Any tips for doing a long ass drive?
Posted by jurpy_the_durpy@reddit | driving | View on Reddit | 40 comments
All in the title lmaoo. Doing a drive from San Fransisco to San Diego which is like a 6 hour drive on Friday and I’m wondering what tips y’all have for doing a drive like that lol
What makes matters worse is that im doing this drive in a 2004 BMW 325i so shits probably gonna be painful :(
Nostromo_USCSS@reddit
in addition to the other comments, find a podcast you’re interested in! it always helps me stay awake, and makes the time go faster
jhumph88@reddit
Music starts to put me to sleep after a while. I have to switch to podcasts at a certain point. It also helps me to think that I’m 5 episodes from my destination rather than 5 hours.
Affectionate_Pin3849@reddit
The mental toll can be a lot for some. It can be exhausting. Don't drive tired. Don't drive distracted. Assume everybody else is.
surfacing_husky@reddit
I never realized how mentally taxing driving actually is until i had kids, its 11 hrs to my parents house(straight through with minimal stops)which i used to drive with ease before i had them, now it's an overnight stay against my will because of them lol. i used to say "we can make it" but those last 200 miles were awful with all the stops for them to get out, it turns into a 15+ hour drive.
Affectionate_Pin3849@reddit
I drove truck over the road. It's tougher in a car, easier in a pickup, impossible with a temper tantrum two year old 😆
wineskigolf@reddit
Enjoy the drive and stay out of the left lane unless you are passing.
unecroquemadame@reddit
But on a busy highway you could always be passing someone if you’re going 73 in a 70. If you’re not actually speeding, just stick to the right.
grouchy_ham@reddit
It’s interesting how different people define a long drive. I would consider a six hour drive to be a pretty easy day behind the wheel. I make multiple 9-12 hour drives per year to visit friends and family.
A few things to help you out…
Do all your packing and loading the night before. The exception is for food and drink items.
Get to bed at a reasonable time, but don’t try to go to bed early unless you are sure you can get to sleep quickly.
Depart as early as feasible. Don’t piddle fart around when you get up. Get up, go through your morning routine and get on the road. Beat heavy traffic if possible. I’m an early riser, so this is pretty normal for me. I understand that not everyone is.
Don’t rush. Just drive. Relax and enjoy the quiet, or the music, or the podcast you like. Being in a rush won’t get you there any appreciable amount faster.
Know your route and where you anticipate fuel and rest stops. Plan ahead and try to know where exiting and entering the highway is likely to be easier.
When you stop for fuel or a break, get out and walk around for a bit. 15 mins or so seems to be a good number for me. Stretch your hips, legs, neck and back.
Try to keep to something that resembles your regular eating schedule and avoid over hydrating. Don’t eat/drink because you’re bored. You’ll just have to stop more frequently.
badmofoes@reddit
Agree with all, except OP is in SF, so he can’t do the loading the night before
Full-Respect-8261@reddit
This is the way Thanks for the common sense, and I agree a long drive is a matter of perspective.
versatal@reddit
The 15 min break is key. Wake you back up if you were sleepy. 10/10
jurpy_the_durpy@reddit (OP)
Thanks for the advice!
Definitely will be leaving as early as possible lol
Intelligent_Mind_685@reddit
I do the drive OP is talking about, quite often. This is all very good advice for this drive
_Bon_Vivant_@reddit
Oh! I thought you meant long ass drive, like cross country.
jurpy_the_durpy@reddit (OP)
Well i guess everyone has a different idea of a long ass drive lmaoo. Couldnt imagine driving across country
_Bon_Vivant_@reddit
One thing about driving through LA. Time your drive so you can avoid rush hours (morning/evening) as much as possible. Other than that, just get some snackage and drinks, and cue up some good tunes.
If you're thinking about more leisurely drive with stop overs and side trips, I and others can make suggestions there too, but I get the impression you just want to bomb through as fast as possible.
BlueEyedWalrus84@reddit
Good playlists, podcasts etc
RopeTheFreeze@reddit
Plan out what you're going to listen to, perhaps save something quite interesting so you're not bored.
Peterthinking@reddit
Audiobooks.
Keepin-It-Positive@reddit
Where I come from, this isn’t a long drive. Drive 3 hrs. Stop. Take a piss. Gas up. Buy some spicy beef jerky and a coffee. Drive 3 hours you’re done.
ThirdSunRising@reddit
OMG if I was driving SF to SD in a 2004 BMW I would take highway 1, the Pacific Coast Highway. Because that’s a proper car for that road. Yeah it’ll be painful on the 5 but screw that. Book a room in Big Sur and make a two day road trip of it.
Delicious-Window8650@reddit
I've done that trip in a '73 Beetle. It's no big deal.
frank26080115@reddit
how about not expecting that to take 6 hours? holy shit, it's not cannonballing territory but if I make it to Santa Monica in 8, that's a good day lol
jurpy_the_durpy@reddit (OP)
I honestly just threw in a random number lmao but your right, this drives probably gonna be way worse than I think
Delicious-Window8650@reddit
What are you doing, taking Hwy 1? Get on I-5 and drive. It's a short trip.
stephsationalxxx@reddit
I recently did a 10 hour drive in my 06 toyota matrix. Since I was by myself (plus my dog), I just stopped frequently. Different rest stops or parks. Yes it made it longer but I can't sit for that long.
Bring lots of snacks and water. Maybe a sweet drink. Make sure to have podcasts and music downloaded so you have something for the no service areas.
Try to learn when the traffic happens in what areas so you at least don't have to deal with that by leaving at a time that would avoid that.
To go back to frequent stops, maybe google some cool things to see along the way, or nice overlook views.
Having gum helps with staying awake too.
Delicious-Window8650@reddit
Damn how times change. I used to think Fort Lauderdale to New York was a short drive and Fort Lauderdale to San Diego was a long drive.
Try to predict where the problem areas are and time the trip so you pass through during off peak traffic.
Dis_engaged23@reddit
Closer to 8 hours unless you are going very fast (have done north San Diego to Napa in 6 and a half but was driving very fast through central valley).
Clear LA early, like before 8am on weekday.
I-5 central valley is full of potholes. Consider the 101 as alternate, a bit longer but much more scenic. But if 5 is your choice, pay attention north of Wheeler Ridge.
scottwax@reddit
I drove from Williamsburg VA to Arkadelphia AR in one shot. About 1100 miles or so. Something like 15 hours of driving. It was doable but I was pretty tired when I finally stopped.
My sons and I did Route 66 in 2021. We drove a total of 2550 miles in a rental Lincoln Nautilus. But that was over several days and us swapping out driving duty every so often.
When my wife and I take road trips, I drive, she keeps me company so time passes a lot more quickly than when I used to make trips alone.
Jack_Bogul@reddit
6 hours is short bruh
jurpy_the_durpy@reddit (OP)
I kinda lied in the title its more like 8-9 lmao. Idk for me it seems long
Cyber_Insecurity@reddit
I’ve made the drive from SF to LA dozens of times.
If possible, leave really early. Leaving at 6am means there’s almost nobody on the road and you end up getting to SoCal around noon, which leaves you the rest of the day to settle in.
Get yourself some podcasts - they pass the time. Music is good, but I get sick of music after a couple hours. Make stops to grab food, use the restroom and stretch your legs.
Energy drinks and candy are your friend.
Besides that, enjoy the drive - it’s a very relaxing drive.
Practical-Ant7330@reddit
Have snacks and drink ready. Stop to stretch you legs/ use bathroom at least once.
Ill_Criticism_1685@reddit
Preparation is key. For yourself, snacks, drinks, set up a good playlist for music, and be sure to rest when/if you get fatigued. For your car, check the oil and coolant levels and tire pressures.
Nick_OS_@reddit
Call someone that will talk to you for a long time. Time flies
jurpy_the_durpy@reddit (OP)
Thank god I have friends who are willing to talk for hours lmao
eks789@reddit
Podcasts make a huge difference for me. I will start off a long car ride listening to music, but then an hour or so in I’ll get irritated or get a headache from it. I like comedy podcasts like Theo Von (especially his everyday guests like a lunch lady, bus driver, etc.) it really helps the time go by super fast.
Map out your route and find the best rest stops/gas stations before hand. You’ll be able to plan the best place to use the bathroom (like cleanliness and no detours). I like to plan stops every 2 hours so I can stretch and use the bathroom, normally takes about 10mins of researching stops and figuring out the best ones for the route
Sacred_Dealer@reddit
Stop every hour or so for at least enough time to stretch your legs for a few minutes. Download some podcasts or audiobooks on your phone and pack some snacks and water.
espakor@reddit
If you're not used to it, get snacks and water around. Energy drink works too. Sometimes just sheet annoyances of other drivers keep me awake.
Change lanes often and remember to get out of the left lane once you finish passing.
RealisticResource226@reddit
Observing my old man back when my family had driving trips, the one thing I recommend is take frequent rest stops. Oh also, definitely prepare some snacks and drinks on the ride if you’ve got other passengers too. Going back to the rest stops, definitely take advantage of them if you find yourself becoming tired at any point in the drive