Cleveland to Houston coming weekend. Start on Friday the 19th

I am Planning for Road trip on my Accord this coming weekend. It say's 20 hours drive, so stops and rest would take me to almost 2+ days.
I am planning to start on Friday after office and drive for 7 hrs, I am not really a night Owl driver, so planning to reach Kansas by 10 / 11 PM and spent my night in Kansas and start next morning. Planning to cover 8 hrs next day and on Sunday the rest to reach Houston.

Seems like I am about to drive across many cities (I would be passing by columbus, cincinatti, louisville,Kansas, Arkansas and finally will reach Houston.) but I am super bored already thinking of driving alone. Never drove such a long distance.

Please share any tips/advises to make the trip enjoyable and safe and any survival guide for lone driver's.

Welcome to RTA!

At 1300+ miles, this isn't a 20 hour drive....it's more like 26. For us, this would definitely be a 2-1/2 day trip.

If you're going to drive after working hours, you're better off putting in 3 or 4 hours on the road and then getting off. You'll be tired after a long day's work and then adding a day's work (7 hours) would be like working a double shift. When you're on the road, operating a 2 ton piece of machinery, this is NOT a good idea. Professional drivers do no more than 10 hours of driving in a day -- about 600 miles -- so your work day would be around 14 hours (more than you should do). This is especially true as a solo driver, with no one to keep you awake!

The shorter mileage, I-71 to I-65 to I-40 then I-30 and US-59, doesn't take you into KS. It will take you OH, KY, TN, AR and TX. Why not make your first stop in the SW corner of OH? Then split up the rest of the trip into Sat and Sun drives.


Donna

I fully agree with Donna - and your overnight stops should be Cincinnati and Little Rock. This will get you into Houston Sunday evening.

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Originally Posted by longtripride

...but I am super bored already thinking of driving alone. Never drove such a long distance.

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This link may help you overcome that feeling.

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Originally Posted by longtripride

Please share any tips/advises to make the trip enjoyable and safe and any survival guide for lone driver's.

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Stay well hydrated - preferably with water, rather than caffeine or alcohol.

Sing along with your favourite songs or music- out aloud.

Stop every couple of hours and walk for a few minutes.

Try not to drive before dawn or after sunset.

Any combination of these makes the world of difference to help you stay focused.

Lifey

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Originally Posted by longtripride

I am planning to start on Friday after office and drive for 7 hrs, I am not really a night Owl driver, so planning to reach Kansas by 10 / 11 PM and spent my night in Kansas and start next morning. Planning to cover 8 hrs next day and on Sunday the rest to reach Houston.

Seems like I am about to drive across many cities (I would be passing by columbus, cincinatti, louisville,Kansas, Arkansas and finally will reach Houston.) but I am super bored already thinking of driving alone. Never drove such a long distance.

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Welcome to the RTA Forum!

I've got to say, I'm completely baffled by your plan to visit Kansas? A few things, there's really no route that makes sense that would take you from Louisville to Arkansas via Kansas, and there certainly is no place in Kansas that is anywhere close to a 7 hour drive from Cleveland.

The state that would logically go in between Louisville and Arkansas would be Tennessee? Maybe that's what you mean, but even there, you can't get from Cleveland to anywhere in Tennessee in 7 hours either - although perhaps an online mapping programs (that doesn't ever have to stop or slow down) might fool you into thinking such a thing.

But as others have said, this isn't a 20 hour drive, it's about 26 hours, and driving 7 hours after a full day at work is practically suicidal - especially when this is your first big roadtrip and you've already admitted that you aren't a big fan of driving at night. This is a hard 2.5 day trip, and it would be very unwise to expect it to take any less than that. The stops suggested by GLC are really what you should plan for, that's going to make this a much safer trip, and a more enjoyable trip - if for no other reason than you won't be exhausted behind the wheel!

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Originally Posted by Midwest Michael

Welcome to the RTA Forum!

The state that would logically go in between Louisville and Arkansas would be Tennessee? Maybe that's what you mean, but even there, you can't get from Cleveland to anywhere in Tennessee in 7 hours either - although perhaps an online mapping programs (that doesn't ever have to stop or slow down) might fool you into thinking such a thing.

But as others have said, this isn't a 20 hour drive, it's about 26 hours, and driving 7 hours after a full day at work is practically suicidal - especially when this is your first big roadtrip and you've already admitted that you aren't a big fan of driving at night. This is a hard 2.5 day trip, and it would be very unwise to expect it to take any less than that. The stops suggested by GLC are really what you should plan for, that's going to make this a much safer trip, and a more enjoyable trip - if for no other reason than you won't be exhausted behind the wheel!

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Thank you Michael for the Info. Yes you are right It's Tennessee not Kansas that I will Pass through and Yes 7 hours is on the map but surely it will take more than that because I wont be driving continuous. I will make a stop at Cincinnati and then at little rock as GLC has mentioned above. Better to drive less on Friday and get some good sleep and start early on Saturday. Thanks again for the Input Michael. This site is awesome.

I am so Thankful Lifemagician for giving me the link and information

Now the trip seem's to be happening and I am all preparing.

I am considering to take your advise of making stops at Cincinnati and Little Rock. It makes sense to me.

Thank you glc.

You are absolutely right DonnaR57, I never thought of that. I will be of-course making stops in between for gas, restroom food and that will take it to around 26 hours. Hu so its 26 hrs trip.

Yes its KY that I misspelled. Yes I am thinking to do that, make a short trip on Friday to stop at Cincinati and cover the rest on other two days.

Thank you for the information and advise DonnaR57. I am hoping to reach safe and in one piece before Monday.

I am glad that I came to RTA for information and advise.

I am not really into it and never tried but was wondering to know if there are any good websites out thereto look for people who wants or planning to go on the same route.
On the same Note i want to know is it Safe? Is it advisable? I saw these erideshare and one other website , I haven't received any reply yet but what do you guys say. Is it better to drive alone rather than getting into any trouble/unknown Issues.