sot poll: how to break up a 1700 mi drive

[tim]

I have to do it in March, from Dallas to Connecticut when I move. I have my wife, two kids and dog, which will all fit in my e39 touring. The e34 is being shipped with the stuff, safe and sound, covered (sigh). The mileage is about 1700 mi. I figure that averages to about 24hrs of drive time. So how would you do it? Assume all the usual pro's and cons, accounting for the variables. Any commentary, or expressions of sympathy are welcome. And what if anything should I do to the car ('99 e39 540it 77k mi) in prep?

[Beez540]

actually, I'd try to make a road trip / vac. out of it. Take my time and try to enjoy it. Maybe spend 3 or 4 days on the road? Just a thought.

[632 Regal]

thats a LOT of miles, even if you figure an average speed of 50mph, which would be realistic with the stops, chow, bathroom your looking at about 34 hours. I dont think you can squeek that in 24 hours. I would break it into 2 or 3 days and like Beez said make a trip/vaca out of it. Or let them haul the e39 and just fly

[MantecaBMW]

Make a nice 3-4 day vacation out of it.......nice drive, less stress.

Either that, or give the wife and kids some Nyquil, pop some No-Doz and a pot of coffee and knock it out.....just watch out for the troopers.....lol

[Bill R.]

30 plus hour runs straight, nowdays i'd go along with the rest and drive a leisurely 8 or so hours a day and do some siteseeing along the way and make a little vacation out of it...The trip would be a lot more memorable and enjoyable this way...

I have to do it in March, from Dallas to Connecticut when I move. I have my wife, two kids and dog, which will all fit in my e39 touring. The e34 is being shipped with the stuff, safe and sound, covered (sigh). The mileage is about 1700 mi. I figure that averages to about 24hrs of drive time. So how would you do it? Assume all the usual pro's and cons, accounting for the variables. Any commentary, or expressions of sympathy are welcome. And what if anything should I do to the car ('99 e39 540it 77k mi) in prep?

[Brian C.]

Great flick from the past.



Anyway Tim, although I admire your mathmatics, I just can't imagine how you and the wife and the kids and the dog named Boo could possibly average 70mph....let alone WANT TO. At that rate you'd be either so wired or so dead at the end that you'd never want to see the car again.

My vote would be to make it a 2 night sleep-over trip. Push yourself the first night as best you can. Then a good night's rest and a fun stop somewhere during day two for a couple of hours.....Six Flags...South of the Border...Stuckey's.....somewhere to unwind. Then back on the road for another couple hundred miles, stay the night, then you're all downhill the third day. Get Audio Books. They can last for hours, and though they may start out slow, once everyone is engrossed in a story, the miles will pass quicker.

Sounds challenging to me. My longest solo roadtrip was Gainesville, FL to Loveland, CO to Washington DC and back to FL during my junior year of college, '81 in my '76 Mercury Cougar. 10 days I'll never forget and a few I'll never remember.

Good Luck!

Brian C.

[JAlfredPrufrock]

A couple weeks ago I did ~1100 miles New Orleans to Milwaukee in 13 hours, I don't see a problem with doing 1700 miles in 24 hours.

[winfred]

at what 130 mph? i do 1100 miles at 70-75 and it takes around 20 hours of road time with a few piss stops and a bowl or two of wendys chili, my trip is about 99% interstate so i am not being slowed down by small roads

A couple weeks ago I did ~1100 miles New Orleans to Milwaukee in 13 hours.

[liquidtiger720]

Me being a 'kid' not long ago (well i still am), i vote for stopping in the middle overnight or flying me over there. There is no way I would last- when i was a kid. I could barely last from San fRancisco to Las Angeles - ~800 miles.

But now adays. I would drive it =)

[winfred]

worst i ever did was the 1100 mile one way to va run non stop and back the next day (i don't remember the reason for cutting the trip short but i was pissed to get back into the car so soon)

Me being a 'kid' not long ago (well i still am), i vote for stopping in the middle overnight or flying me over there. There is no way I would last- when i was a kid. I could barely last from San fRancisco to Las Angeles - ~800 miles.

But now adays. I would drive it =)