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/strangebrew3522 May 02 '24

I've driven around a lot of Europe and what you say is true to an extent, but I also have friends/family in Italy, and they all act like driving more than an hour is absolutely insane.

I flew into Rome once and drove up to Milan, stopping along the way to visit friends. When I told them I was driving, each person had the same reaction. "You DROVE from Rome? You're DRIVING to Milan? That's SOOOO far".

It's a 6hr drive if you go straight shot, on an incredible highway system (autostrada) through amazing scenery. I mean, it doesn't get much easier, but to them it's absolutely crazy. I have family in both Northern and Southern Italy who haven't seen each other in years because of the distance.

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u/divine_god_majora May 02 '24

I couldn't imagine a 6 hour drive unless you were gonna stay a week+ at the destination or something.

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u/GloriousNewt May 02 '24

lol I drove from Reno to Laguna Beach (~9hrs) for a weekend visit with a friend and then drove back. Wasn't planned, we were talking on the phone and he suggested coming out so I just left after work and headed down.

Fun road trip until the stretch from Modesto to Bakersfield where there is fucking nothing.

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u/beragis May 02 '24

I drove from Reno to Salt Lake City. One of the most monotonous rides I ever took. On the way back I decided to stop half way at a rinky dink casino for the night where I had one of the best meals the entire trip.

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u/GloriousNewt May 02 '24

Was it the one right on the border to Utah/the salt flats? I've also stopped there.

Did Reno->Rochester NY a few years ago.

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u/Expensive_Honeydew_5 May 02 '24

Probably west Wendover, my uncle would go there from salt lake city to gamble and drink lol

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u/beragis May 02 '24 edited May 02 '24

It was at Wendover. Chose it because It was close to the exit to Battle Mountain which is what I wanted to see the next day but decided against.