Anatomy of a road trip

I take a few road trips each year.  To qualify as “road trips,” according to my own definition, those journeys must consist of distances greater than 500 miles.  At modern freeway speeds, that typically translates to 7 or 8 hours behind the wheel.

To me, with Spokane as a starting point, that means trips to Seattle (280 miles), Portland (350 miles), or Missoula (220 miles) are simply daily jaunts.  Unless you make an immediate round trip, those short journeys barely allow one enough time to get vehicle seats and mirrors in proper adjustment.

I seek destinations that are 1,500 to 2,500 miles from home, creating total excursions of 4000 to 5500 miles.  Unless I have unlimited time, I strive for a daily tally of 750-800 miles.  I love driving, so that daily distance is achieved easily while affording decent progress toward the eventual destination.  That’s no great feat, but simply my driving pattern aimed at efficient road travel by passenger vehicle.  Diehards who stay on the road 24 hours using two drivers likely view my schedule as lame.

The fuel range (gallons of gasoline capacity times average highway miles per gallon) for most vehicles is around 400 miles, so my 800-mile segments are achievable with only one fuel stop.  Compared to air travel (unless you have two or more passengers, or are driving a hybrid), costs are greater, but so is the comfort.  Besides, I can bring along all the food and liquids I desire, and even carry scissors!

Admittedly, riding with passengers or pets negates the one-stop method, but still, stops every four hours are feasible, which is every 250 to 280 miles, necessitating only two fuel/rest stops per daily segment.

This formula worked well, for example, on a recent trip to Tucson, Arizona, with an 800-mile first day and a 750-mile day two.  From Spokane, that allowed a first night’s stay in Nephi, Utah, and arrival in Tucson the following evening.

Unless you run into an “unfair” share of road construction delays, ten hours behind the wheel will “eat up” those 750 miles, since the freeway speed limits are 75 miles per hour as soon as one gets east of Coeur d’Alene.  In fact, posted limits on sections of Utah highway leading into and out of Salt Lake City are 80 mph.

As an aside, the posted speed through SLC’s core is 65 mph, but going that speed makes you an unwanted obstacle to 99.9% of traffic there that is still going 80-85 mph.

I also enjoy shorter drives, and taking “back roads” when I get a chance or have the time, but the 750-plus daily goal works well when I need to get somewhere on a deadline.  With two stops for gas (including bug removal), food and bathroom added in, those stints usually take approximately 12 hours — a good day’s “work.”

In the midst of this trip, I headed west from Tucson, through Yuma, to San Diego.  That distance (400 miles) doesn’t qualify as a road trip per my definition, but it’s a nice scenic jaunt, especially nearing San Diego when phenomenal rock displays appear.

Scenery is part of the road trip experience I always treasure.  Even at 75 mph, the views from the vehicle are easily admired.  Additionally, those views are continuously changing except in certain states such as Nebraska and Texas, where the views change, but not as “continuously.”

San Diego to Spokane divides nicely into my habit of two 750-mile days; the midpoint is Willows, California.  The leg from Willows to Spokane takes all of 12 hours, even if you stay on the road most of the time.  That’s because the Oregon stretch of Highway 97 from Klamath Falls to Biggs has a 55 mph limit; on a positive note, fuel mileage is unsurpassed during that stretch!  Oregon has an aversion to typical speed limits (an anomaly akin to pumping gas for you), as even Highway 84 relegates drivers to 65 mph.

Crossing the Columbia River at Umatilla gets back to Washington’s 70 mph and the final two-hour leg from the Tri-Cities.  It’s always good to be safely home!

Readers may contact Bill Love via email at precisiondriving@spokesman.com.