Long drive, Can I do it?

[Cookie]

Dearest ATOT,

I asked for 4 weeks off work starting this Friday to take a road trip. I only got 3 weeks (plus 3 day weekend) - 24 days total.

I want to go from Calgary, AB to Kitchener, ON, then south through a few eastern states, at least as far as DC, at most as far as Orlando (I know this is pushing it), then to Arkansas before returning to Calgary.

So far it's just me and my pup, so I'd be the only one driving. Can I do it? Is it crazy? Should I?

If I go, what should I see along the way? And can I crash for a night on your couch?

PS. Mostly I am going to visit friends, but I'd like to see sights too.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Figure on driving a max of 700-750 miles per day without beating your body up to badly.

Decide what you want to see and come up with a schedule of time for the sight seeing.
Allow 6 hrs sleep time per day on average (assuming that you are young) and see what the map delivers for you.

Determine the total miles first and then the expect drive time overall. Take away sleep time for each day and that is your socializing time.

 

[JulesMaximus]

No, you definitely can't do it.

 

[Eos]

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sou...-94.6122&sspn=27.353773,56.777344&ie=UTF8&z=5

Yikes. That would be a lot of driving, but completely possible. 10,000 kilometers or so. 500km a day is not a big deal.

Be mindful of your dog's ability to travel.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Kitchener is a hole - don't come here

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

I've found that about 26 hours of road warrioring it in one go is about my limit.

 

[spaceman]

heall yeahh

 

[the DRIZZLE]

I think you can do it, but not the Orlando route. I'd try to hit the Blue Ridge Parkway in NC and then head east through Tennessee.

 

[Cookie]

So many options. I told my friend in Orlando I may not make it that far, she suggested to fly there and we'd drive up together. Would have to skip Arkansas and maybe catch a quick flight from somewhere to Kitchener.

Would be nice to have someone else to drive with, but would have to leave pup at home.

 

[FoBoT]

driving more than 500 miles a day isn't 'fun' , it is just getting there

 

[CaptnKirk]

When you get to Orlando, you'll see a sign that says, "Disney World Left"

You're too late, it's gone . . go home.

 

[Skitzer]

Can be done.
You will not have fun.

 

[SMOGZINN]

Would be nice to have someone else to drive with, but would have to leave pup at home.

I'm an experienced long haul road tripper. I love the open road, mostly the south west. I try to take 2 road trips a year.
Has your pup ever been on a long road trip like this? If not, you might want to give it a test run by doing a all day drive. My experiences is that animals slow you down a lot on road trips.
I can make about 700-800 miles a day on a serious road trip, with a day or two in between long hauls to explore a place. When I had my dog with me I was lucky to get 400 miles. He just got too restless and need breaks. My dog was old and sedate, I wouldn't even try it with a more active dog.

Dearest ATOT,
If I go, what should I see along the way? And can I crash for a night on your couch?

Don't sound like you are heading my way, but if you find yourself in north Texas, you are welcome to crash at my palace.

 

[KentState]

What type of vehicle will you be trying this in? That can make a huge difference.

 

[CRXican]

terrible "vacation" idea

 

[ProfJohn]

Leave the dog, will only slow you down.

I know for a fact that you can drive From NY to DC in a day and from DC to Orlando in a day. But that is driving all day.

The worst part of the trip is driving all the way from Western Canada to the east coast.

Why not fly into NY and rent a car and then drive south to Florida with and then AK and then back to NY and fly home?

Would save at least 3-4 days worth of non-stop driving.

 

[TheVrolok]

What type of vehicle will you be trying this in? That can make a huge difference.

This. When I moved from Philly to Ft Lauderdale I did it in a straight shot (stop a few times for food, bathroom, leg stretching, sanity) in a UHaul van with seats that didn't recline in the slightest. I admit, it was pretty damned awful. In a comfy car, it wouldn't have been so bad.