Current Events > What is it like driving 6-8 hours straight by yourself?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I might need to do that soon twice in one day and within one hour of each other

Mostly just boring.

Its way better than city driving, which is what Im guessing you are used to if you are asking about long trips.

Not much stress, just try to stay awake.

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Are you delivering drugs?

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It's ok. I usually listen to music and/or podcasts.

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My feet get tired of hovering over the brakes after about 3 hours. Whenever I drive for protracted periods of time, its on 2 lane highways where I have to be cautious of other drivers.

If youre a bigger guy, back cramps can happen too.

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Load up on Music & Podcasts to keep yourself awake.

Don't be afraid to stop at random Gas Stations for snacks or drinks.

It's better to ingest some Caffienated Beverages or Sugary snacks than fall asleep while driving.

If you're too sleepy, don't be afraid to pull to the side somewhere and take a nap.

If you need to do that, be smart about it and don't park in a place where you could potentially be hit by another vehicle.

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It would be fun for me. I like to drive. It's a good idea to stop at the rest area and take a little brake.


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the faster you drive, the faster you get there

Ive done this many times driving from San Francisco to LA and vice versa. I usually make the drive without taking stops except for when I need gas, but occasionally Ill pull over and nap if I begin my trip on little sleep.

I usually listen to youtube videos and podcasts on my trips because theyre more engaging than listening to music and they help me stay awake. But Ill frequently switch between podcasts and music so neither get boring.

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It sucks. As a job its different.

If you're asking 3-4 hours driving, a break and then 3-4 hours it's different than what could be supposed by the question.

I'm minor league narcoleptic so I aint capable of that kind of thing as a job either way

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Kaiganeer posted...

the faster you drive, the faster you get there

Don't go too fast, or the police will get you.

I usually just turn on cruise control and relax while controlling my vehicle.

Enjoy my music / podcasts while using cruise control to get to my destination.

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The only challenge I had on a recent long drive was not having anywhere to stop and pee for several hundred miles. Plan ahead for that.
If you can take 15 minute rest breaks that include walking around, each of those will go a long way too.
ShyOx posted...

I'm minor league narcoleptic so I aint capable of that kind of thing as a job either way

Is this a diagnosis you've received or are you just noticeably a lot more tired than the average person? In the latter case, look into obstructive sleep apnea. Ever since I learned that I have it and have been treating it, long-distance driving is a lot more manageable.

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I listened to talk radio the whole trip, laughed a lot

I find it kind of fun every once in a while if you like where you're going and the trip is fairly scenic. Midwest sucks for this though.

Make sure to take breaks, don't challenge your gas light, and use your cruise control for open stretches.

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Sucks. Boring.

I get tired after like 12 or so... the 14 and 18s i used to make, really sucked.

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Without my kids or husband?!

Blissful.

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Boring. Get an audiobook or a playlist of long YouTube videos you don't need audio to enjoy, maybe even standup routines.

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Depends on if you drive through some interesting country. Taking a wrong turn on a sunny day in Missouri led to me driving through some memorable back roads areas, without extending my trip too much.

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I like to load up comedy albums for my long road trips like that. Helps keep the trip from not dragging on since its only a couple albums and boom, halfway done with the trip.
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Shadowplay posted...

Depends on if you drive through some interesting country. Taking a wrong turn on a sunny day in Missouri led to me driving through some memorable back roads areas, without extending my trip too much.

I did this once. There's some pretty wine country that way.

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Depends on road conditions and how much you like being alone. I find it relaxing, as I like being alone with my thoughts. Its less pleasant if there's a lot of traffic or if the weather bad.

6-8 hours is in the range where i'm not tired of driving yet. When you start hitting 10-12 hours is about where i'm ready to be done.

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It's from San Francisco to Irvine btw around 410 miles

It's just boring. Imo you get sleepy from boredom, not actually being tired.

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I just got done driving 16 hours a day for 4 days

Just load up on podcasts or TV shows you dont need to really watch. TNG is what I'll have in the background

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BigB0ss13 posted...

It's from San Francisco to Irvine btw around 410 miles

That drive is boring af but relatively easy (except for LA). How do you get to I-5: 80, 580, 101/252? Or some other route?

The most difficult part is timing it so they you miss the Bay Area traffic and LA traffic. The length of the trip makes that hard because its basically a work days drive.

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Personally, I like it, but I know that most people don't. I'm all about like 6 hour stretches without stopping, fill back up, eat, hit the bathroom and then do it again.

I'm sure it would get old if I did it for work, but doing 1,200 miles 6 or so times a year is cool for me.

Grad school was about 8 hours from my family's home, so I would do that drive a few times a year for holidays. By the end you're ready to be done, but it's not bad. Depends on where you're driving, I was going through upstate NY, Vermont, etc. Beautiful drive.

BigB0ss13 posted...

It's from San Francisco to Irvine btw around 410 miles

Oh that's really boring, sorry...

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My rule is no liquids except water. No energy drinks or coffee, but a 5 hour energy halfway through. Then music.

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Sariana21 posted...

That drive is boring af but relatively easy (except for LA). How do you get to I-5: 80, 580, 101/252? Or some other route?

The most difficult part is timing it so they you miss the Bay Area traffic and LA traffic. The length of the trip makes that hard because its basically a work days drive.

I'd just put the address I gotta go in Google maps and follow the route that takes me there the fastest. Looks like 580 to 5. I'd most likely go early morning like 4 am

Its awesome

I love driving anywhere this is what I do to de-stress often and I dont generally mind traffic. I just set a playlist and have a ball listening and singing to tunes. I guess you can stop at the 3rd hour or 5th to stop somewhere and maybe get a snack and stretch out the legs.

Also helps reset your ears so you might get turned on to another type of playlist

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masticatingman posted...

My feet get tired of hovering over the brakes after about 3 hours. Whenever I drive for protracted periods of time, its on 2 lane highways where I have to be cautious of other drivers.

If youre a bigger guy, back cramps can happen too.

Why would your feer hover over the break? Way I was tought to drive I use my right foot for both pedals. Also if its a long straight road im using cruise control. Just go about 1 mph slower than the average car to reduce how often you need to break/slow down

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Depends a lot on what you're driving and where you're driving.

I've driven from salt lake city to philly. The first 8 hours isn't to bad since you're driving in up and through the rockies. Then you're in the midwest and it's corn and corn and more corn. Then you hit western pa and it gets pretty again.

Likewise last month I rented a 2020 shelby gt 500 and drove from vegas to sante fe. Which was about 6 hours. The southwest has it's own kind of beauty. And anytime you've got an excuse to put the gas down in an 800hp behemoth is bliss.

At the end of the day,like others have said. Get some music set, I have spotify and have one playlist downloaded for any low reception areas. Take brakes. Use Waze so you get alerts to where cops are sitting.

I've done plenty of road trips and never got a ticket thanks to Waze.

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I've dont it many times before and I will avoid it at all costs these days.

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You might think to yourself If I dont take any breaks Ill get there faster!.

Take breaks.

Ive driven cross country 3 times in my life and Ive done a lot of interstate travel. Depending on the distance I stop at least every 2-3 hours to stretch the legs and break the monotony. Its worth the extra 30 minutes of travel time.