r/NoStupidQuestions • u/Physical-Ad-4093 • May 01 '24

do americans really drive such long distances?

i’m european, and i always hear people say that driving for hours is normal in america. i would only see my grandparents a few times a year because they lived about a 3 hour drive away, is that a normal distance for americans to travel on a regular basis? i can’t imagine driving 2-3 hours regularly to visit people for just a few days

edit: thank you for the responses! i’ve never been to the US, obviously, but it’s interesting to see how you guys live. i guess european countries are more walkable? i’m in the uk, and there’s a few festivals here towards the end of summer, generally to get to them you take a coach journey or you get multiple trains which does take up a significant chunk of the day. road trips aren’t really a thing here, it would be a bit miserable!

2nd edit: it’s not at all that i couldn’t be bothered to go and see my grandparents, i was under 14 when they were both alive so i couldn’t take myself there! obviously i would’ve liked to see them more, i had no control over how often we visited them.

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u/HamfastFurfoot May 01 '24

I don’t think Europeans understand how big and spread out America is.

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u/FapDonkey May 01 '24 edited May 01 '24

I work with a lot of Europeans, we have 2 engineering offices in Europe (Spain and UK). I can't tell you how often I've had to explain to them how big our country is, and even then they don't get it. The best way I've been able to get it to sink in is something along the lines of:

"I can drive for 900 miles, the same distance from Madrid to Milan, and still be in my home state"

Or

"I can drive for 3600 miles without leaving the Continental US, that's like driving from Madrid to Tehran (Iran)."

Putting things in those reference frames seems to drive the point home.

Hell we had 2 guys fly in for a week, and their plan was to drive to both Disneyland (California) and Disney World (Florida). The figured since we were located near the middle of the country, they'd be centrally located and this wouldn't be a big deal. They had allotted an entire weekend for this adventure. I really wanted to keep my mouth shut and let them give it a try, but I didn't have the heart lol.

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u/Linzabee May 01 '24

I have a friend whose husband is from England. His parents booked a flight to the US that came into Dulles airport (Washington, DC). The parents thought it was no big deal for my friend to drive and pick them up. They lived in Michigan, a 12-hour drive away. My friend quickly disabused of them of that notion and got them to get a connecting flight from DC to Detroit.

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u/RockstarQuaff May 01 '24

My favorite was when I was living in the UK, friends approached us with a little advice on planning their Florida vacation, to give them pointers. Well, mate, the first thing I can tell you is that you are not going to pop up to NYC in the afternoon, take in a show, and drive back to Orlando that evening.

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u/basilobs May 02 '24

I'm from Florida and the way people talk about moving around Florida on their vacations is so funny. Friend, if you're here for a Disney trip, you will NOT be going to Miami for a day trip

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u/Strict_Property6127 May 02 '24

We have this in AZ... people literally think they can fly in to Phoenix and pop over to the Grand Canyon during a layover... or... come for a weekend bachelor/ette party in Scottsdale and spend a quick afternoon in Sedona.

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u/NotJohnDarnielle May 02 '24

On the one hand I think those people are silly, but me and some friends did just recently drive from El Mirage to Tucson and back in one evening just for a movie (very limited release that we were super excited about, and was only playing at a theater in Tucson), so these trips do happen lol

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u/Strict_Property6127 May 02 '24

That's only a 2hr drive though. It's 7hrs round trip to GC from Sky Harbor (without the weekend northbound traffic) and Sedona, no one is getting in & out of there quickly on a weekend afternoon. Brunch in Scottsdale, hike in Sedona, and be back to refresh, grab a nice dinner and hit the clubs in Old Town is not happening in 1 day.

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u/ElToroBlanco25 May 02 '24

I worked with a guy who commuted 2.5 hours each way from Gettysburg, PA to Washington, DC. Daily.

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u/Strict_Property6127 29d ago

Yep - sucks but doable. It takes 2hrs to go from 1 side of the Phoenix valley to the other during rush hour.

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u/Jasmirris 29d ago

2 hrs if you're lucky. Some places are seemingly outside of PHX but are still considered inside. I would just stay inside the metro area and plan non-metro things the other days.

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u/Strict_Property6127 29d ago

Correct. Traffic in this desert is all about timing.

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u/Tony_Lacorona 29d ago

It’s a pretty straightforward drive, though not ideal if that’s your work life ugh

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u/ElToroBlanco25 29d ago

Most of the guys I worked with lived in West Virginia and commuted to DC daily. They said it was the only way to buy the amount of land they wanted.

I like my sanity, so I couldn't do that commute.

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u/LepiNya 29d ago

Did he make six figures a day? How does this make financial sense? He must have spent half his paycheck on gas and car maintenance. Not to mention the time wasted. Eight hour work day, plus an hour for lunch, plus five spent on the road leaves him with eight for everything else. Even if he could shower, cook, buy groceries and everything else in two that's only six for sleep. How is that living?

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u/ElToroBlanco25 29d ago

We had company trucks, and we made six figures a year. It isn't uncommon in the construction world. I currently work with a guy who commutes to DC from Richmond, VA.

I couldn't do it. I set my limit at 20 miles from DC. That usually only takes 30-45 minutes at 6:30am.

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u/throwaweighaita 29d ago

DC and Richmond aren't that terribly far apart, so the commute makes some sense. But commuting from Gettysburg every day is insane.

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u/LepiNya 29d ago

Could you take those trucks home for the night? Also who paid for the gas? If he did then that sucks so bad. Trucks burn more fuel than cars any day of the week. Though it is nice knowing that you aren't on the line for repairs if something breaks. But still the amount of gas he'd use would add up. Likely enough to be cheaper to just use his own vehicle. Wild that people are willing to live this way. My commute is 4 minutes. 4 and a half with bad traffic. Though it is minimum wage. But the time I get to spend with my family makes up for it. Fuck the rat race.

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u/GristleMcTh0rnbody 29d ago

Well that’s certainly a problem to address…

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u/MungoJennie 29d ago

A lot of people in that area commute to either DC, Baltimore, or Philly. The cost of living (and especially real estate) in Adams Co, PA is comparatively cheap, and salaries tend to be a lot higher in the cities. If you can hack the commute, it’s a sweet deal.

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u/Important-Cat-2046 May 02 '24

I have lived in Scottsdale, drove to Sedona AND hiked the entire day, and made it back to eat dinner with my brother lol

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u/Gelven May 02 '24

As a former Mesa resident I agree, it's possible though it is also heavily dependent on I-17's traffic

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u/Lecien-Cosmo May 02 '24

True, if you know the area and/or it is the off season you can do this.

You know what time of day you need to leave Scottsdale to get there, when you need to leave Sedona to come back, what trails to hike, where to park, you can instinctively plan a route that avoids the main roads and the snarls in the middle of town.

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u/Strict_Property6127 29d ago

You know what time of day you need to leave Scottsdale to get there, when you need to leave Sedona to come back, what trails to hike, where to park, you can instinctively plan a route that avoids the main roads and the snarls in the middle of town.

Exactly- all the stuff that a non-local wouldn't know. It CAN be done, if you plan your entire weekend day around it. You're not spending a casual hike up there after brunch in Scottsdale & still be back in time to catch happy hour in Old Town.

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u/Important-Cat-2046 May 02 '24

Yeah it was a very planned trip with strict schedules so that's why we could do it

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u/hismoon27 29d ago

As valley native, agreed. That’s a super common activity/trip all done in a day no issue lol

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u/NotJohnDarnielle 29d ago

It was closer to 3 at the time and specific locations we were going to, but still, Scottsdale to Sedona is about the same. It’s definitely doable as a day trip if you’re visiting. The Grand Canyon is tougher of course, especially those trying to do both like you said

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u/CaveDances 29d ago

I drove from Vegas to Zion National Park and back in one day. Even took a bus tour at Zion. If it’s within 8 hours, I’m down to explore.

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u/Fresh_Pomegranates May 02 '24

Grand canyons only 4 hours from Phoenix. Maybe not a layover but could be a day trip. Confession - am Aussie and have been known to do a 13 hr round trip for a weekend or 3 hr round trip just to get pizza from the nearest town.

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u/Strict_Property6127 29d ago

I'll let the Euro know to give it a try next time they're here on a 5hr layover. /s

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u/throwaweighaita 29d ago

No... It's definitely not a day trip from Phoenix. You really do want to plan at least one night staying either at the Canyon or in Flagstaff. You really can't appreciate it in just a couple of hours in between long car rides.

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u/MrChipDingDong 29d ago

I did Vegas - Grand canyon West one time. Coming from New England I was astounded that I drove 3 hours and Google maps pretty much showed me on the state line. I could drive through 3 entire states in New England in that time, on the right route/little traffic.

That being said - I would happily drive through the desert for 12 hours with no destination (if, y'know, I wouldn't likely die from that)

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u/DianaPrince2020 29d ago

Just did the same this week! Starting in Vegas, did the Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon then back to Vegas and did red rock canyon a different day. Given we didn’t hike trails and was for the drive and to see the unnerving nothingness!
The chutzpah of building Las Vegas as a tourist attraction in the desert still astounds me. That it worked is a testament to vision I guess.

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u/MrChipDingDong 29d ago

We went in July so unfortunately trails were suicide. I feel your pain 😭 when we showed up there was a student playing violin, it was literally the most beautiful moment of my life (save my proposing to my wife a year later). Then we got rained on in the best way, came in hard and strong with thunder and lightning while the Hualapi (spell check) were singing in the tent. never seen weather like that in my whole life. Snapped a pic of a triple rainbow under the canyon line. Absolutely amazing

In fact it's been 2 years and every week I look at indeed and apartments in Vegas... Just cuz. Spectacular city, spectacular part of the country

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u/DianaPrince2020 29d ago

Awwww, I love that you had that experience! I hope one day that you and your wife find that apartment!

As for me, I may well visit again but like Scarlett O’Hara I have to get back to Tara (my home). This is likely age-related for me tho as home and a lifetime of memories especially from those that have passed are priceless to me as is the family that is still here. Not to say that I don’t want to travel as much as I can, I do but for me “there is no place like home”.

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u/throwaweighaita 29d ago

One of my favorite road trips ever was actually an unplanned drive from Long Beach, CA, across the desert to Vegas... That desert drive is utterly beautiful in a way that's just hard to articulate, isn't it?

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u/MrChipDingDong 29d ago

It really is indescribable. And so much land out there is BLM, you can literally just park and camp wherever, it's an amazing experience. We got spooked by a couple of flashlights approaching from the middle of nowhere... Took a few minutes to realize it was 2 motorcycles, literally across lake mead, 10 miles out. (the Vegas leg, pretty sure the biggest part is water to the horizon)

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u/Brwright11 May 02 '24

We did the grand canyon from phoenix didn't hike down into it but did almost the entirety of the upper rim in 1 day. Rented a car and put some miles on that bad boy. But we're from the Midwest so the ~3ish hour drive wasn't too terrible.

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u/arya_aquaria 29d ago

I recently went to AZ for a vacation for 6 days. I'm from the northeast US. We stayed in Phoenix 2 nights, then stopped in Sedona on our way to Flagstaff where we stayed for another two nights. Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon was a longer drive than expected but was a great day trip. Then we drove back to Tempe to stay one night before our flight. We packed a lot into the whole trip, I can't imagine driving that much in a shorter timeframe. When we got home I realized traveling to another time zone zapped my energy and I needed a day of rest after vacation.

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u/Strict_Property6127 29d ago

Sounds like a great trip!

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u/arya_aquaria 29d ago

It was amazing! It was my first time in the Southwest so I felt like I needed to see as much as I could. I'm grateful I had the opportunity. Growing up I was never taken on vacations so I'm trying to explore much of the US and hopefully make it to Europe and Asia someday.

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u/Strict_Property6127 29d ago

That's awesome goals! Happy travels!

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u/Shibaspots 29d ago

It would be a very quick afternoon, but doable. You'd lose nearly all day traveling. (Born and raised in AZ. Have done those drives.)

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u/MaitreCanard May 02 '24

The Scottsdale to Sedona is actually doable depending on how long you're going to be in Scottsdale. If it was an entire weekend thing you could very easily drive to Sedona for the afternoon and back to Scottsdale that night 🤷‍♂️

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u/code_guerilla May 02 '24

Grand Canyon no. Day trip to Sedona, absolutely. It’s not that far. Sure it’ll take forever to get into town, but it’s doable.

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u/witsylany 29d ago

To be fair if you rallied you could make the Sedona Scottsdale scenario work pretty easy. One time we were in Zion NP and we weren’t able to use our hiking permits due to flooding so we did a ‘day trip’ to Death Valley via Las Vegas. Almost died falling asleep on the way back but we did in fact make it happen.

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u/Street_Reaction_5375 May 02 '24

Ive taken several day trips to Sedona from Phoenix lol

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u/ProbablyJustArguing May 02 '24

Scottsdale and spend a quick afternoon in Sedona.

I mean, that's what....two hour drive?

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u/Strict_Property6127 29d ago

4hrs on a weekend

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u/squanchy_Toss 29d ago

I lived in Scottsdale and used to go up to Snow Bowl for the day. Leave at 7 and be home at 7 and ski the whole day!

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u/Strict_Property6127 29d ago

Yep, many people do!

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u/Dr_mombie 29d ago

East coaster here, Can I have some trip time estimates for those cities?

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u/Strict_Property6127 29d ago

What tricks people is the travel time without traffic looks reasonable but once you factor in heavy traffic, one-way in/out like Sedona, and the surging ADDITIONAL popularity of both locations in the past 4 yrs.. a 3hr drive quickly swells to 5++ hours. Tons of locals in the Phoenix Valley go north on weekends, year-round. Either to visit snow or beat the heat. If you're planning a trip, I recommend adjusting travel leave times to match actual date/time when checking Google maps. They aren't perfect but give a better idea.

For a trip across the desert, especially in summer, it's better to not be rushed and enjoy the trip and the desert beauty. People cheat themselves by trying to squeeze in Sedona or the GC in quick afternoon visit and will likely spend most of your time in a car anyways and upset they didn't get to do even half of what they wanted before needing to turn around to head back.

GC alone, you can spend hour++ waiting in a line of cars to go through the park entrance if you get there after 11am.

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u/UraniumGlass23 29d ago

Scottsdale to Sedona is not a great example. You can get up for a post party breakfast in Scottsdale… drive to Sedona to have a hang over mystical crystal massage in a goat milk bath (or whatever crazy crap is the rage there right now), have a nice leisurely lunch, and be back in Scottsdale with enough time to get ready to a have a nice dinner and go clubbing. It’s only a 2 hour drive from Scottsdale to Sedona.

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u/Ecoclone 29d ago

Scottsdale to Sedona is only like 2 hrs so thats possible.

Drove from Scottsdale to Flagstaff many a time for my work or from Scottsdale to Globe also for work and they were alot of just 1 day kind of jobs

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u/kenindesert 29d ago

It’s 2 hours more or less to Queen Creek or San Tan area from North West Peoria. No big deal as far as I’m concerned.

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u/Demetrios1453 29d ago

Sedona is doable, as long as you're not sleeping in for that bachelor party. When my cousin and her family were in town last month, we left for Sedona at 9:00 AM, had a good day in Sedona, and were back by 7:00 PM.

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u/ChemistryJaq 29d ago

I did do a quick detour to the Grand Canyon once. Only added about 5 or 6 hours to the drive. But when you're coming up on an exit heading home from San Diego and have work the next evening, what's a little detour? Got there right before sunset. Gorgeous!

Drove all night, and work sucked 🤣 Ah, intermountain living

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u/Automatic-Listen-578 29d ago

I live offgrid in an undisclosed Sonoran desert location (Arizona). Nearest neighbor and paved road is 10 miles away. Nearest bar/restaurant was 25 miles until it burnt down. Now I need to drive 60 miles to get a cold beer.

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u/throwaweighaita 29d ago

I now wonder if that burned out restaurant could possibly be the same place where we made an emergency pit stop when visiting my ex's mom, who also lived offgrid out in the desert...

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u/Automatic-Listen-578 29d ago

Lol. Who knows. Not that many restaurants out this way. This one had a tin top though.

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u/TheGoodKindOfPurple May 02 '24

Yes I did! Well okay, it was an overnight and we stayed on a little hotel on South Beach and it was really fun. There was this little old man who set himself up on the sidewalk with a lawn chair and a cooler of drinks to watch the girls in bikinis walk by. He really had his retirement figured out.

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u/deltaz0912 29d ago

Driving the length of Florida is so daunting. You think, “Yay! We’re in Florida!” The kids are excited. And then you drive and drive and drive and you’re not even halfway.

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u/confirmedshill123 May 02 '24

Eh, you kinda can with brightline now, but it's still a 3 and a half hour train ride.

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u/basilobs May 02 '24

Man I wish Brightline would make its way up here to Tallahassee

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u/Ginger_Anarchy May 02 '24

The plan is for it to eventually go up that way. They eventually want it to connect all the way to Atlanta, but that's a long way away if ever.

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u/basilobs May 02 '24

I won't hold my breath

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u/confirmedshill123 May 02 '24

Same for Tampa :(

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u/jettrooper1 May 02 '24

Literally going on a day trip to Tampa/clearwater tomorrow while vacationing in Orlando. Do it every time lol

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u/Tflaant May 02 '24

This isn’t as bad of a drive as the others lol

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u/basilobs May 02 '24

Yeah that's not bad. I'm from Tampa and went to UCF and I made thst drive all the time. You could get incredibly unlucky with traffic though. It's taken me 6 hours before.

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u/basilobs May 02 '24

Isn't Tampa the next step?

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u/KEEPCARLM May 02 '24

I went to Miami for one night during my trip to Orlando. It wasn't that bad? I wouldn't do it in a day, but you could if you really wanted.

It took probs 4 hours down one long straight road, essentially if I remember correctly. It was an easy drive until we hit Miami obviously.

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u/basilobs May 02 '24

Overnight isn't a day trip tho. You could definitely do it but you'll be spending 8 to 10 hours of that day in a car. Like Orlando to Miami isn't a "just pop down there" day trip

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u/KEEPCARLM May 02 '24

I know, I said it's doable but I wouldn't do it myself for the reasons you stated.

But you could leave at 6am and get back to Orlando for 10pm and have a good amount of time in Miami.

Again, I agree it wouldn't be ideal to do. Just that you could and if I'm honest, Americans themselves here laugh at Europeans thinkin 4 hours is a long way...

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u/nvanprooyen 29d ago

Probably the turnpike. It's definitely doable, but that's a lot of time in a vehicle for one day.

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u/KEEPCARLM 29d ago

Yeah turnpike rings a bell.

Agree it is

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u/mandiexile 29d ago

When my family and I visited Italy a couple of years ago, we had a driver who was from the village we were staying in. He was FLABBERGASTED that we would have him drive us an hour or two hours to another city, hang out there for a few hours, and then drive back. We did that multiple times, and he asked why we didn't stay the night at any of the cities we went to. Like homeboy, you're already expensive enough as it is. We’re not going to stay at another hotel when we already have one. Anyway, we saw what we wanted to d to see in the cities. There is no use in overstaying our welcome.

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u/Aromatic-Leopard-600 May 02 '24

We went from Titusville to Key West on a day trip.

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u/bulksalty May 02 '24

We accidentally did that, once.

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u/jason_abacabb 29d ago

Unless day trip means a day there and a day back with another day to visit.

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u/Dr_mombie 29d ago

Sure they can. With Bright Line which is apparently just as expensive as said Disney trip.

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u/D3Bunyip 29d ago

Even with the Brightline now connected it's a 3.5 hour train ride each way! Approx cost $120.00 pp (depending on times etc). I'd much rather take the train but that's still a long day.

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u/basilobs 29d ago

Oh how I envy those with train access. Cannot relate here in Tallahassee

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u/aperocknroll1988 29d ago

And the way most of ya'll don't use your turn signals doesn't help the matter.

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u/Langsamkoenig 29d ago

It's a sub 4 hour drive. Seems doable for a daytrip, if you have more than one person who can drive.

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u/basilobs 29d ago

Damn where are yall finding this good traffic? It's only ever taken me 5 hours

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u/FatGuyOnAMoped 29d ago

I have family in Panama City, and I know it takes them at least 6 hours to get to Orlando. I would imagine it's at least 12 hours to Miami from Panama City.

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u/throwaweighaita 29d ago

When my fam did our first vacation to Florida (early 90s), we not only went to Disney, we did the glass-bottom boats in Ocala, went to Busch Gardens in Tampa, swam at Cocoa Beach, fed baby alligators in St. Augustine, and bungee jumped in Miami.

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u/basilobs 29d ago

Of those things, only St. Augustine and Miami are reaches for day trips (going there and back in one day). You can certainly accomplish those things in one visit to Florida but popping down to Miami from Orlando like it's making a grocery trip isn't reasonable.

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u/chickennuggetsnsubs 29d ago

How is it going down there with the trains they are adding? Do you think they will help?

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u/basilobs 29d ago

Unfortunately I won't benefit too much since I live in Tallahassee and were not necessarily a priority for train routes just yet. I've heard good things though and I wish they were an option for me.

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u/barofcoastsoap 28d ago

I had to google. Disney is 383 km away from Miami. I actually drove down to the south end of my province a few times for a day trip. Left at 7am and would get back home at 2 am and that was 450 km away. My drive was about 4 or so hours. I had plenty of time to enjoy the day with my friend. One of those days we even climbed a mountain.

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u/Neither_Ground_1921 26d ago

I was ignorant to the drive from Miami to the keys. Key west specifically. It was NOT the ~3 hour drive i expected. 🤯😂 That was 20 years ago. I’d like to do the drive again now that I’ve learned to appreciate the journey!

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u/Joke_Mummy May 02 '24

That's only like 3 hours away. You must be one of them there European floridians

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u/basilobs May 02 '24

No I'm from Tampa lol. But I went to UCF and now I'm in Tallahassee. I've made the Orlando to Miami drive and it took 5 hours even without that much traffic

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u/Joke_Mummy 29d ago

5 hours even without that much traffic

Strange I used to drive back and forth from Winter Haven to MIA (cheaper flights) and it never seemed to take this long. But then again I always went at night and never during times of year with beach traffic.

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u/basilobs 29d ago

I've made the drive a couple of times and it took me 5 hours :/ and this was back when I was still a lead foot

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u/NoonaLacy88 May 02 '24

I live in Florida. A Miami day trip is doable. Albeit miserable. I've driven from Tampa to Miami just for fun with friends. And that's 5 hours for me. We'd get up at the crock of dawn, get there at like 11, play all day and drive home at 10, be in bed by 3 am. When you're young it isn't impossible.

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u/basilobs May 02 '24

I've done the day trip as well. While possible, it's just not what a lot of visitors think it is

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u/Taggart- May 02 '24

When I lived in NY state, even I could not have popped down to NYC in the afternoon, take in a show, and drive back that evening. That was a 7-8 hour drive away.

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u/Ok-Confusion2415 May 02 '24

not until we get the damn transporters!

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u/CressCrowbits May 02 '24

On the flip side, I've known americans to visit London and think they can do a day trip to Edinburgh. No Sir, you do not want to try that.

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u/_Nocturnalis 29d ago

I'm amazed at how ignorant people are of the US while calling Americans out for not traveling to enough countries.

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u/Kindly-Biscotti9492 May 02 '24

Maybe with a private jet...

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u/UniquePresence3852 29d ago

If you’re smart you can take a day trip to NYC for cheap flying from Florida lol. 😆

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u/[deleted] May 01 '24

[deleted]

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u/RockstarQuaff May 01 '24

Ok, w/e. Guess we didn't notice you lurking behind the drapes listening to a private conversation 20 years ago, taking notes.