Half Way Motel

11 hour car trip, how often should I stop and stretch?

Do I have to worry about blood-clots and stuff, like you would on a plane? Or is that just because of the altitude? Should I try and make it in one trip, or get a motel half-way through? I have taken plenty of long road trips. 11-17 hours in one go, stopping very little. Just wondering what you all think. I can't wait for the trip. It's just gonna be me, my mp3s, coffee, and mountains!Thanks for the answers!

Public Comments

1. The age old rule I've always seen + hear people mention is a 15minute break every 2hours..... in fact I think that's also pretty much what the E.U. health & safety rules for lorry drivers says.
2. every 1 or 2 hours
3. Don't bother your self for this.stop whenever you want and enjoy the view of landskape during the trip.Good Luck!
4. every two hours
5. Every 2-3 hours is good.
6. i have droven 26 hours and i just stopped when i had to go peee like 1 every 3 hours, try to take gravol and sleep it passes the time away.
7. 11 hours is definitely doable in 1 trip. you should stop when ever you feel like it..
8. Hi there Steven. I think this' one of those "it depends on the person" answers. Most people will (as you can see above) suggest a break every 2-3 hours. Nothing wrong with that. Some drivers, like me, are hardcore. Unless I have someone traveling with me that wants to stretch their legs and so forth, I usually drive at least 5-6 hours before I break. It all depends on your and your passengers, if you have them. Don't worry about blood clots unless you have some type of medical condition that may be concerned with them. 11 hours is a good drive, but I'd just do it in one day and be done with it. If not, consider stopping somewhere scenic &/or worth visiting. I've had some great times on "driving layovers". Good travels!
9. A person with slow circulation will develop blood clots on a 11 hour trip, unless they stop about every 2 hours or so, and go walk around for 10 or 15 minutes. Some people might need to go to rest room and things like that......when you have to go...you have to go. If you have passengers, take in consideration of them, and tell them to let you know, when they need to go to bathroom. Good luck on your trip, and stop when you need to.
10. I am getting ready to leave for an 11 hour car trip, driving by myself. The amount of times you stop depends on a lot of factors. If you have joint problems then about once an hour for 5 minutes to stretch your legs. If you aren't driving, you may have to bug the driver to stop. If you feel a need to stop for a breather, do so, because 5 minutes at a fast food place for a soda is a lot better than 5 days in the hospital. Plus, I suggest going inside - get that leg stretch in that way. I make the 11 hour trip every couple of weeks in one go. I stop several times, sometimes just to stretch. If you can break it up, then an overnight stop may help. Personally I don't like stopping in hotels, so just drive straight through. Gotta go - the car is waiting!