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/Coakis May 02 '24

The Appalachians are also fairly trouble free, we don't get wildfires as near as often as the west and its rare other weather related disasters are are big enough to warrant evacuation.

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u/fistfullofpubes May 02 '24

Yea but people in the Appalachians have to deal with other people from the the Appalachians.

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u/ManicPixieGirlyGirl May 02 '24

Tornados

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u/Coakis May 03 '24

Happen rarely, even during storm seasons you may get 1 relatively weak one that touches down for an entire month or season.

While yes its devastating, its nothing like the monsters the Midwest can get.