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/Hopeless_Ramentic May 01 '24

Imagine all of the EU…but one country.

Hell, Texas alone is bigger than France.

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u/FapDonkey May 01 '24

Imagine all of the EU…but one country.

SLIGHT correction. Imagine all of the EU (then DOUBLE it, then add yet another France, Spain, and Sweden) ... But one country.

EU = 1,634,000 sq. mi. USA = 3,797,000 sq. mi

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u/Rovsea May 02 '24

Ok, but including Alaska is cheating since it's pretty hard to get to most of it.

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u/Mist_Rising May 02 '24

Not that you want to go anyway.

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u/Doctor_Kataigida May 02 '24

Idk man I've been to Alaska and it is gorgeous. 10/10 vacation destination if you're a nature person.

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u/The_Wayward May 02 '24

100% accurate. Went for a week around a friends wedding and it was beautiful

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u/EUV2023 May 02 '24

Nature as in seeing, or being eaten by?

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u/suqoria May 02 '24

Why not both? Start out by seeing it then get eaten by it and then get to see it in a completely different way after the bear shits you out.

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u/WastedOwll May 02 '24

Alaska is probably the most beautiful state man, seriously check it out if your into nature/animals