I'm going on a 771-800 mile trip in 2 years, i plan on doing it at night. Any suggestions on driving this many miles at night?

Thanks

 

How many other people are going with you?

If it was me, I would make sure that I have a LOT of sleep, and a LOT of music for the drive. I've done 8hrs straight at night, and that sucked. But, it was after having class all day and I did have my iPod. I take road trips quite a bit, and have found that switching drivers at gas fillups works good if your passengers can handle that. Unfortunately, when we travel with out neighbors, we usually end up stopping every 1.5 hours for a bathroom break. grr

 

If you're used to regular hours(day job - get up in the morning, sleep at night), you probably need to start adjusting your sleep a couple days ahead of the trip - stay up late, wake up late - even if it's just a few hours. It'll help you get through the night. Bring plenty of music and snacks, keeping busy keeps you awake.

I know why you want to drive at night, that's how I prefer it, too - empty roads, no knuckleheads, set the cruise, and just drive.

 

Also, a radar detector is also a great thing to have. Even though I don't speed much anymore (I can't afford it), its kinda interesting to see any speed traps.

If you have the extra cash, you could pick up a CB radio too, that could be a cool thing to have on a road-trip.

 

took the wife and kiddies to florida last march, drove straight through all nite 1500 miles, ---- brought a alladin thermos full of coffee, hooked up the CB radio, made sure cell phones were working, and brough snacks, and luchmeat in small fridge, also had a dual dvd screens set up in the back for the kids to waatch movies, ahhh 1500 miles in a f250 superduty 4x4 crewcab not the most fuel efficiant vehicle!

 

On long trips, I find that talk radio helps pass the time faster than music as you concentrate on it a little more than you normally do to music. Also, I usually don't take any drinks along in the car, that way I can go longer without needing to stop for a bathroom break. Good luck and remember rule #1 for road trips, Have fun!

 

Coffee and music and cell will definently be along with me. I'm planning on sleeping most of the day before i do this. The night is a nicer time to drive, a lot less stupid people. I will be the only one in the truck this time. I may set the speed limit only when i know i'm in the safe, radar detector would be nice, cb would be funny to have, I'll more then likely cruise at the speed limits though. I'll definently get out and walk around at gas stops.

 

Lots of good input. I agree with Jason - talk radio has always has been better at keeping me awake than music - especially music that I brought. And late at night is when some of the real kooks are on the air. My brother used to talk about a strange guy on KMOX that he'd listen to late at night while working graveyard for the local sheriff's office.
Did I read that right? You have 2 years to plan this little trip?

 

Yeah get some good rest before the trip.

Frequent rest stops are good.

Make sure you windshield and or glasses are clean. Don't want glare while driving, makes your eyes tired.

I like to tilt my side mirrors more than usual to avoid glare from lights behind me.

Some Sodas or coffee are good. they will make you have to stop for breaks, heh heh.

Good Music.

A good radar detector. I got my first radar ticket after midnight near Flagstaff on the day after new years. Going something like 65 in a 55 stay alive zone. No traffic. Road straight as an arrow, guess the county mountie had nothing else to do that time of night. Left a nasty taste in my mouth ever since for radar. Now all my vehicles had detectors and since I have had them, 1986 or so, I have not gotten another ticket from those blighters hiding in the bushes.

Some fruit to boost energy.

I like driving barefoot since it seems to keep me more awake and I get a better feel of the car. I think this is actually illegal in some states. Though that Flagstaff cop didn't complain while I walked back to his car in freezing temps barefoot.

I like to take educational tapes along, they make me keep my mind active. Also talk shows are good as long as they aren't boring.

I like driving at night, no traffic. Fewer cops but harder to see them.

Good Luck,

Jim Henderson

 

Lotsa good advice in the previous threads. THe only thing I'm going to add is if you're going on rural highways, watch out for deer and other critters. Shouldn't be too much of a problem on interstates though.

 

It might be at might or in the early am hours if youre traveling through the middle of nowhere.

Definitly have a CB
I listen to the xm news stations when driving long distances,
The occasional red bull will help ya
AS already suggusted change your biological clock in the preceding weeks

I havent done 800 Alone, but did do 700 with my brother after work one night then 700 home the next day in a new work truck, that was alone.

 

I've found that getting out of the truck for a couple minutes every few hours and walking around helps a lot. Getting off the interstate, parking, and walking around will wake you up pretty well, as well as preventing stiffness.

Also, pay attention to how you sit behind the wheel. Try to move around every once in a while, or at the first sign of stiffness. (When I drove my mother's Explorer, I tended to twist my leg in such a way that my hip would get very stiff after just a few hours, and it made that car very hard to drive long distances if I wasn't careful to reposition my leg regularly.) Also, if you tend to carry your wallet in your hip pocket, try moving it to your front pocket so you aren't sitting on it. (I'm not much older than you, so don't just assume you won't get a backache because you're young...)

And, finally, you might want to carry a spare key in your pocket...

 

Whenever I drive home from school, I empty my pockets and take my shoes off. I hate having things pressing into me from my pockets, wallet especially. Its always nice to have a passenger too, but its not all that bad by yourself.

 

Guess i'll have to get a cb. I won't have a passanger but i'll have a cell with a headset to talk to the people i'm going to be seing. I'll be mostly traveling by interstate till i get to Wisconsin then i have a 144 miles of rual highways etc. I'm getting my truck prepared for this trip ahead of time, going on it as soon as i graduate from highschool, 2 years, been on my mind and it'll be on my mind till the day comes taht i'm on the highway going there.

 

I always make sure to have lots and lots of coffee, and when I feel myself start to get a little tired, I make a pit stop and either top off the tank or just move around a bit. The coffee always helps me decide on these pit stops, either I need more coffee or I need to get rid of the coffee that was already consumed.