there are more Deadwood billboards on I-90 than Las Vegas billboards on I-15 (I think).

[NE2]

(and their ice water is horrible)

That's because a Texan ran their procurement division the day they ordered their ahhssss water.

[SD Mapman]

I'll roll with that.

True fact. So is their coffee.

It is 5 cents, after all.

[cpzilliacus]

You know those websites/billboards/advertisements that tell you you're thisclose, when it's virtually impossible to get there within the time/distance stated.

Classic examples in this case - advertisements for real estate for sale to people living in the Washington, D.C. metro area, often well south along the I-81 corridor or in relatively distant parts of West Virginia, invariably touted as "2 hours to the Capital Beltway."

[deathtopumpkins]

I-95
16 miles
14 min

Not quite unrealistic, but still above the speed limit. Seen on I-93 in Massachusetts. However, this one is official.

Based on past discussion on this board it is probable that MassDOT bases these travel times off the actual speed of traffic rather than the speed limit.

Although 16 miles in 14 minutes is only around 67 mph. Easily corresponds to 65 mph (the speed limit on 93 outside of 128/95) if you round.

[TCN7JM]

Hotels are pretty bad at advertising from other cities, I've noticed. I saw a sign just outside Mankato which said the trek of about 35 miles to St. James can be done in 25 minutes with the speed limit at 60 miles per hour. I see signs like this all the time with hotels, but I never thought to actually test how far off they were.

[Crazy Packers Fan]

Sort of related - a trucker told my dad it would take an hour to go through Texas on I-40. Unfortunately, our car was not capable of going upwards of 175 mph.

[roadman65]

Sort of related - a trucker told my dad it would take an hour to go through Texas on I-40. Unfortunately, our car was not capable of going upwards of 175 mph.

I wonder how long it takes him to ace all of I-10 in Texas LOL?    He most likely the same man who once told my dad years ago he could go from Staten Island to Daytona Beach in 14 hours.

[Scott5114]

There used to be a billboard just south of Oklahoma City that did this on purpose, probably as a joke. I think it was a car lot. It said the destination was "Only 15 minutes ahead! (at 200 mph)"

[KEK Inc.]

He most likely the same man who once told my dad years ago he could go from Staten Island to Daytona Beach in 14 hours.

Google says that Staten Is. to Daytona Beach is 14 hours and 40 minuets.