Determining how long you can drive in an RV really depends on the objectives of your trip. Assume an average speed of 60 mph and 2 hours of stops for gas and food, you can go 1320 miles within a 24-hour period if you drive nonstop and do not get stuck in traffic. Sure, you can go the distance, but being behind the wheel that long will likely not make this an enjoyable experience for you or anyone you are travelling with. Also – you need to think about safety concerns when planning to drive long distances like that.

Part of the fun in having an RV is the ability to enjoy the freedom of the open road and the destinations it will take you to. But if you overcommit to a far-off distance, you might not find the level of joy you were originally looking for. Be sure you enjoy the RV lifestyle and do not rush to get to your destination. On my last trip I was planning a 10-hour solo day home from my destination. The ten hours included my planned gas and leg stretch stops. I ended up getting stuck in a traffic jam, hit a blizzard and then a bad rainstorm. This 10-hour drive turned into 13 hours. At the end, I was exhausted and vowed to never try and pull off such a long day solo. It killed the fun of the trip home and left a bad taste in my mouth of the drive home from that trip.

If you have not travelled in an RV before, you should make conservative plans, especially for the first few trips. Plan to drive the number of hours and speed you feel comfortable and safe driving. Perhaps you do not make reservations along the way and save that for your destination – that way you can drive until you are tired and need to find a spot to rest for a few hours. You can always stop at a Walmart or Cracker Barrell if the local campgrounds are non-existent or already booked. If you are travelling with someone, you can alternative. This can add a few hundred miles a day or more to your distance.

Also, be sure to think about your trip in terms of hours travelled rather than miles – as miles may vary, based on conditions. If you really want to enjoy your destination, you do not want to be exhausted by the drive to get there. Most people plan to keep their drive to 6-8 hours tops, which also keeps stops for gas to a minimum.

To figure out which option suits you best, you should plan your trip in advance. Say you want to take a 2,000-mile one-way trip and you want to get there quickly. If you want to get there in 4 days, you will need to cover 500 miles in a day. If you do not want to go over 60mph, you will need to commit to 8-8-9 hours in a day. If you can go 350 miles on a tank of gas, you can plan to stop every 5 hours to fill up and stretch your legs. If you keep each stop to 30 mins, you will be looking at about a 9–10-hour travel day. Say you are travelling with someone and you each split the time driving, you will each only be behind the wheel for 4-5 hours a day. And in the meantime, you can enjoy the comfortable space you have inside.

Most RV enthusiasts plan like this so they can maximize their days and maximize their enjoyment of their vehicle. If you are a beginner, be sure you plan your trip out well beforehand. If you are travelling with someone, you can cover more ground, but if you are travelling by yourself, do not overcommit. You are here to enjoy the ride, so be sure you enjoy it. Get out there, explore, and most importantly, have fun, be safe and enjoy the RV lifestyle!