Tips for Driving Long Distance - Snowboarding Forum

LiVeRideFcK · 03-06-2012, 05:06 PM

Alright, so I'm leaving tomorrow for Colorado and the trip is supposed to be an 18hr drive. I haven't drove that far in a couple of years and i'm hoping to drive straight through. I'm leaving around 1pm so most of my driving will be at night. Any in general tips or tricks people have while driving long distance will be helpful. Such as what to eat/drink to stay awake and what to avoid. Energy drinks, coffee, adderall? Things to do if i do start getting tired or tunnel vision? Just shit like that. Thanks in advance.

Bretfred · 03-06-2012, 05:24 PM

Got anyone going with you who you can share driving with? I find that water helps me alot. Im not a huge energy drink person but 5 hour energies help me on the road. When i feel myself getting zoned in and starting to fade I try to look around as much as possible even if there isnt anything to look at. If its to bad pull over or stop somewhere if your close to something. Get out walk around even take a little 15-30 min nap. If you smoke not cigs that always helps me focus and concentrate on long drives, makes them seem to go faster too.

Rider161 · 03-06-2012, 05:27 PM

The best thing that works for me is other people that are going, helps to socialize.. other than that I would always get up early so 12 hours of driving were during the day..

snowklinger · 03-06-2012, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiVeRideFcK

Alright, so I'm leaving tomorrow for Colorado and the trip is supposed to be an 18hr drive. I haven't drove that far in a couple of years and i'm hoping to drive straight through. I'm leaving around 1pm so most of my driving will be at night. Any in general tips or tricks people have while driving long distance will be helpful. Such as what to eat/drink to stay awake and what to avoid. Energy drinks, coffee, adderall? Things to do if i do start getting tired or tunnel vision? Just shit like that. Thanks in advance.

1. Wait for Snowolf's reply (I think Milo303 drives too). I have driven across the country several times, including on a motorcycle, but I would defer to their more current and professional viewpoint.

2. If you are alone, be careful, this is very dangerous. You will probably need to sleep at least a couple hours. Pull over when you get tired. Keep an eye out for wildlife.

3. Drive fast, take chances

poutanen · 03-06-2012, 05:35 PM

Stay far far away from caffein or any of those other things that "temporarily restore mental alertness or wakefullness" lol

Sleep as long as you can before the drive, and don't take too many breaks. If you can stop somewhere half way for a light sit down meal (heavy meals will make you tired) it'd be a good idea. Water only, and bring some fruit with you for long lasting sugar energy.

I drove across Canada from Calgary, AB to Hamilton, ON last winter and we did it in one night. Was about 35 hours of driving with a 6 hour break for sleep. I also worked a lot of night shifts and did a study of the effects of night shifts on the human body.

As it gets dark your body will be trying to put you to sleep, just keep your mind occupied and you'll blast right through it. That said there's nothing wrong with a power nap for 30 mins at 2:00 am so help you push through. Are you snowboarding or anything the day you get there? You're probably going to be wigged out for a few hours after the drive lol

ThunderChunky · 03-06-2012, 05:48 PM

Oversleep the night before and drink a shit ton of water. If you keep having to go pee it's gonna be really hard to fall asleep. Also, those 5 hour energy things fucking work. They last longer than 5 to me. Like 7 hours or so and never let you down.

nickwarrenn · 03-06-2012, 05:58 PM

Make games of it as you drive, try and hug a line as much as you can. Bring a tablet and "listen" to a TV show or something, podcasts too. Spontaneously pull over, and take a 5 minute walk in the woods just to see what's there.

IdahoFreshies · 03-06-2012, 06:03 PM

get a great angry music playlist, full of songs to get you singing and awake lol

RaID · 03-06-2012, 06:04 PM

To add to the tips above listen to some spoken word/comedy/audio book instead of music. This engages you into the topic/story and you inherently pay attention and stay awake to not loose track of what is being said unlike music which you can tune in and out from.

Bones · 03-06-2012, 06:17 PM

There's a couple of long-distance drivers on here whose opinions carry a lot more weight than mine, but....

I've done the cross Canada drive several times as well as regular 15 hour drives to see family.

Drink lots of water. Get some podcasts or spoken word books. Sleep when tired. A 45 minute nap does me more good in the long run than an energy drink. Energy drinks get me thru the last 3 hours of a long drive, but leave me in worse shape if I use them to get thru the middle part.

Pace your speed in the first half of the trip. Yes, you can drive faster but the fatigue factor goes way up, you'll pay for it in hours 10 and 11. Cruise control is your friend, set it the speed of traffic and make up the time when there's no traffic.

03-06-2012, 05:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
LiVeRideFcK Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Soon to be Durango Co Posts: 68	Tips for Driving Long Distance Alright, so I'm leaving tomorrow for Colorado and the trip is supposed to be an 18hr drive. I haven't drove that far in a couple of years and i'm hoping to drive straight through. I'm leaving around 1pm so most of my driving will be at night. Any in general tips or tricks people have while driving long distance will be helpful. Such as what to eat/drink to stay awake and what to avoid. Energy drinks, coffee, adderall? Things to do if i do start getting tired or tunnel vision? Just shit like that. Thanks in advance.

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03-06-2012, 05:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
Bretfred Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 121	Got anyone going with you who you can share driving with? I find that water helps me alot. Im not a huge energy drink person but 5 hour energies help me on the road. When i feel myself getting zoned in and starting to fade I try to look around as much as possible even if there isnt anything to look at. If its to bad pull over or stop somewhere if your close to something. Get out walk around even take a little 15-30 min nap. If you smoke not cigs that always helps me focus and concentrate on long drives, makes them seem to go faster too.

03-06-2012, 05:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
Rider161 -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Southern MD Posts: 377	The best thing that works for me is other people that are going, helps to socialize.. other than that I would always get up early so 12 hours of driving were during the day..

03-06-2012, 05:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
poutanen Resident Creep-o-saurus Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Calgary, AB Posts: 3,468	Stay far far away from caffein or any of those other things that "temporarily restore mental alertness or wakefullness" lol Sleep as long as you can before the drive, and don't take too many breaks. If you can stop somewhere half way for a light sit down meal (heavy meals will make you tired) it'd be a good idea. Water only, and bring some fruit with you for long lasting sugar energy. I drove across Canada from Calgary, AB to Hamilton, ON last winter and we did it in one night. Was about 35 hours of driving with a 6 hour break for sleep. I also worked a lot of night shifts and did a study of the effects of night shifts on the human body. As it gets dark your body will be trying to put you to sleep, just keep your mind occupied and you'll blast right through it. That said there's nothing wrong with a power nap for 30 mins at 2:00 am so help you push through. Are you snowboarding or anything the day you get there? You're probably going to be wigged out for a few hours after the drive lol

03-06-2012, 05:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
nickwarrenn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NS, Canada Eh! Posts: 191	Make games of it as you drive, try and hug a line as much as you can. Bring a tablet and "listen" to a TV show or something, podcasts too. Spontaneously pull over, and take a 5 minute walk in the woods just to see what's there.

03-06-2012, 06:04 PM	#9 (permalink)
RaID Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Hakuba, Japan for the 2011/12 season Posts: 218	To add to the tips above listen to some spoken word/comedy/audio book instead of music. This engages you into the topic/story and you inherently pay attention and stay awake to not loose track of what is being said unlike music which you can tune in and out from.

03-06-2012, 06:17 PM	#10 (permalink)
Bones Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 826	There's a couple of long-distance drivers on here whose opinions carry a lot more weight than mine, but.... I've done the cross Canada drive several times as well as regular 15 hour drives to see family. Drink lots of water. Get some podcasts or spoken word books. Sleep when tired. A 45 minute nap does me more good in the long run than an energy drink. Energy drinks get me thru the last 3 hours of a long drive, but leave me in worse shape if I use them to get thru the middle part. Pace your speed in the first half of the trip. Yes, you can drive faster but the fatigue factor goes way up, you'll pay for it in hours 10 and 11. Cruise control is your friend, set it the speed of traffic and make up the time when there's no traffic.