For me, it really depends.

Depends on the drive - straight and flat or up/down/curves. The more I have to pay attention and think, the more likely I'll tire and want to break up the trip.

How much traffic? More traffic, more attention, more thinking and more likely to stop.

Car? Depending on comfort levels, may choose to stop.

Where would I stop - safe and clean? Or no name motel out in the middle of nowhere? Former may be more likely to stop; latter may be more likely to drive through.

10 hours I would tend to drive through. 12 hours is on the border and kind of my limit these days. 12+ hours I would tend to stop.

You want to be safe and alert for the whole drive so I vote split it.

Single shot but I love driving. I’ll leave at 1am so I can get some hours in when the professionals are on the road and less idiots who don’t know how to drive.

My model has changed. When in college, there was nothing but one day. Now I’d leave early enough to split it, plan to split it with a stop picked out for a longer first day (but no reservations), then see how I feel when I’m getting close to the planned stop. If still rocking, then finish it in one day. 75% of the time it ends up being one day, but I am not backed into a corner where I “have to” do it in one day.

quote:

Originally posted by cheesegrits:
That would be a one day trip for me, and I would prefer to drive it alone. I love driving alone--I can stop when I want, keep the car super cold, and listen to whatever audio book or music I want. Being considerate of other people just messes things up.

This. I agree with all this.

One thing I did incorporate into long drives is about a 20 minute nap (in the car) every 4-5 hours. Those Air Force 'power naps' that B-2 crews were publicized to take on long missions really do make a huge difference. At least for me. Even if I can't sleep, I'll lean back, close my eyes, cover my face with a cap and just concentrate on something unrelated.

It totally depends on if you're going alone, if you're retired and if there is an interesting place to stop on the way.

If it's a boring drive and you're going alone I would power through in one day.

Depends, I used to drive from GA to MI all of the time up I75, used to be a 12 hour drive, no problem. The last few times took between 16-18 hours through that shithole area Cincinnati. I won't drive it anymore, I fly into Flint or Detroit and rent a car. Also, I have set my driving limit at about 7 hrs one way, any longer and I will fly. I don't have it in me no mo

It depends on one's age and health as much as anything. Such a drive was just tedious for the first 50 years of my life, a challenge for the next 15, and almost impossible at 70. I'm not one to stop often, so it gets pretty painful to push on for half a day.
I typically attend an annual event that concludes on Sundays at 1 PM, and live about 8 hours away. I drive about 3.5-4 of it and crash for the night and get home before lunch on Monday. Even 8 hours is a lot, when half the day is shot.

Back in college Daytona to just outside of NYC was a 18 hour or more trip. Always one shot. These days five hours or so is it.

A lot has to do with the time of the year. Days with a lot longer daylight are easier. Driving through the night these days isn't my favorite.

But why decide? Have some planned stops along the way mid point. If you feel the need, then sstop.

If I had plenty of time I’d split it. Like most everyone else here I had a lot more driving stamina in my youth. In my early twenties I made several straight through 18 hour drives.

Definitely more driving stamina in youth. On the flip side (20 hour drive to college), after 45 years less stamina, but the cars require at lot less effort to drive. With all the safety aids, heated / cooled seats, massage, etc., stress per hour is lower. I'd drive straight for 10, but break at 12.

It really would depend on what was waiting for me.

If I were just driving to get back and had no schedule, I'd get up at 3am and be on the road before 4am.

What the traffic going to be like?

12 hours is nothing. Knock it out and save the extra day for time to do things at your destination. We do 14.5 pretty regularly to my in-laws in FL, and it's no big deal. 17 to South Dakota gets a little long...anything more than 20 will make you wish you split it up.

I'm a night person--anything before 0900 just doesn't exist. At age 82 my night vision has deteriorated, too. I typically want to stop for the night when it gets near sundown. Consequently, I'd split the drive into 2 days.

It was not always so. When I was a lot younger I'd often drive 10-15 hours with food, fuel, and potty breaks. The furthest I'd ever driven on one day was 930 miles (in the 1960s--no Interstates). I don't do things like that any more. I drive alone, and always have (never married).

Most of my driving now is for sightseeing, anyway--I have little reason to do just A to B driving. Consequently, I make a lot of stops and use up time that way. I typically plan 300 miles a day, not to exceed 500 (if few stops). (It's great to be retired and not rushed.)

flashguy

quote:

Originally posted by Krazeehorse:
One day and leave super early in the morning.

Yup. I'm an old (fart (70) and ending a long drive in the dark is real hard.

10-12 is an easy one day trip. We do it all the time with the kids. Anything short of about 15 hours and I'm not paying for a hotel. If it's just me and no family in the car, 18 hours.

I try to time it so that I hit major cities at other than rush hour. Find it easier to skip a hotel on the return trip if I am within a couple hours of home

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
The difference between 10 and 12 is significant. A 10 hour drive is very doable. A 12 hour is much more of a drain for me.

Agreed.

From where I live to where my parents live is 10ish hours. Very doable in a day.

But when the weather's bad and the roads are backed up, it's been 12+ hours before. And those sucked.

If it's less than 14 hours, all in one shot.

lean toward one shot

but in heavy rain / snow / poor conditions no way -- too mentally taxing

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