# The three-hour rule: how to pace a long drive

> Short sessions behind the wheel, planned breaks and one good stop a day.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/three-hour-rule/

*By Juno Marsh, 2026-09-18*

Most road trips go wrong in the same way. The plan is built around the destination, and the drive becomes something to get through. By day three, everyone in the car is tired and the stops have turned into gas and fast food.

## Drive in blocks

A simple fix is to limit each session to about three hours. Then stop for at least thirty minutes somewhere you actually wanted to see. Two or three blocks make a full day of driving. You will cover a little less ground, but you will arrive in much better shape.

## Build the day around the stops

Open your trip in the planner and turn on the detour shade. Set it to 15 miles and look for anything worth a stop in the second and third hour of each day. A waterfall, a diner with a good reputation or a giant fiberglass figure all work. Having something to look forward to changes how the drive feels.

## Leave slack

Leave one unplanned hour in every day. That hour covers a closed road, a detour that went well, or a lunch that ran long. If nothing goes wrong, you arrive early and have time to look around.