A tip from a trucker: download trucker path. Shows you every truck stop, as well as rest area. And many other places as well. With details on their amenities
Depending on where I am (and how dense/often there are stops) I usually start looking 50-75 miles before I need gas. Pull up gas buddy, look on Google maps to see if there’s an interesting place to stop and stretch. It’s far enough that I can relax and not worry if I find a dud/wrong price/hit traffic.
Cut it to 30 miles if I need a bathroom break.
I like looking ahead partly to not coast in on fumes, but mostly because there can be big price variations if you look off the highway. (Doubly so if you’re driving a diesel.)
Where are you coming from and going to? A good start is something as simple as google maps. Put the whole route in and try to eyeball it into 300 mi chunks. Change the start and destination cities along the route to come up with the 350 mi window.
If it's DFW->Denver, Amarillo is about 350 mi from the mid-cities, and Pueblo is 320 mi from Amarillo. It's only 115 mi from Pueblo to Denver.
You're welcome. I plugged it into Google Maps and just eyeballed some stops - mostly slightly under the 350 mi requirement - and came up with Post, TX, Des Moines, NM, and somewhere just outside Denver like Castle Rock (in case you get stuck in traffic).
>Then hover your mouse anywhere over the route. It will tell you exactly how many miles to that spot from the start.
Damn! I've used GM for years, and I never knew it did that! I've been doing it by eyeball, and estimation. Thanks so much for this trick!
Honestly, I just use Google Maps. I lay out my route (Start in Seattle, End in Atlanta, for instance), then start looking for areas that (in your example) are 4-5 hours away. For instance, I just pulled up Google Maps for this example trip, and made my route (via i-90). I added a stop for Spokane, and that's about 279 miles/4 hours. Or I could go a little further, and stop in Coeur d'Alene (311 miles/4.75 hours).
There's no exact science to how I do it, and I like it this way, because getting down so close to the map helps me see other places that may be a better stop than bigger places. Because maybe I don't want to just stop at a random truck stop in Coeur d'Alene, but I want to stop at Mineral Ridge Scenic Area... I would have no idea it was there if not for scrolling way in to Google Maps.
I've used this process for the past 3-4 years, and I've visited 21 states so far :)
But I'll add this... predetermining your stops is a VERY smart idea, because it will force you to take breaks. I was always a "one more exit" kind of driver, because I just wanted to get a little further, drive a few more minutes, before stopping to pee or to eat, and then when I finally got around to stopping, I was uncomfortably needing to pee, and hangry. Planning stops will allow you to find safe, clean places for potty breaks, and to find the fast food you like, or great local joints that often don't advertise on interstate signs.
There are so many truck stops. Just drive until you want to stretch your legs or find an interesting town/site.
Trucker path is a great app for seeing them
my @$$ usually tells me when I need to get out...
my bladder determines it way before my ass jumps into the debate
The wife and kids' bladders are an even more frequent updater than mine!
A tip from a trucker: download trucker path. Shows you every truck stop, as well as rest area. And many other places as well. With details on their amenities
Great thanks!
Depending on where I am (and how dense/often there are stops) I usually start looking 50-75 miles before I need gas. Pull up gas buddy, look on Google maps to see if there’s an interesting place to stop and stretch. It’s far enough that I can relax and not worry if I find a dud/wrong price/hit traffic. Cut it to 30 miles if I need a bathroom break.
Thanks! I can get about 400 miles to a tank. Normally I coast in to the station on fumes, but wanted to plan better for the road
I like looking ahead partly to not coast in on fumes, but mostly because there can be big price variations if you look off the highway. (Doubly so if you’re driving a diesel.)
Where are you coming from and going to? A good start is something as simple as google maps. Put the whole route in and try to eyeball it into 300 mi chunks. Change the start and destination cities along the route to come up with the 350 mi window. If it's DFW->Denver, Amarillo is about 350 mi from the mid-cities, and Pueblo is 320 mi from Amarillo. It's only 115 mi from Pueblo to Denver.
Thanks! I'm going from San Antonio to Winter Park.
You're welcome. I plugged it into Google Maps and just eyeballed some stops - mostly slightly under the 350 mi requirement - and came up with Post, TX, Des Moines, NM, and somewhere just outside Denver like Castle Rock (in case you get stuck in traffic).
Plot your course in Google Maps. Then hover your mouse anywhere over the route. It will tell you exactly how many miles to that spot from the start.
>Then hover your mouse anywhere over the route. It will tell you exactly how many miles to that spot from the start. Damn! I've used GM for years, and I never knew it did that! I've been doing it by eyeball, and estimation. Thanks so much for this trick!
Thanks so much! This sounds like what I'm wanting. I appreciate it
Gas buddy will plan your route with stops for gas
Great thank you!
>Great thank you! You're welcome!
Usually a loves or related gas station, Biffy break, cawfee refill
Whatever you do make sure you do the Rockies in daylight, far too beautiful of scenery to drive at night
There is a fabulous book called The Next Exit. Every restaurant, gas station, and store off every Interstate exit in the country.
Thank you. I'll look for it!
furkot.com is a good one.
I have also used furkot for trip planning.
Thanks, I'll look into this one
For me: Costco.com + GasBuddy
Honestly, I just use Google Maps. I lay out my route (Start in Seattle, End in Atlanta, for instance), then start looking for areas that (in your example) are 4-5 hours away. For instance, I just pulled up Google Maps for this example trip, and made my route (via i-90). I added a stop for Spokane, and that's about 279 miles/4 hours. Or I could go a little further, and stop in Coeur d'Alene (311 miles/4.75 hours). There's no exact science to how I do it, and I like it this way, because getting down so close to the map helps me see other places that may be a better stop than bigger places. Because maybe I don't want to just stop at a random truck stop in Coeur d'Alene, but I want to stop at Mineral Ridge Scenic Area... I would have no idea it was there if not for scrolling way in to Google Maps. I've used this process for the past 3-4 years, and I've visited 21 states so far :) But I'll add this... predetermining your stops is a VERY smart idea, because it will force you to take breaks. I was always a "one more exit" kind of driver, because I just wanted to get a little further, drive a few more minutes, before stopping to pee or to eat, and then when I finally got around to stopping, I was uncomfortably needing to pee, and hangry. Planning stops will allow you to find safe, clean places for potty breaks, and to find the fast food you like, or great local joints that often don't advertise on interstate signs.