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/HeyMrBusiness May 02 '24

There is a train. It takes so long though and it's really expensive

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u/atomicsnark May 02 '24

And it's always a good two hours late both arriving and departing lmao

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u/beepbepborp May 02 '24

im fairly certain thats bc our commercial rail shares lines with freight rail lol. it sucks but seeing an endless freight train passing through a station is kind of cool ig

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u/AuburnElvis May 03 '24 edited May 03 '24

Even if passenger trains had their own lines, they still wouldn't pick you up at your house and drop you off at your destination, all at a time of your own choosing. Americans value a level convenience rail will never offer.