How many miles have you driven in 1 day? Planning a trip

[stuart-b]

I am going to be working from Croatia for a few months - leaving the UK in a few weeks. Need my car over there, so I'm getting all the usual prep work done, as the service(s) are due anyway.

The most I've driven in one day is 550 miles up north from the south coast.

viamichelin.co.uk recommends I travel to Dover on the train with the car, through France, Belgium, into the Netherlands, through Germany, Austria, Slovenia and finally into Croatia. Roughly 1050 miles and 16 hours of driving.

How long does the channel tunnel train normally take?

Can anyone recommend any good places to stop on the way, as I will need to stay over night.

Is it realistic to try and get to Germany in one day? Or stop at the German border?

I will need to call my Insurance company regarding coverage in a non EU country too... that should be fun.

Anything else I should be aware of? Other than carrying plenty of Euros for petrol/tolls in case my card(s) are rejected...

Cheers,

[Stu R]

stuart-b said:

I am going to be working from Croatia for a few months - leaving the UK in a few weeks. Need my car over there, so I'm getting all the usual prep work done, as the service(s) are due anyway.

The most I've driven in one day is 550 miles up north from the south coast.

viamichelin.co.uk recommends I travel to Dover on the train with the car, through France, Belgium, into the Netherlands, through Germany, Austria, Slovenia and finally into Croatia. Roughly 1050 miles and 16 hours of driving.

How long does the channel tunnel train normally take?

Can anyone recommend any good places to stop on the way, as I will need to stay over night.

Is it realistic to try and get to Germany in one day? Or stop at the German border?

I will need to call my Insurance company regarding coverage in a non EU country too... that should be fun.

Anything else I should be aware of? Other than carrying plenty of Euros for petrol/tolls in case my card(s) are rejected...

Cheers,

Budget around an hour for calais, the actual crossing takes about 40 mins iirc. Germany in a day is a doddle. Don't forget to print off a couple of european accident statement forms just in case, and don't forget to take all your documents (V5, insurance, driving licence and so on). Also familiarise yourself with the rules for each country, France require you to carry things like a hi-viz in the passenger compartment (one for everyone in the car) etc.

[ewenm]

500 miles in a day in the Caterham guarantees a very good night's sleep.

[Graebob]

Did the Student Gumball Rally (as it was, they had to change the name due to legal lols) in 2007 (I think). UK to Croatia in 4 days. Not as direct a route as you're taking, but we did Dover to Cologne in one day in a Volvo 740

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

I'm a bit of an old gixer, but I find any more than 600 miles in a day a bit tedious.

[550Hep]

Leicester to Geneva a couple of times, 700 miles ish usually using the EuroStar so got 40 mins or so rest.

[BIG BAVARIAN]

Delivering a vehicle to nairn nr inverness tomorrow (3am start !! ) from leeds 760 miles,delivered one to st austell and back in cornwall 800 + miles

[CarlT]

750 miles or so from Meribel to Bournemouth in 1 day.

Have also done - Bournemouth to Redruth, to Windsor and back to Bournemouth in 1 day. This was harder than the 750 miles from Meribel!!

[cheddar]

1010 miles, didn't cross the channel.

[bzh1p9]

South of Barca to west sussex 1189 miles left spain 8am european time , got in doors 2am via the tunnel, plenty of short stops , hour stop for main meal south of Paris early evening , and homeward bound !

[catso]

stuart-b said:

Roughly 1050 miles and 16 hours of driving.

Done similar distance to Italy/back in one go a few times when;

1. I was younger
2. UK & particularly French Police were not so hot on speed enforcement

But it is hard keeping alert after too long at the wheel and I'd be dozing off if I tried it now...

[stuart-b]

Thanks for the replies guys, some of you are hardcore!

ewenm said:

500 miles in a day in the Caterham guarantees a very good night's sleep.

Bloody hell, did you wear ear plugs?

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

I'm a bit of an old gixer, but I find any more than 600 miles in a day a bit tedious.

Same as above, nice list of TVR's, did you drive that distance in one of those?

cheddar said:

Done similar distance to Italy/back in one go a few times when;

1. I was younger
2. UK & particularly French Police were not so hot on speed enforcement wink

But it is hard keeping alert after too long at the wheel and I'd be dozing off if I tried it now... yikes

I think I will plan to leave very early Saturday morning, cross the channel, drive all day, perhaps find a place to stay depending on how far I get, but I think it might be an idea to have a rest and perhaps a power nap if I can manage it...

I will be there for months so I don't think risking my safety over a few hours is really a good idea. I remember travelling from Bristol to Canterbury in my student days at 2am, and remembering almost falling asleep on the motorway. Looking back I think "what a wker!".

Stu R - great idea, I need to read up on local laws, make sure I have all the right tools to change a wheel, perhaps some oil, and a few other bits. Most importantly, my TomTom and a paper map backup!

Edited by stuart-b on Thursday 15th April 22:18

[Idiot Gimp Boy]

I did 560 miles from London to Celle in Germany in a Caterham once and did the return trip in a Lotus 2-Eleven. That wasn't much joy.

[Si 330]

Perpignan to Leeds with a short break on Calais-Dover ferry.
I wouldn't do it again as I was pretty knackered at the end.

[Northern Munkee]

Spa, Belgium to Middlesbrough, 600 miles in a day, was wrecked...

[cpl_payne]

You should be able to make it to south of Germany in one day without too much trouble, providing you don't get stuck in a traffic jams, some German traffic jams make M25 look like a deserted b-road in Scottish Highlands.

If you're looking for a cheap no frills place to stay overnight have a look at Formule 1 hotels (not a typo). You can stay in Stuttgart or Munich for a quick factory tour the next morning

[Nat_H]

Vegas to Yosemite National Park, via Death Valley - circa 600 miles, on very little freeway.

Once I got to sleep, all I dreamt of was bloody driving!

Edited by Nat_H on Thursday 15th April 22:31

[henrycrun]

Just watch out for the falling asleep at the wheel bit.....

[ellroy]

About 570 miles once a year, Le Mans to York.

[colinrob]

Bedford to Austria (15 mins from slovenia border) in a Mini cooper s convertible in a day not to bad, don't book anywhere to sleep just see how far you get and find a local hotel or alternatively you could make a trip / holiday of it and find some intresting places to stay on your way