What are good tips/lifehacks for a 6-8 hour drive?

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  1. Download audiobooks / podcasts for when your bored of music. Use the time to call friends / family you haven’t talked to in a while. Zone out and just do it. Really shouldn’t be a big deal at all.

  3. download google map info so you’ll still have it if your coverage is spotty. same with any podcasts, audio books, music, etc. you want to listen to.

    don’t let your gas get too low. there are parts of this country where you can go quite a while without seeing a gas station. play it safe. (same for bathroom trips)

    take time to plan your mid-route stop. find a good local restaurant you want to try, or a nice park to have a picnic and a little walk. that’s much nicer than whatever fast food you happen to pass by.

  4. Audible books. Heathful snacks like fruit and nuts and bring a sandwich. Have waters in the car. Don’t eat fast food. Grab a coffee. Download the map area to your GPS so you can use GPS offline.

  5. I enjoy getting large bags of popcorn. Sometimes you wanna eat something bc your bored ands popcorn is light and crunchy to satisfy.

  7. Don’t plan a big excursion with lots of walking for when you get there. Driving for 8 hours is exhausting.

  8. Audio books, podcasts, and avoid drinking anything so you don’t have to stop for bathroom breaks.

  10. Stop every hour or two, for about 10-15 minutes to stretch, do some jumping jacks, shotgun an energy drink, walk around. We drive a lot to get to the mountains for backpacking/ultra running. My parents were long-haul truck drivers and I’d spend about 2 months a year with them in the cab. Sitting for that long is absolutely brutal.

  11. Don’t overthink it. Switch drivers every couple hours. And bring a cooler with snacks and drinks. It’s honestly not that bad, especially if you enjoy the company you’re with!

  12. Cruise control is great for preventing driving fatigue, but don’t ever use it after you start to feel sleepy.

    In fact, if you start to feel sleepy, pull over. Driving sleepy is as bad as driving drunk.

    Listen to whatever you want, it’s one of the great pleasures of a long drive. These types of drives are also what Big Gulps, huge McDonald’s drinks, etc were designed for (unsweetened iced tea is a healthy option).

    And yeah, keep your gas on the full side.

  13. You can get a lot of classics on audiobook for free. I drove from Fairbanks to Tucson once and listened to the entire Sherlock Holmes series as well as Dracula and Frankenstein.

  14. Don’t drink too much water so you don’t have to stop as often. Grapes are a perfect car snack.

  17. Avoid cheap motel breakfasts (even though you’re paying for it). You never know who’s had their grubby hands on that waffle maker, and you don’t want any gastrointestinal disturbances when you’re on the road.

  18. Download audiobooks or podcasts to listen to. My husband and I have a tradition of listening to long books on road trips. Got through all of the Dark Tower and Wheel of Time that way. Working through Otherland now.

    Get out and stretch your legs every few hours if you’re not used to long periods in a car.

    Start looking for gas when you have 1/4 or so of a tank left. Unless you see signs warning that there won’t be another gas station for a long while. In that case get out and top off, regardless of how much you have left in the tank (signs like that are rare but you might run into them in more remote parts of the west).

    Keep a cooler of snacks in the car that are easy to eat. Helps cut down on the fast food you might feel like eating otherwise. Things like granola bars and cut up fruit are good. Generally something crunchy I find is nicer on the road. Also some bottles of water are nice to have on hand.

    Get a cigarette lighter converter with more than 1 USB slot so 2 people can have their phone charging.

    The front passenger should be ready to act as navigator and keep track of road signs. Our roads are well marked but if the driver is focusing on traffic, the front passenger can look for signs showing upcoming rest stops, gas stations, and attractions.

    If it’s your first time driving in the US, we tend to go a bit faster than the speed limit. The best rule of thumb wherever you are is to pace traffic. Generally that will be 5-9 mph over the posted speed limit. Different states can have subtly different driving laws so just try to observe what the locals do and follow along. Things like turning right at a red light are allowed in some places and not others. Or in some places on the highway the left lane is for overtaking other drivers but in some places there might be exits that peel off on the left so they don’t follow that rule.

  19. I’m a get the as fast as I can cuz I know I’m gonna dead after either way. I enjoy the scenery, but don’t make odd stops normally, so if you’re not like that, you can adjust these to you:

    Get some small snacks you like, bag of nuts, popcorn, candy, whatever. Your stomach won’t feel great afterwards either way.

    Fill up before you go, try to fill up when you have about a quarter left

    Big water bottle for drinking. Some people like caffeine or cokes, I’d recommend getting bottled. Less likely to spill and if you get fast food, you’ll likely get something with only a lid.

    If you have something like Spotify, download your music and audiobooks. Download an extra 2 or so hours just in case

    Download the maps if possible. You can if it’s Google maps

    If you want to eat out, I’d have the passenger order stuff on the fast food restaurant so I can minimize stoppage.

    Use gas fill-ups as a stretch excuse. Walk around. Peruse. I had a great corn dog at a gas station in the middle of a 5 hour drive. Always fun shit there. You can also clean off your windshield at these normally.

    For the previous two, try to find these at the same exit, ideally same building.

    Having an empty cup just in case is not the worst idea. I’ve sat in stop n go for maybe like 2 hours one time (actually sat in the same spot for over an hour once). Not everyone is comfortable with peeing off the road. Relieve yourself, empty it out the window when you’re stopped or really slow, and put it in like a plastic baggy or something.

    If you’re tired, don’t be afraid to ask to switch.

    Make sure you have a spare tire and a jack. AAA is great, but cell service can be spotty.

    Bring a sweatshirt. I like it cold in the car, so I try to be comfortable. Dress comfortably overall.

    Bring phone chargers and cords. You never know

  20. Definitely podcasts. I drive 7 hours at least twice a year back to my wife’s hometown. Podcasts are a life saver.

  21. For that distance it shouldn’t be a problem, but falling asleep at the wheel is a very real thing that can happen.

  22. 1. Buy drinks and snacks from the grocery store beforehand. It will save you money. 2. Allow time for stops and traffic in your travel plans. 3. Never let your gas get below 1/4 to 1/2 a tank, depending on where you are. 4. Keep an eye out on how far apart available bathrooms are. 5. Download the map if you will be where reception is spotty.

  23. If you catch yourself getting sleepy, blast the air conditioner and get a snack – something in pieces, such as m&ms, popcorn, etc – and a cold drink!

  24. Listen to Stone Temple Pilots, one of my favorite bands for road trips, for whatever reason it feels like the drive is shorter when I listen to them

  25. So, make sure to check, or have someone check, your fluids (engine oil, coolant, transmission), and tire pressure. Bring snacks & beverages. Download music & podcasts for when streaming isn’t available. Enjoy the journey, rather than thinking of it as something unpleasant you have to do to get where you wanna be. Appreciate the scenery, get to better know your traveling companion, think critically about a topic. Lastly, should you have the time, stop at kitschy roadside attractions, stop at the scenic overlook, buy boiled peanuts from a guy in a pickup truck on the side of the road (if traversing the southeastern US)

  26. Damn… I do this kinda time in my truck regularly. It’s weird to think that this length of drive is a thing people need to plan for and ask questions.

    But… Different strokes and folks and all that.

    OP… big, name brand truck stops are fabulous places to get gas, take a break/walk, use a clean bathroom, get a snack and buy some local souvenirs if that’s what you’re into.

    But it’s really not that hard or bad.

    Also… have fun. 🙂

  28. Take a short break about every hour or two. Get out of the car, use the bathroom, and walk around a bit. Take a full break about 1/2 way through. Sit down, and eat a good meal. Even if you feel like you don’t need it you’ll feel way better at the end of the trip.

  29. An audiobook or some kind of serialized podcast that keeps you interested. I used to drive 13 hours back and forth to school all the time, 6 hours is a breeze.

  30. I can’t stand podcasts, I like singing along to music, personally. If I want yammering I’ll chat with a passenger or call a friend.

    Sleep well the night before. Pack a little cooler with water, seltzer, and light snacks like nuts and cheese sticks. Junk food is fun, but it’ll rock your stomach.

    Don’t wear anything that doesn’t fit well – who wants to be tugging at your collar while doing 70 mph?

  31. I’d say that you should pay attention to how *you specifically* respond to things. For whatever reason, podcasts (that I normally love!) make me tired when driving longer distances. I tend to opt for music, even if it is a bit more boring.

    Pack a little kit with toilet paper, hand sanitizer and dog poop bags. Best case scenario is you won’t need it, but if you do need to go on the side of the road 30 miles from the closest gas station it sure is nice to have.

    Have a cold 12 pack of soda or sparkling water or whatever your preference is in the back or in a cooler. Reaching regularly for a fresh sip keeps me focused. Also, having to pee a bit helps keep you awake. Refer to tip #2 if you misjudged distance to the next gas station.

    For a 6-8 hour drive during the day, I consider it the passenger’s job to talk to me to keep me alert. This might not be true if you’re each anticipating napping while the other drives if you’re driving overnight or longer distances. If it’s during otherwise expected wake hours, I think it’s fine to expect that the passenger can stay awake.

    As others have mentioned, download things. You’re likely to lose service at some point. have at least a general idea of the exit you’re looking for on the highway. If your final destination is outside of town, like for camping, plan to navigate the final leg of the journey without service. Plan for leaving the same way.

    Different states have slightly different driving laws, pay attention to signs you see on the road.

  32. I like to alternate between music and podcasts, so I don’t get bored of either one for too long. A really good podcast about something that piques your interest can be as engaging as an episode of your favorite TV series, which can help a couple hours pass like that. Then maybe a playlist of some of your favorite songs for another hour or two, then another podcast. Rinse, repeat

  33. Other than squaring away your listening situation so you don’t lose your mind, remember to practice good lane discipline. Don’t fall asleep and spend 30mi cruising in the left lane like you own the place, use the passing lane to pass, stay in the right when you can.

    Be aware of your surroundings and watch your speed. I know that I can drive 10-13mph over the speed limit in certain stretches of my interstate because I know the area, where the cops hang out, what they let slide and what they’ll ding me for. I also know other stretches on that interstate where I do the speed limit religiously. If you haven’t made this drive before, keep it conservative, if you notice other people slowing down, you should too.

    Know the phone rules of the states you’ll be in. It’s against the law to hold your phone to your ear in some states, and it’s illegal now in places it used to be legal before, so know that ahead of time.

    You can get a lot of good thinking done on long drives. I enjoy them.

  34. My go-to is copious amounts of Red Bull and beef jerky.

    But it’s good to know your limits. If you’re tired, pull over and take a 15-20 minute break. You’re not supposed to sleep at rest areas, but if your choice is taking a nap at a rest area or falling asleep behind the wheel, opt to take a nap.

    Get an idea of the weather. Not just rain either, if it’s windy, it can be a bit of a challenge.

  35. That ain’t too bad of a drive. But if your not used to drives like that I recommend using music, ambiences, snacks and listening to podcast/audiobooks helps. Helps me work from home tbh.

  36. Podcasts on something I’m interested in if I’m alone. If I’m with someone, we may make a game of trying to find as many different states of license plates that we can or something.

  37. If you have to pee, truck stops (Pilot, Loves, Buc-ee’s) are clean most of the time. Also they tend to have the best selections of snacks and drinks. I tend to need a cup of coffee before a long drive, and if I feel like a I might get tired, I’ll grab a caffeinated drink at a truck stop. There are usually rest areas along interstates, these are free to use, but the cleanliness can be hit or miss. Most larger gas stations will have some kind of fast food attached to them (Subway, McDonalds, and so on).

    Apart from that, get some snacks, and download music, podcasts, or audio books. Going from Texas to MS, you won’t hit any toll roads so there is no worry there. I find the stretch from Jackson to Meridian to be the most dull.

  38. My go-to snacks are beef jerky and trail mix, downed with plain water. These seem to keep me awake and attentive. I wouldn’t go for anything too sweet or salty. Coffee does work in a pinch.

    Take frequent breaks. A good rule of thumb on the interstate is 50 to 60 miles an hour. Of course you’ll be driving faster, but the extra time is for the breaks. If you are averaging 70, you are not resting enough.

  39. If your schedule is flexible, leave as early as you can. For one thing, driving after sunset is much more tedious and less safe than in the daytime. But also, at least for me, if you’re up and moving before you normally would be it’s like bonus time. For example, if I have an 8 hour drive and I drag myself out of bed to leave by 7, it sucks a little at first but I end up awake and alert pretty quickly, and then by 11 I’m halfway there and I feel like the day’s just getting started. Whereas if I leave at 10 or 11, the extra sleep is not worth the feeling that the entire day is spent traveling because I don’t get there until dinner time.

  41. Stop and stretch every couple of hours. If you have a passenger, take turn loading audio books and/or podcasts. Stack breaks at local gas stations should look like someone gave an unsupervised 10-year-old a hundred bucks.

    Hydrate, but not so much you have to pee every half an hour.

    And if you feel yourself nodding off, your drive is probably done and you need to find a hotel to stay in.

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