PontiacBonnevilleClub.com

So, my dad and I are going to go bird hunting for a 9 days in South Dakota in October. It's a "17 hour 28 minute" drive or "1186.19 miles". The thing is I can't be there the entire time so I have to find a way to get out there another way. I wouldn't have anyone else riding with me if I drove or flew. Do you think it's a drive I could do in a day? The most I have drivin in one shot was about 11 hours.

Your thoughts?

DEF fly that.

Where at in SD? My parents live close to Brookings, but I'm guessing you are going to be more on the west side

In "Gettysburg" I would fly in Pierre.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gettysburg%2C_South_Dakota

id fly, thats a ton in one day to drive.

I've done a straight Toronto - Alabama drive before. 20 hours. Not fun.

Yeah, guess I should fly....

driverjohn2005 wrote:In "Gettysburg" I would fly in Pierre.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gettysburg%2C_South_Dakota

I used to live near Gettysburg. Not that it really matters much.

I'm in Sioux Falls now.

Fly if you can... I made the Trek From here in Central FL to CT..... 1326 Miles in 20 Hours... Not so sure I will ever do that again in one shot..

Hey, if I'm driving 2500 miles for a Bonneville meet this summer, you can drive 1200 miles for bird hunting

That'll be more like 24 Hours, it took us nearly that long to go from Mankato MN to Toronto in '03.

My bro and I went to stanley Idaho this summer, leaving from the twin cities, we made it to rapid city SD in 9 driving hours, next day to butte MT was around 8. After that we had atleast 5 from Butte to Stanley in mtn roads, if not more. Not the same trip, but a state over, to a state over.

Driving straight through all by yourself if you're not used to doing these things, will NOT be fun, and most likely ruin your first day at your destination. 10-12 hr days isn't bad though, I would overnight at least once.

BonneMe wrote:That'll be more like 24 Hours, it took us nearly that long to go from Mankato MN to Toronto in '03.

That was with crappy weather and several long stops thrown in.
But I agree, fly. Don't forget that travelling East makes you lose a few hours when you cross time zones. I wouldn't attempt that long a drive without a stop somewhere to catch some Z's.

Talked with my Dad. Sounds like we'll make the trip together starting the evening of the 18th. If I wasn't able to to leave that weekend I would have just flew out. Look for pics in a month from the trip

Well, if you are taking your shotguns and ammunition with you, then your probably want to drive it.

I do the 900 miles from Daytona to Pittsburgh about every year just to avoid dealing with TSA...well, I actually like the drive, so the 14 hours it takes is usually in a straight shot.

I don't think shotguns and ammo is a enough to necessitate driving. You can fly just fine with firearms properly cased and declared at baggage check. You can do the same with ammo, but I'd just buy it at my destination.

That being said, that's a long drive, it should be a lot easier with a spare driver.

I did 13 hours at a time several times last may, it wasn't TOO bad, but even that was putting me on adrenaline at the end. 17 hours would be pretty much an accident waiting to happen. It can be especially bad if you're alone and no one is there to notice any strange nodding off behavior. Fly or take a nap somewhere half way.

all I can say is that I did 14 long hours the other day... And early in the week I'll be making that 14 Hour trip back home.. Its a lot of driving...

Bugsi wrote:I don't think shotguns and ammo is a enough to necessitate driving.

Having seen what the airlines do to bags, I wouldn't trust anything of value going through it.

Of course I would drive, 18 hours is just a cruise.
That being said what will you be driving? With the luck (or lack of) you've been having with the explorer it might be sketchy.

I did a 12-hour drive by myself once, and it sucked. Night was really hard. This was in good weather, and stopping to nap twice.

The Buick handled the distance like a champ.

Definitely fly, driving that long is not fun.