Roadtrip rules can help ensure a smooth experience for everyone in your vehicle.
And some travelers embrace the 3/3/3 rule to help keep their passengers happy and comfortable. Adopting this practice can be a gamechanger regarding your travel days.
So what is the 3/3/3 rule, and is it realistic for your road trips?
Let’s take a look!
What Is the 3/3/3 Roadtrip Rule?
The 3/3/3 rule is a set of guidelines that travelers use during their adventures. Following these guidelines help them stay fresh while traveling and helps keep negative attitudes at a distance. Let’s closely examine the rules that make up the 3/3/3 rule.
Drive Up to 300 Miles in a Day
The first rule is never to drive more than 300 miles in a day. You, your passengers, and your vehicle may be able to drive many more miles than this. However, many travelers find bad attitudes and exhaustion begin to set in when they get too far past this mileage limit.
Some days stopping at 300 miles will be easier than others, but the 300 miles limit allows you to stop before anyone has reached their maximum limit.
Stop Every Three (3) Hours
The second set of the 3/3/3 rule for road trips is to stop every three hours when traveling. This can allow you to fill up on fuel, use the restroom, or stretch your legs. If you’re obeying the 300-mile rule, you’ll likely have to stop at least once or twice.
We recommend taking full advantage of these stops by doing multiple activities in a single stop. If you need fuel, take the opportunity for everyone to use the restroom or stop for lunch. This helps you avoid making multiple stops and making your travel day take longer than necessary.
Arrive No Later Than 3:00 PM
The final rule in the 3/3/3 rule is to stop by 3 PM. Whether it’s your final destination or just a place to stop for the night, stopping by 3 PM is a great idea. This allows you to rest and relax after the day on the road.
You’ll likely have plenty of time to set up camp before the sun sets; it can be helpful navigating campgrounds and avoiding any obstacles. A slight addition to this rule is staying three nights each time you stop. This isn’t always possible, but it helps avoid having several consecutive long travel days.
Why Do People Use the 3/3/3 Roadtrip Rule?
The 3/3/3 rule helps to increase safety while driving. It helps prevent driving fatigue, which can be brutal on the driver and co-pilot. It also helps prevent any possibility of driving in the dark, which can be challenging. You want maximum visibility when traveling, especially if you’re towing or driving a large RV.
Following the 3/3/3 rule helps travelers have a smoother traveling experience. Everyone in the vehicle can know when the next stop is or that there will be an opportunity to use the restroom, eat, or stretch their legs. Overall, 3/3/3 is a great concept that many travelers could benefit from adopting.
Is The 3/3/3 Rule for Road Trips Unrealistic?
The 3/3/3 rule is a bit more realistic than the 2/2/2 rule, which is the same concept. However, it’s only realistic for those traveling full-time for extended periods. The average traveler may only have a week or two for their road trip.
This means they may have to drive much further than the 3/3/3 would suggest or extend the time between stops. If you’re on a time crunch for your road trip, the 3/3/3 rule will be completely unrealistic and useless.
How Far Should You Travel Each Day in an RV?
If you’re not in a hurry, there’s no need to push yourself past your comfort zone. Doing so can be dangerous and put you and your fellow travelers at risk. The 3/3/3 rule is a good rule of thumb for RVers who aren’t in a hurry. Sticking to a few hundred miles and making regular stops can help keep you and your fellow passengers from becoming too cranky.
If you’re facing a time constraint, you can drive 500+ miles in a single day. Do we recommend it? No. Have we bit the bullet and done it ourselves? For sure! Sometimes you do what you’ve got to do to get to your destination. However, you should never drive drowsy or past your limitations.
How Fast Should You Drive in an RV?
You need to be aware of your speed when driving an RV. The speed limit might be 70, 75, or 80 miles per hour, but it doesn’t mean driving at that speed is okay. RV tires have speed ratings, often much lower than standard tires.
RVers typically top out at 65 miles per hour, not because they can’t go faster, but because this is the safest speed. It minimizes the chances of heating their tires due to friction and causing a tire failure.
Fuel efficiency is another reason many RVers stick to 65 miles per hour. Whether driving or towing an RV, fuel economy is often not great. However, excessive speeds cause your vehicle to work harder than necessary and use more fuel. You may arrive a few minutes later, but you’ll make the most of the fuel in your tank.
Is It Worth Implementing the 3/3/3 Roadtrip Rule?
We think the 3/3/3 rule is worth implementing on a road trip, whether you’re in an RV or not. However, you must allow yourself some flexibility during your adventures. If everyone is in a groove and doesn’t need to stop, don’t force it.
This is especially the case if you’re traveling with little ones who have fallen asleep or are taking a nap. If that’s the case, don’t you dare stop! Trust us; you don’t want to wake a sleeping baby! So embrace the 3/3/3 rule and adapt it as necessary.
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