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I'm not really going on a vacation, at least not one that I would like. :D I do have to drive 500 miles total on Tuesday and Wednesday, and I know that boredom driving long distances hurts my mpg. I tend to get bored and impatient going so slower for that long, and I get the urge to just go up to 70 and put on the cruise control. Hence, I actually get better mpg city driving than I do highway driving.

The distance isn't an issue as I've driven much further in one sitting. I just don't want to get distracted or bored and start wasting gas.

What are things you do to keep you on hypermiling long distances? Thanks in advance.

I drive almost 900 miles at a shot a few times a year and, honestly, I just have to set the cruise at a reasonable speed after a few hours. It kills my fuel economy (I have the mileage log and degraded LMPG to prove it :( ) but my right foot doesn't have the stamina to modulate the throttle perfectly for an entire day. But paying attention isn't a problem as long as I take an appropriate number of brakes. It's important to stay EXTREMELY well hydrated, because not even a Big Gulp full of coffee can compensate for a lack of water. (Caffeine may do more harm than good on a long drive.)

try to time your stops according to fuel needs. if you won't need to refuel, then stop halfway there and take a break/nap. i usually bring cd's with me when i go on long drives in case there is no radio coverage.
i also find it cool to NOT turn on cc because i make it a game of trying to keep a constant speed for the most time. it is challenging, but also fun.

I use books on tape to combat boredom. Passes the time and reduces the impatience to get there! I find that even while listening, I can keep a strong focus on the techniques on my daily commute. On longer trips in the past, I have tended to just set the cruise at 60. I'm heading out for a 1300 mile trip to Flagstaff, AZ in Sept - I'll get to see if I can use some of the highway tricks this trip for better efficiency.

I had to do a long trip recently and I found that my leadfoot tendencies were really hard to control. It was better for me to just set the cruise control at 60mph even though I wasn't able to DWL that way. Otherwise, every time my mind wandered I started to speed up and match all the other cars.

The Arkangel Shakespeare recordings.

I do a 500 mile round trip every two weeks, most of it on mountain roads so cruise control (even if I had it) isn't an option. I don't get to stop for refueling, either: the Insight has over 700 mile range on a tank, so I fill before leaving (at the cheap station right on the way) and can drive there & back and usually do all my local driving before filling up when leaving on the next trip.

I used to listen to music (and still do, sometimes), but I found that it'd almost have a hypnotic effect. The Shakespeare engages my attention enough to keep me alert, but not so much that it distracts from the road.

In May were drove to Flagstaff AZ from New Orleans .The 1510 miles took 34 hours.

I have to use the cc ; my foot leg just couldn't do it otherwise. I exercise while driving - back exercises and upper body isometrics . We also sign up for XM radio just for these trips. We stop every 150 miles or so whether we need to or not just to stretch the legs, walk the dog , get coffee, use the facilities etc. We always have an ice chest with water, cokes, cold coffee ,cranberry juice ,tomatoes, cheese , butter ,bread , oranges , grapes , peanut butter etc .My wife likes fast food, but I usually don't. I'm also kinda' cheap in some respects (no motels enroute).

Many states have nice rest stops - use them. They are usually quick on off.

Stop and Stretch your legs every 100 miles or so , especially if you P&G.

Luck,
Charlie

Hm. I appear to be an oddity.

I don't listen to music or talk radio. I don't use cruise control. I don't eat or drink so I won't have to stop -- I stay away from caffeine.

Keeping the numbers up is engaging enough for me -- I've got my hands full watching all the traffic and gauging the terrain properly.

Thanks everyone! The trip is actually broken up into ~210 miles, 180 miles, 110 miles, and 100 miles. My mother will be with me for the first 210 miles so at least I won't get bored. I might get other things, but definitely not bored.

My goal is trying to keep around 30 mpg for the trip.

Sean, you got a heck of a distraction on the way ;). Music seems to soothe those savage beasties... and lots and lots of DVDs on the overhead.

I don't know about you, but tailgating while talking on my cell phone while trying to eat fast food keeps me alert most of the time :)

Sean, you got a heck of a distraction on the way ;). Music seems to soothe those savage beasties... and lots and lots of DVDs on the overhead.

You could laboriously explain your HM techniques as you perform them to lull the baby to sleep. "Now, honey, Daddy is going to FAS here but is going to be careful to leave time for the bump start because... WOAH, someone just cut me off going 30 mph! That's what we call bad driving, sweetheart. Maniacs."

You could laboriously explain your HM techniques as you perform them to lull the baby to sleep. "Now, honey, Daddy is going to FAS here but is going to be careful to leave time for the bump start because... WOAH, someone just cut me off going 30 mph! That's what we call bad driving, sweetheart. Maniacs."

and mama will be saying "just drive the dang car?" ;)

I always have goals. Goals that are veryyy difficult for me to obtain. The pursuit of achieving this goal is my motivation.
I have these goals in just about everything i do not just Hypermiling.

Current goal 1K tank.

Sean, you got a heck of a distraction on the way ;). Music seems to soothe those savage beasties... and lots and lots of DVDs on the overhead.

You could laboriously explain your HM techniques as you perform them to lull the baby to sleep. "Now, honey, Daddy is going to FAS here but is going to be careful to leave time for the bump start because... WOAH, someone just cut me off going 30 mph! That's what we call bad driving, sweetheart. Maniacs."

Good suggestions. :)

Books on tape have also saved me, and free from the library! Devil in the White City will keep you awake! (Unabridged for long trips)