625 miles in a day. Possible? Sensible?
Discussion
I am planning my summer holiday and am looking at ferries, campsites and the like. The most suitable ferry seems to me to leave at 11pm from Dieppe and arrive in Newhaven at 4am. I was wondering how sensible it would be to plan to drive from dieppe to the Lac de Saint Croix in a day, starting out at 4am at Dieppe. The distance is about 625 miles which is 75 more than I've ever done in a day trip before. I remember 550 being a bloody long way but I do have a car which is much more relaxing at speed now (Mk5 Golf GTI as opposed to a Clio 182). It would be a case of downing a monster before getting of the ferry then turning up the wick and making some distance before any traffic is about. A decent lunch stop somewhere, refuelling then getting the miles in to hopefully arrive in time for dinner.
Has anyone else done a similar drive before and how did it go?
Has anyone else done a similar drive before and how did it go?
Have driven from Canton, MI to St Pete, FL on a number of occasions. It's 1200 miles door to door. Leave at lunchtime, turn up for breakfast the following morning. Kids in the back sleeping for 10 hours, and my wife and I take it in shifts to drive through the night. Best time is 17hr 45 mins, worst has been over 20 hours due to snow (in Michigan, not Florida...). First stint is normally the long one but even then is not 600 miles before a driver change I don't think. Our journey is made a little more relaxing by having cruise control as well, which helps prevent aching joints!
Good luck and stay safe!
Good luck and stay safe!
We did East Sussex to Monte Carlo last year in one thrash.
The key part is an overnight ferry Dover / Calais and sleep on the ferry. Travel through the night when it's cooler and you arrive at your destination at a semi reasonable time too.
I was tired when we got there but drink plenty of water and enjoy the drive. The Autoroutes are a pleasure to drive on.
Go for it. It's an adventure.
The key part is an overnight ferry Dover / Calais and sleep on the ferry. Travel through the night when it's cooler and you arrive at your destination at a semi reasonable time too.
I was tired when we got there but drink plenty of water and enjoy the drive. The Autoroutes are a pleasure to drive on.
Go for it. It's an adventure.
Just do it! You'll be fine if you set off that early.
I did Las Vegas boulevard to downtown San Francisco last year in a day and we didn't set off until nearly midday! Took us about 10 hours driving time not including a stop at Yosemite and going the wrong side of Area 51 and a giant nuclear test range so we had to backtrack for 100+ miles. Total trip was 714 miles door to door.
Wasn't even particularly tired at the end of it as had regular short stops and a long meal stop.
I did Las Vegas boulevard to downtown San Francisco last year in a day and we didn't set off until nearly midday! Took us about 10 hours driving time not including a stop at Yosemite and going the wrong side of Area 51 and a giant nuclear test range so we had to backtrack for 100+ miles. Total trip was 714 miles door to door.
Wasn't even particularly tired at the end of it as had regular short stops and a long meal stop.
I do have cruise control thankfully and should be able to share some of the driving. Last year I did Millau to Paris in an 80 series Lancruiser 4.2td with one window stuck half open and no cruise control. I never realised before then that it was possible to get throttle cramp which is actually quite painful. There was also a particularly amusing satnav direction: 'In 300 miles, keep left' which at in France at 60mph translates to 'In 5hrs, do nothing'.
It is tempting as if I went for a morning ferry I'd have to be up at 4am anyway and wouldn't actually get going in France until gone lunchtime.
It is tempting as if I went for a morning ferry I'd have to be up at 4am anyway and wouldn't actually get going in France until gone lunchtime.
Certainly doable but it's a very long way. I've done about 600 in a day in an old 1.2 hatchback, I've no doubt at all that I'd rather do 700 in my 745i!
It'll be tiring but certainly possible. I'd try to make up some good time early on though
take a few stops.
I didn't bother with breakfast before leaving but getting a good 200+ miles done then stopping somewhere for breakfast, another few hundred and lunch another few hundred and you're there.
It'll be tiring but certainly possible. I'd try to make up some good time early on though
take a few stops. I didn't bother with breakfast before leaving but getting a good 200+ miles done then stopping somewhere for breakfast, another few hundred and lunch another few hundred and you're there.
Obergurgle in Austria to Cardiff in one hit is my longest. Can't remember the exact mileage but over 900.
To be honest it was fine and I felt pretty good when I got home.
Only me in the car though and a few lovely de restricted autobahns to play with but I wouldnt do it with a car full of people.
To be honest it was fine and I felt pretty good when I got home.
Only me in the car though and a few lovely de restricted autobahns to play with but I wouldnt do it with a car full of people.
kapiteinlangzaam said:
With a family in tow en route to holiday id be tempted to stick an o/night in there.
Its fine if it goes well, it can be hell if you hit a significant delay.
No family, just 3 25yr olds. Delays would be annoying but hopefully setting off at 4am would make them as unlikely as possible.Its fine if it goes well, it can be hell if you hit a significant delay.
Did Rome to Paris in a rented 1.0 corsa when the volcano hit a few years back. 875miles. There were two of us and we swapped driving duties.
Drove Cannes sur to harrow in a day, non stop roof down in a Morgan before. Was a long day, but at least it didn't rain. That's around 900 miles....
Having a passenger makes all the difference...
Drove Cannes sur to harrow in a day, non stop roof down in a Morgan before. Was a long day, but at least it didn't rain. That's around 900 miles....
Having a passenger makes all the difference...
Did Bedfordshire to Millau, south of France, in a day a few weeks ago. 732 miles...
Key thing is to ensure you plan in decent breaks, take some decent music and have a reasonable cruising car-this makes all the difference. That journey felt shorter than Bedfordshire to Le Mans, purely because I did it in a big waft wagon rather than my Elise.
Key thing is to ensure you plan in decent breaks, take some decent music and have a reasonable cruising car-this makes all the difference. That journey felt shorter than Bedfordshire to Le Mans, purely because I did it in a big waft wagon rather than my Elise.
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