Driving from Bristol Ct to Victoria Texas - Please help

Depends on what you have to do the moment you arrive in Victoria. If you need to arrive at an hour that allows a good night's rest for an early morning start the next day following arrival I would go ahead and figure two night's rest. I understand the need to be frugal and you can be to an extent. Yes, you can sleep in a rest area (relatively safely) but you'll feel like crap when you wake up.

Along that route, you can get a cheaper motel most anywhere from probably $50 to $75, depending on the location and how far off the interstate you care to venture.

 

Count on at least one blown tire on the Uhaul. Sticker on the side says not to exceed 55mph, tires are not rated any faster than that. You can park out in front of the truckstop with the RV's and sleep in the cab. not very restful. Any of the majors will be fine, numerous apps available for your phone can guide you. Get a Motel 6, Super 8 or Days Inn listing on the internet, or Hotels.com app for the phone. Good luck on the big adventure

 

16 hrs a day times two is a hard drive if you're not used to it. Really 12 hours isn't much different. For me the worst part of a trip are the first and last 100 miles. The distance in the middle really doesn't matter. That first hour your just getting into a groove and the last hour you're counting down the miles and minutes ready to get the heck out from behind the wheel. Bring light snacks and go easy on liquids to cut down on bathroom breaks. Trail mix, jerky, energy bars, dry cereal are what I like.

+1 on the hotel. After 16 hours at the wheel, you're really setting yourself up for a miserable second day if you sleep in your pickup. When you stop, get a hot shower and straight to bed. Don't set an alarm so you get adequate rest. Then get right up and go. No screwing around lounging in the restaurant and whatnot. When you're trying to cover distance, those hours wasted really can delay your arrival by a bunch.

Most of all, if you feel sleepy, stop. If you aren't ready to stop for the night, pull into a rest area and freshen up or take a catnap. Know that when you do that, you're really on borrowed time before you should really stop for a good sleep. When I do that, I buy myself 1-2 hours tops, before I'm ready to stop again. Many studies show that a 30-45 minute catnap is optimal. Short enough that you don't go into a really deep sleep, but just long enough to refresh some. Use that to cover the last few miles to get to a hotel.

Also consider weather on a trip like that. Winter delays can be substantial. Look at the forecast and plan ahead. Alternate routes can add a few hours to the Mapquest time, but that's peanuts compared to sitting on the road for half a day while an accident cleanup is taking place.

Watch the toll roads on the first half of your trip. You'll pay extra for the trailer, since that's an extra axle or two. It can add up. Plenty of alternates that are free, and really no worse than the pay roads.

My wife and I have tag teamed non-stop Atlanta to Santa Barbara, CA a couple of times (36 hours one way), as well as Phoenix (24 hrs). I have also done 1000+ mile days in a car and on motorcycles. About the only thing I can add is get your pickup serviced, tire pressure checked, and in tip top condition before you go. Even better, replace any sketchy looking tires. That is, do everything possible to avoid a breakdown, before you leave.

Since you're here asking, try to stay clear of big trucks. About the worst thing you can do on a trip like this is have your cruise on in hilly terrain. If you find yourself swapping positions with one or a few big trucks, adjust your speed to gain some distance. We ride hills to get the fuel savings of momentum. Let her rip going downhill (only to the speed limit of course LOL) then let that bleed off going up the next one. Try not to get in the way of that, please.

If you are capable and decide to do the driving at night, you'll avoid 90% of traffic and have a faster trip. Just something to consider. You don't have to do it all at night, but the more the better.

That's about all I can think of. Good luck with your trip.

 

Put in a solid 12 hours a day, trying to avoid big cities at rush hour, and hit a motel. I've seen enough wobbling Uhauls all over the road, or broken down on the side of the road. You won't burn yourself out that way. You can find motels easily for $40 or so away from the big cities. Check the trailer tires! You also want a padlock on the uhaul, and maybe something on the bike.
If you stop early enough you can pick/choose motels, and find one where you can park in sight of your room.
I wouldn't try to drive at night unless your internal clock allows it.

 

Sad but true. I can almost guarantee your motorcycle will be gone when you wake up. I hauled from Corpus Christi to Victoria 2 years. To our border friends, your shark bait. 6 dudes can pick a bike out of your haul vehicle and be gone in 2 minutes. I curse the people that make battery powered grinders. No chain can stop them. Diamond wheel can cut a chain in less than a minute. Way it is.

 

Somebody once said, You can put in all the hours you want, but your brain is only going to give you 8.