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Joined: 13 Aug 2012
Location: Spokane, WA
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Posts: 454 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: NC to WA
    Posted: 15 Apr 2014 at 10:57am
Thanks Goose ... I think that is what I needed to hear, and those would be just too long of days for me 5 in a row.  I think I am going to go back to my original 6 day trip plan with @ 450 miles per day.
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Posts: 672 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Apr 2014 at 10:21am
I believe that I would add a couple of hours to your drive time each day, it generally takes us 13 plus hours to travel 550 miles all on pretty flat land. I stop about every 180 miles or when the gas gage gets 3/4 empty to fill up and to walk a little. Goose
Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee
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Joined: 13 Aug 2012
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Posts: 454 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Apr 2014 at 9:37am
Would love some final thoughts on my itinerary before I book reservations for my moving trip a month out from now -- too aggressive?  should be do-able?  Have decided to stay at KOA's that are located w/in what I think my driving range is for each day, and that are right off of the freeway for easy access (this way I have electricity for c-pap, laptop, coffee maker, etc).

Friday:  Charlotte to Nashville KOA -- 408 miles, @ 8 hrs road time
Saturday:  Nashville to KC/Oak Grove KOA -- 530 miles, @ 10.5 hrs road time
Sunday:  KC to Kennebec SD KOA -- 552 miles, @ 11 hrs road time
Monday:  Kennebec to Billings KOA --- 549 miles, @ 11 hrs road time
Tuesday:  Billings to Spokane -- 542 miles, @ 12 hrs road time (couple of passes to go over on this section) -- if tired at this point I have no problem with pulling over and spending another night somewhere, finishing up on Wednesday
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Joined: 12 Jan 2014
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Posts: 108 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Apr 2014 at 12:01pm
I've seen snow in Missoula, MT the last day of May, 14 inches. You never know!
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Joined: 13 Aug 2012
Location: Spokane, WA
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Posts: 454 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Apr 2014 at 9:36am
I have confirmed dates now that have me leaving Charlotte on Friday 5/16 and hopefully getting into Spokane on Wednesday 5/21, which gives me 6 days travel time. I'm off the rest of that week just in case the going is slower for any reason.

Question: The route I'm driving takes me north to where I pickup I-90 at Sioux Falls, and then on I-90 across South Dakota and Montana and on into Spokane. Does anyone know what the weather is usually like in those 2 states at that time of the year (mid-May)? Does it stay cold enough that I should not be de-winterizing the Pod yet?
P & M ... and Comet too!
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Joined: 13 Aug 2012
Location: Spokane, WA
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Posts: 454 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Feb 2014 at 9:18pm
Thanks to everyone for the insight and tips. Since it will be just me driving up, along with my dog Comet, I'll be able to put in longer days on the road ... M gets a little antsy after about 6 hours and she starts to whine. With that in mind I'm thinking it will take 5 days with 9.5 to 10 hours on the road drive-time each day, and around 12 hours total with stops. I've done long trips before with longer days of driving, including when we moved down here from Seattle (4 days), but that was without towing something behind me and so 5 should do it. However, I also know that things can change at any point in a trip like this, and I'll plan on extra time just in case.

I'll be sticking to the interstates the whole way (safety first) and am most likely going to use the truck stop method of overnighting. There are a ton of Flying J's and Pilot Centers from here to there which are very friendly to RV's and trailer towers, with an ability to get a hot meal and a shower at the end of each day. Plus they have an app that tells you where all of them are, how far the next one is, what amenities it has, and so on.

Things are moving faster for us on the home fronts than I originally thought it would, and we have already made an offer that was accepted on our new home in Spokane which closes in 30 days. Our house here is going on the market in 2 weeks and should be priced well enough to get a quick sale. With that in mind I'm toying with the idea of packing and moving everything up except the Pod and Grand Cherokee, leaving them here for a bit longer either in storage or with friends, and flying back down on Memorial Day weekend for the drive back up. That would give me plenty of time and allow me to do some sight-seeing along the way, though it would be during a very busy travel week on the highways.

Of course, I'd have to take more time to drive it if I do it that week because M would want to make the trip with me!
P & M ... and Comet too!
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Joined: 22 Aug 2013
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Posts: 23 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Feb 2014 at 9:06am
Welcome back to Washington-in advance!
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Joined: 29 Jul 2009
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Posts: 9059 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Feb 2014 at 8:16pm
Using Google Maps it says 37 hours, times 1.25 = 46 hours.  Driving no more than 10 hours a day I'd plan on 5 days.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Joined: 24 Sep 2010
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Posts: 672 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Feb 2014 at 10:10pm
If you are going 2600 miles figure 4 good days of driving, at 60 mph your average speed is 50 mph (stopping, starting, gas and potty stops)at 12 hours of driving will get about 600 miles. With the Jeep figure 10 to 11 mpg which has you stopping for fuel about every 3 hours or 150 to 180 miles, I don't like the fuel gauge get below 1/4 of a tank. I don't mind stopping so often as I get to stretch my legs, and check the rig out for any problems. With our Jeep (5.7 Hemi) it really does not matter if you travel 60 or 65, the mileage is about same. Traveling at 65 will get you closer to 600 miles a day in 12 hours or less.
For the type of trip you are taking I would drive the 12 hours and rest for 12 making sure that you get a good 8 hours of sleep, the other 4 hours will go by quick with meals, showers and wind down time. Drive it like a truck driver so that when you pull out in the morning you are refreshed and alert focused on the job of driving safely.
Hope that this helps.   Goose
Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee
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Joined: 29 Jul 2009
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Posts: 9059 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Feb 2014 at 12:19pm

Here's a recent post I made with more thoughts on staying at truck stops, Wal-Marts, etc.

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=4342&PID=42124&title=us-tour-west-midwest-states-2014#42124
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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