Driving East

BrightLime · Post by **BrightLime** » Tue May 19, 2009 10:44 am

Greetings~

Driving East to Chicago. Can stop at intermediate stops!

Please be willing to drive, split cost of gas and rental car. Estimated at a little more than $100.00!!

Please help!! I need to get to Chicago and you need a fuuuun road trip!

BrightLime

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Tue May 19, 2009 11:24 am

If you are coming from San Fran, your estimate is way off for Chicago.

BrightLime · Post by **BrightLime** » Tue May 19, 2009 12:13 pm

??? Not sure what you mean...

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Tue May 19, 2009 12:41 pm

food, drinks, motels, and unless you are getting 30MPG or better , your gas estimate is off a little too, assuming thats what the $100 was for.

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Tue May 19, 2009 12:43 pm

I believe what oneeyeddick is saying is that your estimate of cost per person is on the low side, especially if you are departing from San Francisco (the location given under your name.)

When I went back in 2006, the distance from Gerlach to Racine, Wisconsin was exactly 2,000 miles, and gas prices were a bit lower (IIRC). I think that the cost per person was pretty close to $100, without vehicle rental. (We did not keep accurate records at all...)

2,000 miles/30mpg=about 67gallons. 67*2.00=134. (Both miles per gallon and gas price per gallon are both probably off-- I just pulled the numbers out of the air.) Cramming all kinds of belongs into a car probably means only two people per car, so divide the number by two. So we are back at $67, before vehicle rental is added in. Having never rented a car, I don't know where to start on the costs involved (although I do know that there is an up-front cost, generally an amount per mile, and, possibly, insurance.)

oneeyeddick · Post by **oneeyeddick** » Tue May 19, 2009 12:56 pm

Also, keep in mind that the MPG rating on your car is for going below the average speed limit posted on most of your trip, plus the vehicle is empty when they make those false estimates, and on flat ground.
a vehicle that says 30 mpg will prolly get around 22-24 mpg going 75 and loaded down with luggage.
Be sure to check your oil often as well as your radiator overspill tank.

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Tue May 19, 2009 1:00 pm

Also, there are mountains in between... so, yeah, for most vehicles the 30mph I mentioned is much too high. It would be better for you to overestimate the cost of the trip and have money left over. (It is surprisingly easy to get rid of excess money when you compare it with coming up with additional money!

)

BrightLime · Post by **BrightLime** » Wed May 20, 2009 12:27 pm

Ummm.. I've thought about all that stuff and Chicago is actually about 2130 miles from SF, or about 30 hours of 'straight-through' driving.

I am driving straight through so motel, etc. does not concern me; also, people need to factor in their own food.

The cost of gas to Chicago for a car that gets 24mpg is about $248 total (one way), if gas costs about $2.65 per gallon. With the rental car and gas for 2 people with the aforementioned calculations its about $140.00 per person.

I just need someone to drive and ride with me; cost is not my greatest concern, but thanks anyway!

I dropped to price considerably because no one wants to go, so I just assumed if the price was right, people would take the opportunity. I mean, who doesn't like a great road trip!

Thanks for your input!

BrightLime

Post by **mdmf007** » Wed May 20, 2009 2:09 pm

2130 miles in 30 hours is 71MPH average.

No way your going to maintain that. 24MPG is not going to happen at 71MPH.

Although, we now get that your not splitting costs evenly. Your willing to supplement costs in exchange for someone to talk too and a companion.

have fun.