How many hours of seat time on road trips?

[plenty]

Seen a few posts debating how much driving time is ideal on a driving holiday.

In my usual group we like to be on the road 6-7 hours per day, meaning 8-9 hour days once lunch and fuel stops are factored in. On the twisties this typically equates to 230-300 miles at six to eight tenths.

Just curious whether this might be considered an unusually long day or whether others also like to pack the miles in. Bearing in mind our trips are to drive, not to sightsee.

[s3 akr]

Sounds about right to me, although I've done upto 11 hours on my own, no grief from the directors chair to my left, hardly any music or radio, just me, the noise of the boxer flat 6 and the twisties!!

https://goo.gl/maps/yoeuXxhKamE2 (and then back onto Colchester)

https://goo.gl/maps/NJFEhCNup96WASKw6

Edited by s3 akr on Friday 14th June 10:51

[Sagbrit]

Just completed a 5 day tour of Scotland. We averaged 7-8 hours of driving each day. It's manageable but with beer each evening there is an accumulation effect!

[Allyc85]

On the scenic bits/good roads I aim for a maximum of 6 a day. That gives loads of time for photo and coffee stops! For the boring motorway part to get there I'll happily add on more given the situation.

[Claude455]

I've never found the right balance, and don't think I ever will - if I spend the majority of the day driving I love it but regret not stopping to appreciate the scenery and take more photos, however, when you take that approach instead I find it really detracts from the driving experience - nothing really flows. And doing a bit of each feels like I've failed at both. It's a lose/lose.

[plenty]

Claude455 said:

I've never found the right balance, and don't think I ever will - if I spend the majority of the day driving I love it but regret not stopping to appreciate the scenery and take more photos, however, when you take that approach instead I find it really detracts from the driving experience - nothing really flows. And doing a bit of each feels like I've failed at both. It's a lose/lose.

That's a thoughtful comment - thank you. Another reason why I always plan routes in advance - so that I know exactly when the good driving is coming up, where I don't bother with photo ops and instead maximise my attention on the road and achieving maximum flow. And knowing when to anticipate other sections where it's more about the scenery, and a more leisurely approach is desirable.

The spontaneous vs planned approach to trips is another conversation, but for me personally the planning helps to mitigate the risk of lose/lose.

[Riley Blue]

Six hours is about right; gives you time for morning coffee, a leisurely lunch and afternoon tea.

[LarsG]

Sitting in a car for 6-10 hours a day reminds me of being a sales rep. Shoot me. I much prefer sitting up front in the aircraft sipping a cold drink, arriving at the destination and being chauffeured to my accommodation and all my needs being met by first class service.

However, for fun yes I do go for a drive when time permits, but for an hour or so when traffic is at its least.

[blueg33]

I reckon 4 hours and use that on all my toad trips.

Day goes:

Leisurely breakfast
Leave hotel at 9.30 ish
Drive 1 hour
Coffee in a nice place
Drive 1 hour
Lunch in a nice place
Drive 1 hour
Coffee or similar in a nice place
Arrive at hotel circa 4pm.

This gives time to relax st hotel, use the spa etc, wander around the town, meet up hot dinner st 7.30-8.00 pm.

Repeat.

Often do this for 10 consecutive days, it works very well.

Sometimes we extend to 5 hours or drop to 3 so we can go to selected places.

But I wouldn’t do much more than 4 hours day in day out.

Next road trip sees us go to Angouleme for circuit des remparts, the diagonally across the dordogne, into the Pyrenees and zigzagging across the mountains to Santander. 3 days in Angouleme, 7 days driving.

I plan these trips for a bunch of friends and they work so well they ask me to plan ones that I am not going on as well as the ones I am on.

[plenty]

As expected there is diversity of opinion. Just wondering what proportion of road trippers might be considered “hardcore” drivers, i.e. are there for the journey not the destination.

I have other trips for when I want to sightsee...on my driving trips too much time lingering feels like a waste when I could be driving

[blueg33]

plenty said:

As expected there is diversity of opinion. Just wondering what proportion of road trippers might be considered “hardcore” drivers, i.e. are there for the journey not the destination.

I have other trips for when I want to sightsee...on my driving trips too much time lingering feels like a waste when I could be driving

Journey for us.

[theshavedyeti]

I have done the North Coast 500 twice now (from Essex), as well as a few shorter trips round Wales, the Lake District and Cornwall/Devon. I've found 5 hours is about right to give enough time to have a good drive, as well as some time to take frequent stops for photos etc.

[CarbonXKR]

blueg33 said:

I reckon 4 hours and use that on all my toad trips.

Day goes:

Leisurely breakfast
Leave hotel at 9.30 ish
Drive 1 hour
Coffee in a nice place
Drive 1 hour
Lunch in a nice place
Drive 1 hour
Coffee or similar in a nice place
Arrive at hotel circa 4pm.

This gives time to relax st hotel, use the spa etc, wander around the town, meet up hot dinner st 7.30-8.00 pm.

Repeat.

Often do this for 10 consecutive days, it works very well.

Sometimes we extend to 5 hours or drop to 3 so we can go to selected places.

But I wouldn’t do much more than 4 hours day in day out.

Next road trip sees us go to Angouleme for circuit des remparts, the diagonally across the dordogne, into the Pyrenees and zigzagging across the mountains to Santander. 3 days in Angouleme, 7 days driving.

I plan these trips for a bunch of friends and they work so well they ask me to plan ones that I am not going on as well as the ones I am on.

Same for me, after my first trip in 2013, I have cut right back and enjoy both the drive and the destinations/viewpoints/coffe - lunch stops. Also try and spend two nights in some better spots to relax. Much more fun now, 5th trip in the planning for next year