Travel Forum / Destinations / USA and Canada / May 2006

try using one of the net based mapping sites, like mapquest, that will
give you routes and times

WARNING: NEVER USE 1800FLOWERS.COM
They can't deliver as promised

Assuming that the Calgary is in Canada (perhaps there is one in Texas?) - it
is a long drive.

What is the longest you have done in the past? Dallas? Galveston?

Its 30-34 hours driving time , personally I'd try and limit yourself to
8 or 10 hours driving per day so allow at least 4 days

Keith

Nothing like jumping into the deep end, eh?  That's a long drive,
about 2400 miles.  Assuming 60 mph avg, 40 hours of driving.
Depending on how many hours per day you want to spend behind the
wheel, that's 3-5 driving days.  If you have a fuel-inefficient
vehicle, (e.g. big SUV), you could easily spend more than $500 on
gasoline alone.  Add accomodations and meals, and it's an expensive
trip.  I know you didn't ask about cost, but I was wondering about the
reason for the drive.  Moving?  Just visiting?  If the latter, it's
probably cheaper to fly.

Two killer days,  three very long days, four long days, five moderate
days, or six easy days.  Of course plus any sightseeing.

Alex R.:

One sensible route is I-45, I-20, US 287, US 87, I-25, I-90, US 87
again, I-15, Alberta 4, Alberta 3, Alberta 2.  My Rand McNally Road
Atlas gives the following distances and driving times for successive
segments of this route between junction points (it's from 2001, but
these numbers won't change much):

      from Houston TX
      to Dallas TX            244         3:50
      to Ft. Worth TX          30         0:31
      to Vernon TX            169         3:22
      to Amarillo TX          171         3:25
      to Raton NM             214         4:17
      to Pueblo CO            108         1:38
      to Denver CO            109         1:43
      to Cheyenne WY          100         1:34
      to Casper WY            180         2:33
      to Sheridan WY          153         2:11
      to Billings MT          130         1:57
      to Great Falls MT       222         3:42
      to Lethbridge AB        187         3:17
      to Calgary AB           142         2:49

which adds up to 2,159 miles and just under 37 hours of actual driving --
not allowing for breaks, traffic delays, weather delays, construction
delays, border delays, or sightseeing.

For myself, I wouldn't want to do it in less than 4 days and I'd rather
have longer (which might allow time for sightseeing).  But you will
have to discover your own tolerance in terms of how many hours you
can drive per day.  Try not to do so many hours that you make the
discovery by having a fatal accident.

General tips in this respect: get plenty of sleep at night, and if you
get even a little sleepy, stop for a break, perhaps a nap.  (For much
of the way across Colorado and Wyoming you will be at elevation 5,000
feet and up, which is enough to contribute to sleepiness if you're not
used to it.)  In any case take a break every so often -- maybe just
walk around for a couple of minutes every hour and a longer break to
get a drink or something every two hours.  This is good both for your
body and your concentration.  Try to minimize night driving; it's more
tiring and less forgiving of error.

And enjoy your trip.