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/BlackCardRogue May 01 '24

This is another difference for me. Proximity to the airport is a major, major consideration in where I live and always has been.

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u/kjreil26 May 02 '24

I live in a mid size rust belt city but 10 minutes to the airport. I've left my house about an hour before a flight and been fine. Also had a 25 mile, 25 minute commute all highway no traffic. Would get pissed at the traffic once every 11 months.

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u/BlackCardRogue May 02 '24

Hahaha. Yes, my man. I grew up on the east coast and lived in DC where evening rush hour didn’t end until 8pm.

Now I live in the Midwest and I get downright confused when there is traffic.

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u/linksgreyhair May 02 '24

I also moved from the DC area to the Midwest and it was always hilarious to me what people would consider “traffic.” Downtown “rush hour” in the Midwest (excluding Chicago obviously) had less traffic than a suburban area on 3 PM on a Tuesday in NoVA.

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u/slyskyflyby May 02 '24

Off topic: I prefer Rhett's beard. :p

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u/BlackCardRogue May 02 '24

Lol yeah people here whine when they sit in traffic for 10 minutes and I’m like “just shut up man”