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.

As a solo roadtripper, I would not want to have a stranger in my vehicle...... ever. I like the (selfish) luxury of being able to stop, turn, spend time or just continue without having to consider the needs/wishes of another.

However, solo does not mean always being alone. It affords a great opportunity to interact with fellow travellers and the locals wherever one is. Sometimes asking a question could get one in a conversation with a total stranger - even if one already knew the answer to the question.

When having a break, don't always sit down at an empty table... ask another lone guest if you may share their table. This is getting harder and harder to do, as folks are generally engrossed in their electronics, and may not even notice others around them.

Showing an interest in something unique about the travelling party parked next to you, even at a rest area, can be a great way to meet people. Only a week ago I was at a truck stop and parked near another vehicle identical to mine (a year older). Got to chat with the owner who came from Tennessee and spoke with a broad Scottish accent.

We shared improvement plans to our vehicles and inspected what had already been done. Before departing, here were two strangers who 60 minutes earlier had not met, saying goodbye with a big hug in the middle of the parking lot.... in the rain. Of course we exchanged contact details. Who knows, we may meet again... one day.

Keep a daily journal.... you'll be surprised how many people you meet, how many
places of interest you visit. But you will forget if you do not write it down.

Lifey

"Sometimes asking a question could get one in a conversation with a total stranger - even if one already knew the answer to the question." Point Noted.

But as you mentioned about cell phones, I have habit of searching for anything on my cell phone rather than asking somebody. Its hard for me to start conversation Just like that with anybody.

It was interesting to read your part. Hopefully lets see How things will work out for me.

Interact with the front desk people at the motel, talk with the waitress or the greeter at a restaurant, get brave! We had a lovely conversation with some people from Pennsylvania when we went out to eat one night in Custer City, SD -- they had noticed my T-shirt (Albuquerque Balloon Festival) and wanted to know if we'd ever gone. (My husband's answer was that he'd driven through ABQ when he was driving commercially, during the Festival, but that led to other conversation.)

If you want to know where a good place to eat is, ask a clerk at the hotel where they'd go for dinner if they had the chance. Or go to the grocery store to pick up snacks and ask the cashier or the person behind you in line. (We always asked, "Are you a local?" with that one, because we've run into other tourists who buy their snacks and drinks at a grocery store rather than the truck stop or convenience market.) They'll also tell you where they love to take visitors from other places to see.

Donna

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Originally Posted by DonnaR57

- they had noticed my T-shirt (Albuquerque Balloon Festival) and wanted to know if we'd ever gone
Donna

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That is a really good one, especially if you want another to start the conversation. Two of my T shirts have a statement on the front which constantly attracts comments from all ages and both genders. I always assure them that it is not copyright, and does not have a trade mark associated with it, so if they want to use it, feel free to do so. One lady whom I met at Jenny Lake embroiders Ts and is going to use that statement to sell Thinks it will sell well, on all sizes.

But yes, so long as it is not controversial, T shirt statements and slogans as well as advertisements and events are a great help..

Lifey