The official 2025 Wyoming elk hunt for Dave N thread.
- Thread starter Dave N
- Start date
Got all of my hotel apps updated for the drive out and back. Figure I'll probably get to the west side of Nebraska or so and call it good the first day. Should make for an easy drive the rest of the way the next day. Depends on how my butt feels. It's been a long time since I've done any long distance driving.
rjthehunter
Well-known member
I've noticed theres 2 types of people, well maybe 3 when referring to roadtrips.
1. Drive and drive and see where you end up and walk in a hotel.
2. Plan every stop ahead of time. Drive to here, sleep, then keep driving.
3. Drive and drive and drive and see where you end up. Pull off at a truck stop and grab a few hours of sleep and keep trucking!
I've been with on all of them. But if I'm alone, its a #3 most of the time. Occasionally I'll do #1 on my way home from a hunt to catch a shower and a nice bed!
I've done #3 enough to know I'm too old for that, plus I have enough money to pay for a room with a bed and a shower. Pretty much going with #1 because I don't know how I'll feel after X amount of driving and have been caught searching for an available room before. Never know where that stop will be until I get there. Mainly want to get past the halfway point so the next day won't be as bad.
CRJR45
Well-known member
I hate to pay for a room , then lay there and not sleep , or worse , watch tv . I'm a number 1, also.
nwihunter
Well-known member
Ima solid #2
rjthehunter
Well-known member
Yeah some of the worst nights sleep I've had have been in the truck at a truck stop!
I'm young enough to swing it. Usually incredibly eager to get out to the mountains too so sleep usually only lasts a couple of hours before I'm pounding the pavement again.
I’m a 3. Family is too with multiple drivers. 18 hours straight to Arizona and back once. Our biggest drive was 36 hours straight during Covid when everything was shut down. Idaho to E Tennessee. At the end of the drive my wife drove the last double shift by herself because the rest of us were dangerous tired to drive.
LCH
Well-known member
Driving solo, I set up a bed under the topper. Sleep wherever I happen to stop for the day. Cozy as a bug in a rug, as long as it isn’t too hot out.
CRJR45
Well-known member
Inflatable mattress for the win !
Addicting
Well-known member
Suburban with inflatable mattress and AC for the win!
CRJR45
Well-known member
Checkmate !
Wildabeest
Well-known member
I did a 40+ hr straight thru solo drive from Raleigh to SLC once - occasionally catching 20 min cat naps every 2-3 hrs while charging. Was trying to get home in time for the UT elk opener. Rolled in around 3:00am, got my pack and gear together and headed straight to the trailhead. Was at my spot just before dawn. And spent the whole morning dozing off while trying to find elk.
Self driving is a game changer on those long haul drives. Really reduces the fatigue factor.
Self driving is a game changer on those long haul drives. Really reduces the fatigue factor.
SAJ-99
Well-known member
Sounds like a good plan. What is the drive 18hrs? I like to break it up by determining when I want to arrive. I try to avoid getting to/setting up camp in the dark. Also, i sit on one of those foam knee pads used for gardening during long drives. It seems to help. Add in some podcasts or books-in-tape and you are ready.
Good luck!
I've done lots of long trips in the past. Not as young or broke as I used to be! I'll take the bed and get some rest instead of suffering through it. It's hard enough sleeping in a strange place without having traffic noise right out the window. It's also an adventure seeing what you can find for breakfast in the morning! 
Pretty much! I'm trying to plan it to roll into camp sometime in the afternoon.
Nick87
Well-known member
Im over driving through the night solo. I end up paying for it when I get there so now I just stop along the way. You're doing it right.I've done lots of long trips in the past. Not as young or broke as I used to be! I'll take the bed and get some rest instead of suffering through it. It's hard enough sleeping in a strange place without having traffic noise right out the window. It's also an adventure seeing what you can find for breakfast in the morning!
My suggestion is to say “to hell with making time”. I’ve started drinking excess water/electrolytes on the drive, then stopping every 1.5-2 hours to empty the bladder and- more importantly- stretch.
Stretching was the big game changer for me on those longer drives. I used to roll in stiff and dead, but needed to hit the ground running. Now I’m ready to go, and sleep a hell of a lot better the night after.
No, I don’t have the years under my belt that you do, but I highly recommend this with how much it helped me. Also breaks up the drive a bit more, which might be necessary if you’re taking I-80 across Nebraska.
Stretching was the big game changer for me on those longer drives. I used to roll in stiff and dead, but needed to hit the ground running. Now I’m ready to go, and sleep a hell of a lot better the night after.
No, I don’t have the years under my belt that you do, but I highly recommend this with how much it helped me. Also breaks up the drive a bit more, which might be necessary if you’re taking I-80 across Nebraska.
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WildWill
Well-known member
I try not to do more then 12 hours of driving solo anymore. Broke that rule Wednesday and did about 19 hours from OKC to Provo it was horrible. With the new kid and other hunts on the book this fall I just didn't have the time off to dedicate 4 day's to nothing but driving. Fortunately got it done early and am able to break the return trip into two 9 hour day's. Much better!
