Realistic miles per day in continental europe?
Discussion
For those who cross the continent regularly, how many miles is realistic in a day in your experience? Perhaps if you could give you preferred average number and the maximum number if you push it. It is all good for benchmarking.
The specific reason for my question is a route going France (Calais), Holland, Denmark, Germany, Sweden. It is 1800 miles or so one way.
However, I am also interested in other routes for general knowledge, and the return journey that may take in other countries.
The specific reason for my question is a route going France (Calais), Holland, Denmark, Germany, Sweden. It is 1800 miles or so one way.
However, I am also interested in other routes for general knowledge, and the return journey that may take in other countries.
I have not been on this route, but this is my experience.
My usual trip is towards eastern Europe. In the last 2 years, it has been overnight Calais - Brno (CZ). The distance is 800 miles / 1300 km and it takes about 12-13 hours. Over night you get less traffic, although there are still road works.
Arriving in Brno at mid-day, stay there until next morning and set off again for another 4-500 miles until destination.
This works well for me because:
- I like driving over night, it's quieter and it's not so boring as you can go at your own pace in Germany
- can set off after work, Thu or Fri evening (not too far from Folkestone)
- taking a break the following day in a nice place
- it breaks up the journey into a longer chunk first and then a shorter one which I do by day.
Another example is going to France, where the distance from Calais to destination is 1000km and about 9h, autoroutes and then national roads. I do this overnight as well, but leaving Calais at around 1-2am, so I can get to the destination at mid-day. On the way back, set off at 3pm, so I can get the 1am train back.
Similar distance, 1000km, from northern Italy -> CH -> France, in one go, leaving in the evening for the 5am train back home.
If I were planning a 3000 km trip, I think I would break it up in 3 parts and aim for 1000km, maybe more on the first day.
Have fun planning, it sounds like a good trip!
My usual trip is towards eastern Europe. In the last 2 years, it has been overnight Calais - Brno (CZ). The distance is 800 miles / 1300 km and it takes about 12-13 hours. Over night you get less traffic, although there are still road works.
Arriving in Brno at mid-day, stay there until next morning and set off again for another 4-500 miles until destination.
This works well for me because:
- I like driving over night, it's quieter and it's not so boring as you can go at your own pace in Germany
- can set off after work, Thu or Fri evening (not too far from Folkestone)
- taking a break the following day in a nice place
- it breaks up the journey into a longer chunk first and then a shorter one which I do by day.
Another example is going to France, where the distance from Calais to destination is 1000km and about 9h, autoroutes and then national roads. I do this overnight as well, but leaving Calais at around 1-2am, so I can get to the destination at mid-day. On the way back, set off at 3pm, so I can get the 1am train back.
Similar distance, 1000km, from northern Italy -> CH -> France, in one go, leaving in the evening for the 5am train back home.
If I were planning a 3000 km trip, I think I would break it up in 3 parts and aim for 1000km, maybe more on the first day.
Have fun planning, it sounds like a good trip!
butch_ said:
I have not been on this route, but this is my experience.
My usual trip is towards eastern Europe. In the last 2 years, it has been overnight Calais - Brno (CZ). The distance is 800 miles / 1300 km and it takes about 12-13 hours. Over night you get less traffic, although there are still road works.
Arriving in Brno at mid-day, stay there until next morning and set off again for another 4-500 miles until destination.
This works well for me because:
- I like driving over night, it's quieter and it's not so boring as you can go at your own pace in Germany
- can set off after work, Thu or Fri evening (not too far from Folkestone)
- taking a break the following day in a nice place
- it breaks up the journey into a longer chunk first and then a shorter one which I do by day.
Another example is going to France, where the distance from Calais to destination is 1000km and about 9h, autoroutes and then national roads. I do this overnight as well, but leaving Calais at around 1-2am, so I can get to the destination at mid-day. On the way back, set off at 3pm, so I can get the 1am train back.
Similar distance, 1000km, from northern Italy -> CH -> France, in one go, leaving in the evening for the 5am train back home.
If I were planning a 3000 km trip, I think I would break it up in 3 parts and aim for 1000km, maybe more on the first day.
Have fun planning, it sounds like a good trip!
Well done for doing this, I'd fall asleep if I had to drive all night I think, I wouldn't be able to just switch my body clock around like this. OP look to do around 700-800 miles in one day, the traffic flows so much more freely abroad than in the UK. Get as much done on the first day as you can, the most ive done in a 24hr period is 1236miles from Ramsgate to near Estapona in Spain, That was leaving on the 7is Train and having a few kips enroute.My usual trip is towards eastern Europe. In the last 2 years, it has been overnight Calais - Brno (CZ). The distance is 800 miles / 1300 km and it takes about 12-13 hours. Over night you get less traffic, although there are still road works.
Arriving in Brno at mid-day, stay there until next morning and set off again for another 4-500 miles until destination.
This works well for me because:
- I like driving over night, it's quieter and it's not so boring as you can go at your own pace in Germany
- can set off after work, Thu or Fri evening (not too far from Folkestone)
- taking a break the following day in a nice place
- it breaks up the journey into a longer chunk first and then a shorter one which I do by day.
Another example is going to France, where the distance from Calais to destination is 1000km and about 9h, autoroutes and then national roads. I do this overnight as well, but leaving Calais at around 1-2am, so I can get to the destination at mid-day. On the way back, set off at 3pm, so I can get the 1am train back.
Similar distance, 1000km, from northern Italy -> CH -> France, in one go, leaving in the evening for the 5am train back home.
If I were planning a 3000 km trip, I think I would break it up in 3 parts and aim for 1000km, maybe more on the first day.
Have fun planning, it sounds like a good trip!
600 miles is the most I’ve done in a day. I certainly wouldn’t want to do anymore and you also need to consider the type of car when doing long distances.
Whilst I preferred my last G30 530d M Sport to its predecessor a Mercedes E250 AMG, the latter was more comfortable for really long journeys.
Whilst I preferred my last G30 530d M Sport to its predecessor a Mercedes E250 AMG, the latter was more comfortable for really long journeys.
We drive from Somerset to mid Croatia often- about 1500 miles total. We do it in 2.5 days, so about 600 miles a day. Easy to do without leaving too early/arriving too late, and with enough stops.
It’s possible to do more, but if you’re booking hotels in advance and you do meet some traffic, then you can end up arriving very late in the day.
Traffic is normally fine, but Belgium can have its moments, and the odd roadworks in Germany can slow you down.
It’s possible to do more, but if you’re booking hotels in advance and you do meet some traffic, then you can end up arriving very late in the day.
Traffic is normally fine, but Belgium can have its moments, and the odd roadworks in Germany can slow you down.
I have crossed the continent many times... and the answer 'depends'!
I have done it driving solo from Cannes to Guildford in a single hop - and have done that maybe 5 or 6 times. Stopping only for petrol.
However with Mrs NDA in the car, we make slower time, which is equally enjoyable. I plan on around 300 miles a day - which, of course is pretty easy on the motorway. Set off early, stop for lunch, pootle around in the afternoon at the destination, dinner, rinse and repeat.
I have done it driving solo from Cannes to Guildford in a single hop - and have done that maybe 5 or 6 times. Stopping only for petrol.
However with Mrs NDA in the car, we make slower time, which is equally enjoyable. I plan on around 300 miles a day - which, of course is pretty easy on the motorway. Set off early, stop for lunch, pootle around in the afternoon at the destination, dinner, rinse and repeat.
When we had the volcano ash grounding flights, I drove London-Prague on a Saturday to pick up some family and then Prague-London on Sunday coming back.
Around 800 miles each way, it was much easier than driving in the UK.
Mostly sitting on the motorway around the EU 82mph speed limit. Some goes at 125mph top speed through Germany but it was much noisier and used fuel more quickly. I was in a Honda civic that was limited by gearing, so top speed was red line 6,500rpm in 5th.
There are plenty of service stations, so easy to stop every couple of hours or so for a break/fuel.
Around 800 miles each way, it was much easier than driving in the UK.
Mostly sitting on the motorway around the EU 82mph speed limit. Some goes at 125mph top speed through Germany but it was much noisier and used fuel more quickly. I was in a Honda civic that was limited by gearing, so top speed was red line 6,500rpm in 5th.
There are plenty of service stations, so easy to stop every couple of hours or so for a break/fuel.
Edited by Whataguy on Sunday 14th July 08:02
Surely it depends if you want to enjoy the journey or not?
Last time I did it Ferry Hull to Zebrugge
Zebrugge to just and hour or so S of Paris Overnight
There to Annecy 2 overnights
Leysin in Switzerland 1nt
Bern in Switzerland 1nt
2 Nights just S of Baden Baden
2 Nights in Bruges
Then ferry home to Hull
2009 in my MX5
Last time I did it Ferry Hull to Zebrugge
Zebrugge to just and hour or so S of Paris Overnight
There to Annecy 2 overnights
Leysin in Switzerland 1nt
Bern in Switzerland 1nt
2 Nights just S of Baden Baden
2 Nights in Bruges
Then ferry home to Hull
2009 in my MX5
Edited by loskie on Sunday 14th July 10:21
I've done Italy a few times in one day, it's about 1,000 miles and a solid full day of driving with a couple of stops only for fuel. If I was on holiday I'd break it into two days.
Coming back is a bit more difficult as you'll be aiming for a train/ferry and need to build in some time for traffic or delays.
Edit to add that's open motorway the whole way with very little traffic.
Coming back is a bit more difficult as you'll be aiming for a train/ferry and need to build in some time for traffic or delays.
Edit to add that's open motorway the whole way with very little traffic.
Edited by CLK-GTR on Sunday 14th July 08:26
Buffalo said:
The specific reason for my question is a route going France (Calais), Holland, Denmark, Germany, Sweden. It is 1800 miles or so one way.
1800k or miles? If you mean miles and are going to the north of Sweden then suspect the lack of motorways is going to limit you there.As many others have correctly said it depends on the actual route. I’ve found that when driving to and from Spain in August delays due to the sheer weight of traffic in France are inevitable.
There is also clearly a safety consideration. I think that driving anymore than 10 hours a day (excluding stops) is irresponsible and dangerous.
There is also clearly a safety consideration. I think that driving anymore than 10 hours a day (excluding stops) is irresponsible and dangerous.
My partner comfortably did the 450 miles from Southampton docks to Le Mans in one hit this year to meet me at the start of this years LM24hr, but as other have said, consider what car you're using as this has a big effect on how nice the long drive is. She was in her trusty Jaguar XF 3.0 TDV6, so was sat in a very comfortable seat, with an effortless drive train. It would have been significantly less pleasant in her Clio 1.2 Dynamique she used to own.
Rob 131 Sport said:
There is also clearly a safety consideration. I think that driving anymore than 10 hours a day (excluding stops) is irresponsible and dangerous.
Even then it depends. 10 hours straight on busy autoroutes being tailgated by Belgians is very different to a run on empty roads with loads of breaks.For the OP's route, driving around Brussels may be a factor - that's rarely quick - and note that the Netherlands has a daytime 100 kph limit which will limit progress.
I frequently drive the 2000km journey to Portugal. I do that in two days but it's virtually all motorway. For less 'let's just get there' journeys I tend not to want to drive more than around 800km a day. Don't underestimate the fatigue of the last 200km or so; it does make a big difference.
I frequently drive the 2000km journey to Portugal. I do that in two days but it's virtually all motorway. For less 'let's just get there' journeys I tend not to want to drive more than around 800km a day. Don't underestimate the fatigue of the last 200km or so; it does make a big difference.
If you’re used to driving long distance then 5-600 miles is the sweet spot, much more than that gets to be a slog, especially if there are delays.
If you’re not accustomed to spending many hours driving, then I’d knock a bit off that.
I’ve done a trip of about 1,100 miles pretty much non-stop, but that was rotating drivers every few hours. Even so, it’s was nearly 24 hours of driving. I wouldn’t do it again.
I had a trip of 750 miles last month and doing it in one day was possible, but I opted to split it in two and take it easy/enjoy the drive/arrive more relaxed. Definitely the right decision.
If you’re not accustomed to spending many hours driving, then I’d knock a bit off that.
I’ve done a trip of about 1,100 miles pretty much non-stop, but that was rotating drivers every few hours. Even so, it’s was nearly 24 hours of driving. I wouldn’t do it again.
I had a trip of 750 miles last month and doing it in one day was possible, but I opted to split it in two and take it easy/enjoy the drive/arrive more relaxed. Definitely the right decision.
I'm heading off on that journey on Monday but in the opposite direction. As the only driver I would rarely do more than 1000km in a day and take regular stops. Traffic, weather, roadworks can easily add a couple of hours to the plans and as somebody already mentioned, that last couple of hundred km in the day when there's a temptation to keep pushing on can be quite unpleasant.
Until earlier this year we owned a holiday place on the Algarve. I'm a little older than 'er indoors so retired some 8 years ago, she retired a year back.
I'd converted a Ford Connect van into a 'Billy no Mates' camper for this job, Norfolk to Newhaven, 185 miles, top the fuel up at Tesco in Lewes, ferry to Dieppe, if arriving in the evening overnight outside MacDonalds for the free wifi, stock up at Lidl next morning and get on my way. Could usually get south of Bordeaux in a day, overnight in a motorway service area, off early in the morning and get partway down Spain on day three, again overnight in a service area and make the Algarve by mid afternoon.
I prefered to do the two middle days Sat/Sun as this reduced the heavy traffic, set Tomton to quickest non toll route. Overall distance is about 1500miles and I found that about 500 miles was enough in a day.
In the early years up to 'er indoors retiring I'd go off for a couple of months, she'd fly out, Stansted/Faro cattle class with Ryanair for two weeks. Done this twice a year bar Covid interfearence.
Last year I bought and converted a Boxer van...MWBH1.... for the same job but big enough for two to sleep/live in in reasonable comfort, but she's a lifelong smoker with two different cancers and needs fag stops so I'm struggling to get 400 miles into a day!
To counter this, I'm travelling via Andorra... on the outward trip in September and on the inward trip in April... to give a bit more variety and enable cheap hooch purchases.
Do NOT be tempted to SORN vehicle whilst using in Euroland, Spanish plod at least can use DVLA's website to check up, as can your breakdown cover provider. Breakdown cover is reccomended, I had to abandon the first Connect in Valladolid Spain when a bigend bearing failed on the motorway with no breakdown cover. I had to fly home, source another van and drive back to collect the broken vans contents!
So to sum up, 500 plus miles/day is doable by limiting stops and keeping to around 60/65mph, but if you have passengers who need more frequent stops then 350/400 miles is more achivable, the trip just takes a bit longer.
I'd converted a Ford Connect van into a 'Billy no Mates' camper for this job, Norfolk to Newhaven, 185 miles, top the fuel up at Tesco in Lewes, ferry to Dieppe, if arriving in the evening overnight outside MacDonalds for the free wifi, stock up at Lidl next morning and get on my way. Could usually get south of Bordeaux in a day, overnight in a motorway service area, off early in the morning and get partway down Spain on day three, again overnight in a service area and make the Algarve by mid afternoon.
I prefered to do the two middle days Sat/Sun as this reduced the heavy traffic, set Tomton to quickest non toll route. Overall distance is about 1500miles and I found that about 500 miles was enough in a day.
In the early years up to 'er indoors retiring I'd go off for a couple of months, she'd fly out, Stansted/Faro cattle class with Ryanair for two weeks. Done this twice a year bar Covid interfearence.
Last year I bought and converted a Boxer van...MWBH1.... for the same job but big enough for two to sleep/live in in reasonable comfort, but she's a lifelong smoker with two different cancers and needs fag stops so I'm struggling to get 400 miles into a day!
To counter this, I'm travelling via Andorra... on the outward trip in September and on the inward trip in April... to give a bit more variety and enable cheap hooch purchases.
Do NOT be tempted to SORN vehicle whilst using in Euroland, Spanish plod at least can use DVLA's website to check up, as can your breakdown cover provider. Breakdown cover is reccomended, I had to abandon the first Connect in Valladolid Spain when a bigend bearing failed on the motorway with no breakdown cover. I had to fly home, source another van and drive back to collect the broken vans contents!
So to sum up, 500 plus miles/day is doable by limiting stops and keeping to around 60/65mph, but if you have passengers who need more frequent stops then 350/400 miles is more achivable, the trip just takes a bit longer.
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