Tips on staying awake on a long drive?

[Toby]

I have a 22 hour drive to my hunting grounds and will be going solo. Anybody have any tips on staying alert/awake?

[luvelkhunt]

pull over and take a nap. to much driving in a single sitting for me. our trip is about 27 hrs but have three drivers. safe travels.

[ishy]

Take a nap about 13 or 14 hour mark. I did an internship for school that I had to work till 11pm then drive 3 hours (in good weather) during winter in North Idaho, and start work again at 7. My go to stash included sunflower seeds, twizzlers and sour patch kids and whatever playlist gets your blood going. I tend to shy way from caffiene as it seems to cause more issues than it helped me.

[atfrith]

If driving at night, use the dimmer switch to turn all the internal lights down on the dash. My uncle was a border patrol agent for 20 years and taught me this seemingly obvious trick (that i was oblivious to) that greatly helps reduce eye strain at night.

[slim9300]

I struggle with this every year. Leaving in the dark is the hardest.

I always get my audio book via the Audible app going and make sure to have another option or two as backup. Plus, a intermission of an hour or so with my Elknut audio breaks things up and keep the juices flowing for the hunt.

I also stop at the first fill up and pickup a large red bull and Sobe orange with a huge cup of ice to keep both cold. I don't drink caffeine so the Red Bull is like crack.

The last resort is sunflower seeds. When I start to get sleepy, I bust them out.

When you can't keep your eyes open any longer a quick nap of an hour or two can be refreshing.

[Toby]

I have wondered about the 5 hour energy type drinks, though I have never used them before.

[Wapitibob]

It's 24 hours of seat time for me to go to NM or AZ. I stop one time for a cpl hour nap but other than that it's straight thru. Don't eat. Snacks like chips or bars, no burgers. Out west we tend to drive long distances regularly so it's not as big a deal for us. If a long drive is 3 hours you'll probably need to take several breaks/naps along the way. I'm going scouting again this weekend, 7 hours each way.

[Indian Summer]

I can cover some ground solo that's for sure. From Pa to Montana's west side is 33 hours and I make it in 2 days. Usually 18 the first day and 15 the next. I do NOT drive if I absolutely can't keep my eyes open either. I get an early start and when I feel the end is near I'll drink a Red Bull or Monster Energy. A half hour or so later I'll drink a 5 Hour Energy which gives me another 3 hours.

One time I drove from Sheridan WY to my house in one shot. 23 hours. One time. lol Last year I made it from Kearney Nebraska to home in one shot on a motorcycle. 1171 miles. Pulled in as the sun came up. Some days you're feelin' it and some you're not that's all there is to it. If you're not don't take risks, pull over and sleep.

Here's a good one: I drove for like 18 hours on my way home from Montana on the last stretch. 45 minutes from home I couldn't do another mile. I pulled into the last rest stop in Ohio and slept for 6 hours before I was able to do the last little bit.

[Sean D.]

I have a bunch of little tricks to stay awake after years of traveling the rodeo circuit.
First dont get comfortable, its easier to stay awake if you have to keep moving.
Nights are usually alot cooler so roll the windows down and stay cool, cold is better. if its still hot at night blast the A/C.
hold it as long as you can if you have to go to the bathroom.
Rock out, blast the radio and belt out the tunes, windows down make this one even better.
If there is someone you can talk to on a cell, do it.
The energy drinks help for a little bit but there is usually a big crash as they wear off.
When these things stop working , pull over and sleep for a little bit. Its not worth pushing the limits

[Kiowa1SG]

Its absolutely better to pull over and take a nap then to not make it to camp at all. Being a bit late is ok the elk will still be there.
That being said being someone that has driven long stretches or had to stay up for long periods of time I find the following things will help.
5 hours are ok if you do 1 or 2 you wont have a significant crash at the end.
Doing monsters or NOZ or anything with butt loads of caffeine you can expect a crash that will suck but might of been worth it.
I like the dim lights and play energetic music.
I try to pull over every couple of hours to get a quick stretch some light exercise and a cool drink. Believe it or not the cold drink does wonders as it helps to cool down your internal body temperature. Get a big cup of ice and munch on the ice while you drive. Zero calories, Zero Caffeine and its keeping you cool.

If you must sleep then sleep for 20-30 minutes and get out stretch see how your feeling and get back on the road. That is a doable power nap that doesnt allow your body to enter REM Sleep. If you feel you have to have more than get at least 3 hours. That has allowed your body a couple hours of REM sleep and your body will recover faster.
Sleep cycles typically last 90 minutes.
A good night's sleep consists of 5-6 complete sleep cycles.
Waking up in the middle of a sleep cycle will likely make you feel tired and groggy, but waking up in between these cycles lets you wake up feeling refreshed and alert.
You can look up REM sleep calculator for more information.

Just remember the first 2 sentences.

[Drawnandpinned]

For me its a few energy drinks in a cooler and some good music to pump me up and if I eat I do it early on so it doesn't make me tired and if ya need some talk radio will keep your mind from thinking about sleep safe travels and good luck this year

[ishy]

One more is cranking any elk audio that has lots of actual elk talking and practicing with your mouth reeds.

[zpd307]

18.5 hours is the longest I have driven in a single shot. its 19 to the last town in Idaho and another hour up into the mtn. my buddy hates driving and falls asleep easily at the wheel. we will see how it goes in 3 weeks.... i might have him start the trip in the daylight and get a couple hours out of him. I live on nicotine and caffeine, so those are a given. blasting tunes and opening windows works also. we only stop for fuel when we go, so that's when you get to pee and eat. going to Colorado in my dually I could make it with one stop. 8.5 hours of driving on a tank of fuel. with another fill up before going up into the mtn. I am not sure how the new gas powered truck will do, smaller tank.

[frogtosser]

I've done 24 hours straight down to Florida before. If you get sleepy get out and walk or run around the truck, it helps alot to get the blood pumping. I also podcast the freebeer and hot wings morning show so it's talking and not just music.

[Lefty]

Ive have gotten to be worse and worse with my ability to stay awake on drives I use to drive Minnesota to where I trapped in Wyoming straight shot after work,..
Now I take a nap, If Im tired I can usually sleep a few minutes and be on my way. and crank the radio, if I need to open the windows its time to pull over
I rolled a pick up running a trap line,.. I now live under the threat from my wife when we first got married ,.. " If you do something stupid and die Im going to kill you!"

rodeo circuit really explains your methods Must not have been a bull rider, or the cattle prod method would be on your list

I have a bunch of little tricks to stay awake after years of traveling the rodeo circuit.
First dont get comfortable, its easier to stay awake if you have to keep moving.
Nights are usually alot cooler so roll the windows down and stay cool, cold is better. if its still hot at night blast the A/C.
hold it as long as you can if you have to go to the bathroom.
Rock out, blast the radio and belt out the tunes, windows down make this one even better.
If there is someone you can talk to on a cell, do it.
The energy drinks help for a little bit but there is usually a big crash as they wear off.
When these things stop working , pull over and sleep for a little bit. Its not worth pushing the limits

[Bow4Elk]

Go to the library and check out some books on tape. Make sure they are interesting so they don't put you to sleep. Some books are over 10 hours.

[Sean D.]

Ive have gotten to be worse and worse with my ability to stay awake on drives I use to drive Minnesota to where I trapped in Wyoming straight shot after work,..
Now I take a nap, If Im tired I can usually sleep a few minutes and be on my way. and crank the radio, if I need to open the windows its time to pull over
I rolled a pick up running a trap line,.. I now live under the threat from my wife when we first got married ,.. " If you do something stupid and die Im going to kill you!"

rodeo circuit really explains your methods Must not have been a bull rider, or the cattle prod method would be on your list

I have a bunch of little tricks to stay awake after years of traveling the rodeo circuit.
First dont get comfortable, its easier to stay awake if you have to keep moving.
Nights are usually alot cooler so roll the windows down and stay cool, cold is better. if its still hot at night blast the A/C.
hold it as long as you can if you have to go to the bathroom.
Rock out, blast the radio and belt out the tunes, windows down make this one even better.
If there is someone you can talk to on a cell, do it.
The energy drinks help for a little bit but there is usually a big crash as they wear off.
When these things stop working , pull over and sleep for a little bit. Its not worth pushing the limits

Actually I did ride bulls, The cattle prod method isn't for everyone so I left it out. Those dang things hurt

[Ghost]

I drove 26 hours last year to Spearfish SD non stop, took a nap when I got home from work and left at 8pm. One of the things Ive found that greatly helps is super strong gum, Dentyne Arctic Chill is my favorite, it works and it works almost immediately to wake you up, that and coffee is the only thing I used to go the distance.

[phall]

everybody has covered this topic well. always the most important thing is to pull over when sleepy. audio cd's, elk calling instructional, music, cold air, tobacco product, sunflowers, etc. ive tried all the energy drinks made and by far the one that will give you the most and longest lived energy is "REDLINE" beware those with high bp, heart disease, peripheral vascular disease. if i get tired And there isnt anywhere to stop i just stick my head out the window a few times until i get to a safe place to stop. if you have a safe place to stop but dont want a nap, then get fuel, energy drink of choice, and do couple 5 min circuits of pushups, dips, squats, lunges, maybe even some beloved burpees with some stretching. get your blood flowing, heart rate up, break a lil sweat and hit the road