Gravel Drive width?

[EddieWalker]

My original plan was to make mine 15 feet wide. In theory, I really liked the idea of having a nice wide driveway for traffic on it. Then after doing the math and figuring out how much that would cost, I got to rethinking why I needed it so wide? I went down to ten feet in my planning with a wider grass area on either side going into my drainage ditches. This has proven to be plenty wide enough and after having it for ten years, can't image what I was thinking wanting to make it any wider. To me, it's just a huge waste of materials that is never used or needed. I've had all sorts of big rigs, cement trucks and even fire trucks come down it over the years without any issues.

My biggest regret is not taking out more trees. They where far enough away that I felt they would be fine, but the branches never stop growing out towards the road and it's time to once again trim them back.

Eddie

 

[Dirthog]

Problem with anything less than 15' is you are most always running in the same tracks all the time. You should really have at least 1-1/2 vehicles wide to prevent that.

 

[JerryK]

I went with 10'. It's plenty wide, and if you have a land leveler or something else to work it once and awhile it's plenty to take care of. Driveways tend to widen out over time. Main thing is not skimp on the thickness of your fill and hill it up/pack it down good. Then cover with Afton stone and pack that in.... Play with it once and awhile with the land leveler and keep it hilled up to keep the water away..

 

[sixdogs]

When we built we did either 13 ft or 14 ft and it's too wide. 12 ft seems to look and function the best in the country--maybe even 10 ft.

 

[BuilderML]

I have a 1200' foot gravel driveway. The base is about 15' wide. Do i use all of it nope not even close. It depends on what your future plans are. If you ever think you might pave it make sure you go plenty wide. For a 12' paved driveway i would make the base 14' min. On a long run most would cut the width down to 10' wide paved for some savings. You might start off with a gravel driveway but after years of fixing/grading and dirty cars you may get pissed and just pave it so make sure its wide enough now.

 

[Tomtint]

My driveway is about 1100-1200 feet. In most places it is 12' wide. There are also a few places where it is a bit wider in the curves. That helps when pulling a trailer. I also made a few areas where I can pull over I case a car is coming the other way, and a couple areas off the side to pile snow which came in very handy last winter.

 

[NC419N]

12' min My brother in law did 10' and the sides were always a mess with folks running off both side. Its only 2 more feet but when finished you will be thankful you did.

 

[dave1949]

It depends on what will use the driveway and if it is straight or has curves.

A rural driveway able to handle (including somewhere for it turn around) a 53' van trailer pulled by a day cab tractor is useful if you order something that is truck shipped or get involved with something like forestry.

 

[dstig1]

Mine is about 12', but varies (wider) in some spots (mainly at turns). It works well for cement trucks to passenger cars. I am also cleared back another 3-12'+ on each side (also varies), so even a fire truck can clear all turns easily. Town requires a 14' wide clear path for fire trucks, though I forget how high is has to be cleared. I am well above that in all places.

 

[USAFpj]

Thought you guys might to see some pictures. With the help of all here on TBN, I've been advised on just about all aspects of this build. As for the drive, we went with 12', but in some places, it is up to 15'. Once it's fully been placed, the next step is to decide for the sides to go back to natural 'woods', or throw a row of Crape Myrtle's down each side

 

[deezler]

Looks good, though it appears your ditch on the high side drains to... itself. Unless I'm seeing the angle of the ground wrong, it'll fill up and cross the road in heavy rain events. Washing out your drive in the process. Culverts are a pain, but you might really want one there.

Nice sexy curves on that drive though! I like it.

 

[USAFpj]

Deezler, great observation. If you blow up the first pic, you may be able to see the 20' pipe in the lowest part of the roadbed. Throughout this build, the house will go on a slope, so I have been very concerned with proper drainage. A small swale will have to be built behind the home due to the slope of the site, but I'll be watching the drainage like a hawk until the land graders leave. I have full faith in this Husband/Wife team that they know exactly what they're doing, though:thumbsup:

 

[deezler]

Awesome!

I can't really talk anyway, as I simply ran the ditch on the high side of my own driveway (gentle slope on sandy soil though) to a mini retention pond that I dug. It only overflows in the 2-3" plus super soaks though, so whatever.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

My humble driveway is maybe 9' or 10' wide. It has meandering turns through the trees that are pleasing to the eye. There are only two places where a 12 yard dump truck couldn't tip the dump up all 24' without hitting overhead branches. The corners are gentle enough that a 65' long semi tractor trailer combination can get through. Mid way I have a turn around big enough for trucks and equipment trailers. Where the tinkerage will be built, semis will need to do three point turns.

The trail or road between where the tinkerage and house will be 150 yards long and possible only to cars, service trucks, and lighter trailers because I'm not cutting the trees up as high and the corners meandering through the trees are closer together.

I hope it will be pretty.

 

[JerryK]

I hope it will be pretty.

I'm sure you will make it so...!!!! [ life is good ]

 

[tractorshopper]

The Crepe Myrtles are beautiful, but I would not plant them along the road edge. I think they will try to send runners and new sprouts up everywhere including into the driveway. They can get out of control.

I'd simply go with grass or something that can be easily cut back a few times a year. In the future, the trees on the edges will try sending their branches out toward and over the driveway and will require periodic maintenance/pruning.

 

[dave1949]

When making a three-point turn around for semis, it helps if it is on the driver's side. The driver can see the back of the trailer on the driver's side. Passenger side is often blind for van trailers.

It could be a simple flared tee off the driveway that can be backed into after driving past it. You could make double use of the tee by putting a building at the end of it or whatever. The building could have a dock if there is enough use to warrant that.

 

[Garandman]

We took out the rocks and trees on the right, and put down gravel just to past the bend where there is a bridge. Maybe 500 feet. We used 125 tons...

 

[USAFpj]

Garandman, you're site looks almost exactly like mine, except my circular drive has an island of (4) Loblolly pines, and (1) White Pine. I wasn't excited about the amount of soil and trees that were initially removed, but after driving my truck in and around the site, quickly realized that elbow room is good!

 

[ovrszd]

I have become a fan of limestone screenings. They are cheap (you basicaly pay for the trucking).
They can be worked nicely, look great and if you snow blow them onto your lawn, they can be cleaned up fairly easily. Or just worked in.

My biggest pain and regret is that for the most part, my driveway does not have a proper base. It's built mostly on organic matter!

And your limestone screenings are not helping that problem.