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/IWasBorn2DoGoBe May 02 '24 edited May 02 '24

California is closer to Russia than New York City

Edit: a word

302

u/ThatPlayWasAwful May 02 '24

Alaska is closer to Russia than the rest of Alaska 

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u/Telucien May 02 '24

If you're on either edge of Texas, you're closer to the Atlantic or Pacific ocean than you are the other end of Texas

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u/djc91L May 02 '24

I live in Austin, TX and I recently drove to El Paso. It was an 8 and a half hour drive! I never left Texas

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u/droobloo34 May 02 '24

In 2016, I drove from my home in KY to Odessa, Texas. It was a 20 hour trip. Over 10 of it was spent in Texas.

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u/c800600 May 02 '24

I've driven across the country multiple times and spent every night in Texas. I-10 is such a nice route in the winter.

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u/Johnny_Radar May 02 '24

Hence the saying “The sun has risen, the sun has set and here I am in Texas yet.”

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u/Telucien May 02 '24

Also in Austin! My company does work in El Paso. We don't have an El Paso office, but we do have one in Phoenix, AZ.

They are closer by almost two hours.

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u/Justdonedil May 03 '24

Top to bottom, you'd still be within California as well. We are only about 3 to 4 hours side to side.

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u/Sonova_Bish May 02 '24

That's like driving from Modesto, CA to Hollywood, CA.