Everybody knows this but...

[awellis3]

... it bears repeating. A trip from Richmond, Va., to Savannah was our first long, one-day haul. We busted down I-95 at 65 mph, keeping up with traffic (mostly). Our mpg dropped below 10. We conducted a trip post mortem and decided, for us and how we like to travel, a long day was counter productive. Too tiring, too stressful.
So this past month we took a 1,000 mile trip. We took 7 days and traveled no more than 250 mi. at a stretch, stopping at one federal and 4 state parks.
Punch line: From Richmond, over the Blue Ridge, over the Alleghenies and back, driving back roads and interstate, averaging 45 mph (including gas stops and lunch), we got 14.2 mpg.
Speed kills.

Teach

[Tweety]

Wow those are interesting statistics. We hate driving and will even break up our trip from reading pennsylvania to christiansburg virginia into 2 days. Its amazing how much more enjoyable traveling is in short bits. And we never seem to have trouble finding something interesting to see in our overnight stops.

[rebellious78]

I am used to driving all in one day. Even know our trips here lately have been within a couple of hours. I have no problem driving 6-8 hours with lunch and short stops for our two doxies to be walked. But I do agree you loose MPG when towing interstate and keeping up with traffic. My MPG is around 17.4 and towing over the mountains it drops to around 15 going an average speed of 65-70
Our problem is we can't take to much time off to do long trips, and here lately we have to stay within two hours due to my parents and David's grandfather, we are needed back in a hurry if there is an emergency.

I say if you have the time, take the more scenic route and enjoy the trip. That's what camping and traveling is all about... relaxation and enjoyment.

~Mary Ann

[Sunline Fan]

Originally Posted by rebellious78

Our problem is we can't take to much time off to do long trips, and here lately we have to stay within two hours due to my parents and David's grandfather, we are needed back in a hurry if there is an emergency.

Same here. We lost my grandma in June, and we were four hours away when she fell and hit her head (and later learned she had a massive stroke). We rushed home, but it was still too long, and she had already lost all consciousness. By the time we arrived at the hospital (and we went straight there too), her brain stem had already herniated and they were just keeping her on life support for the last hour or so we had to get there.

Now, my grandpa, who needed a lot of help anyway, is forgetting stuff more than ever before and can't do much for himself, nor should he be doing a lot. He finally has stopped driving as of maybe August, even though he still has his keys and the car and could go if he really felt up to it. My mom is over there almost daily, and most days he's just a zombie. He rarely says anything and just sits there. Pretty sad. But we're tied to staying somewhat close around here for the foreseeable future because of him...

[EMD_Driver]

Originally Posted by rebellious78

My MPG is around 17.4 and towing over the mountains it drops to around 15 going an average speed of 65-70

Please tell me you don't go over 65, with ST tires...

[rebellious78]

Originally Posted by EMD_Driver

Please tell me you don't go over 65, with ST tires...

Don't Worry.... We do not have ST tires.

[EMD_Driver]

Originally Posted by rebellious78

Don't Worry.... We do not have ST tires.

Schweet!!!!

Good thing, cuz I was wondering!

[rebellious78]

Originally Posted by EMD_Driver

Schweet!!!!

Good thing, cuz I was wondering!

I was wondering who would ask me that! LOL..

[kanyonkitty]

Of course it was Gary lookin' out for a fellow Sunline owner.

[awellis3]

Originally Posted by Tweety

Wow that is interesting statistics.

Too interesting as it seems. (Y'all probably thought I am a fool or a liar. I assure you it is the former.)
I quoted the wrong mpg for the towing.
I average 14.2 - 14.9mpg overall. The trip towing figure should have been 11.9-12.2mpg. So, 9.9 running at interstate speeds on a flat route vs. 11.9 running appx. 10-15 mph slower on a mountainous route.
Management regrets the error and hopes it caused no inconvenience.

Teach

[Galaxiedriver]

More and more Jan and I are avoiding the interstates, not just towing, but most of our travels. Too many 18 wheelers, many are rough etc.

We love to find local restaurants rather than chain franchaises because the food is much better and generally less expensive.

Also many small towns have some very nice/interesting things to see and do. As Sally said: "Well, the road didn't cut through the land like that interstate. It moved with the land, it rose, it fell, it curved. Cars didn't drive on it to make great time. They drove on it to have a great time."