how far do you drive

[TNjed]

hey y'all, I've got an urge to hit the white blazes but i've only got a day to do it. I live about 4.5 hours away from the trail. Y'all think its worth it to truck it there and back for a day hike on the patch or the smokies? 9 hours of driving for about 3 hours on the trail. Anybody else done this before?

[Lone Wolf]

no. not me

[kayak karl]

600 miles to date.

[TNjed]

you've driven 600 miles for a day hike?

[TNjed]

i wouldn't drive anywhere if I lived in a trail town either

[kayak karl]

it was a three day hike, sorry! missed the 1 day part.

[TNjed]

yeah that's not too bad, I just wonder if its a little nuts to do a turnaround like that

[kayak karl]

i hike with friends. they are worth the trip.

[TNjed]

i hike alone, every time.

[kayak karl]

good for you. never done that

[Tractor]

Savage Gulf. Less Driving, more hiking. ??

[Kerosene]

Back in February, between jobs, I headed out from Ann Arbor, Michigan early on a Friday morning, picked up my daughter and her girlfriend from school near Cincinnati, and drove straight through to Virginia so we could climb McAfee Knob with Hikerhead and a bunch of WhiteBlazers (johnnybgood, Jersey Dave, Cookerhiker, Jen Sprout, Hobbs, Ol Mole, J5man) the next morning. So, I think it was 17 total hours of driving for 4 hours of hiking. Gas: $150, Food for 3 for 3 days: $120, Tramping up Catawba Mountain on a clear, cool day with your daughter and a bunch of new friends: Priceless

[keepinitsimple]

I often leave my home around 3-4 AM, arriving at the trail head pre-dawn. Sometimes I hike the first hour with a headlamp. The loops are usually between 7 and 10 miles. I am chipping my way on the AT. I usually try to be home by the time my kids get up from nap ( 3-4 pm).

Follow your passion, do what you have to do, drive to the trail. The people that love me know how important this is to me. And as long as I am a good boy- I get to hike. Be well

[skinewmexico]

I'd be thinking "there's got to be a trail closer".

[dmax]

I've drove farther than that for a few hours of fishing. Does that count?

[rjjones]

Ditto on both the fishing and the hiking.Although both were for more then 3 hours.Get there early and stay as late as i can.Drive home in the dark.

[rocketsocks]

Come early,stay late.

[JAK]

I drive 1 hour to this end of the Fungi Footpath, or about 2 hours to get to the other end.
Alternatively I have biked it, once so far, hope to try it again sometime.

I would not drive 4.5 hours for a 3 hour hike, but I would for a good 3 day hike.
Katahdin is a good 4.5 hours away. I would drive that, but I would make more than a day of it.
Haven't yet. Saving it for an epic trek of some sort, possibly combo paddle and hike.

[gumball]

We've done an all-day day hike with a mightly long drive to and from. Last time it was from NW PA down to Uncle Johnny's to sew up a piece we were missing down there. My husband recently drove across PA to finish up 13 miles or so near Delaware Water Gap. Guess it depends on how important it is to you and how much you enjoy while you're out there.

[Attila]

I am section hiking going North. Last July on a day trip I drove from Lexington, KY to Blue Ridge Gap, GA hiked to Deep Gap, NC for a 10 mile section. Left Lexington at 6:00 AM, drove ~315 miles (+ shuttle), starting around 2:00 PM walked 10 miles, got off the trail at Deep Gap and was on the road back to Lexington ~8:00 PM. I was in my bed at 2:00 AM.
Family and job keeps me busy, I take what I can...So far I got to Clingmans Dome with nine section hikes - 196.4 AT miles, thinking about ot that's way over 5000 miles driving. Hoping to go back after Thanksgiving and finish up the Smokies.
The drive is well worth the hike. After all, IT IS THE AT! Go for it! If you don't like it, find a trail closer to your home.