Quick Summary
- Drowsy drivers are as risky as distracted ones, especially on long, straight interstates.
- Planning sleep, sharing the wheel and scheduling breaks before you book the vehicle reduces pressure on the road.
- Hola Car Rentals adds flexibility with clear coverage, partner locations and Free Cancellation on many deals so you can prioritise rest.
Start with a realistic plan, not a heroic one
It is tempting to land at night, grab the keys and push through several states in one go. But distances from airports like New York JFK or Las Vegas can be far longer than they look on a map. Before you compare car hire offers, map out your route in honest daily chunks. If you are already tired before driving, shorten that first leg or stay near the airport.
Build your itinerary around daylight, not just hotel prices. Early starts followed by early finishes are safer than leaving late after a full day of sightseeing. Hola Car Rentals lets you adjust pick up dates and times easily, so you can avoid scheduling long drives straight after overnight flights whenever possible.
Schedule breaks and driver changes in advance
Stopping only when someone is desperate for a bathroom break is a recipe for heavy eyelids. Aim for a short rest at least every two hours, even if it is just stretching in a safe parking area. If you are travelling with another licensed driver on the agreement, plan when to swap seats so nobody feels guilty about asking for a rest.
For more structure, the Hola Car Rentals blog on drowsy driving prevention explains how to use scheduled pauses, coffee breaks and overnight stops to stay sharp on long interstate stretches. The key is to decide those pauses before the odometer starts turning, not when you are already struggling.
Use food, movement and light wisely
What you eat and how you move makes a difference. Heavy meals and large sugary drinks encourage midafternoon slumps. Smaller, more frequent snacks and regular sips of water keep energy steadier. A quick walk around the car, some gentle stretches and opening the windows for cool air can buy you a little time, but they are no substitute for real sleep.
If you are carrying a cooler, packing it well helps too. The article on food and cooler tips for long drives covers how to keep supplies safe and varied so you are not living on vending machines. Good planning here means fewer last minute detours and more predictable energy levels.
Plan for night driving only when necessary
Some routes, especially around desert hubs, do involve late arrivals or early departures. If you know your flight to Nevada lands late, consider starting from a Las Vegas airport night time departure only after a proper rest in a nearby hotel. Similarly, for California trips it is often wiser to collect the vehicle from LAX late night pick ups the next morning rather than driving exhausted into rush hour.
Use headlights correctly, keep windscreens clean and watch for wildlife on rural stretches after dark. If your vision blurs, you start missing exits or you cannot remember the last few miles, pull over at the next safe opportunity and sleep. No schedule or reservation is worth pushing through real fatigue.
What Hola Car Rentals can and cannot do
Hola Car Rentals cannot replace sleep, but it can remove some of the stress around logistics. Free Cancellation up to forty eight hours before collection on many deals gives you permission to move plans if you realise your schedule is too ambitious. All Inclusive plus offers often include strong protection and maximum liability cover, so a minor scrape will not add to your worries on a long tour.
Because Hola Car Rentals works with partners across the United States, including brands you recognise, it is easier to find pick up locations close to the airport or your first hotel. That reduces the need for long transfers after flights and helps you keep driving days shorter, safer and more enjoyable.
FAQs
How many hours is it safe to drive in one day? Everyone is different, but many road safety experts suggest that most people should limit themselves to around eight or nine hours of total driving time in a day, broken into regular segments with proper rests. Listen to your body and stop earlier if you notice yawning, drifting in your lane or difficulty focusing.
Is it safer to drive through the night when the roads are quiet? Quieter roads can feel easier, but fatigue risk is often much higher at night, especially between midnight and early morning. If you must travel after dark, share the wheel where possible, build in extra stops and be honest about how you feel before setting off.
Can I add an extra driver to my booking with Hola Car Rentals? Many partner offers do allow additional drivers, sometimes for a fee. Always add extra drivers to the agreement at the desk and make sure they bring full documentation. Sharing the wheel only helps if every driver is properly listed and insured.
Why plan my long trip with Hola Car Rentals? Hola Car Rentals brings together a wide choice of vehicles and partners at major US airports, with clear information on inclusions and Free Cancellation options on many deals. That makes it easier to design a sensible itinerary with enough rest, instead of chasing unrealistic distances just to fit rigid bookings.
