How long of a driveway is too long?

   / How long of a driveway is too long? #21  
With elec. service not being a consideration, go for it!
I'm in at 1900' and $20k for elec., then it continues for another mile past the house until it turn's into smaller logging roads. Fortunatly I did not have to build them. I would not have any other way, and am now spoiled! A well drained & built road for private use really is not a lot of work once it's in, and IMO is worth it.
 
   / How long of a driveway is too long? #22  
My driveway is just short of 1/2 mile long. Not a problem. I didn't build the drive, but do maintain it. Neighbors landplane and my landscape rack keeps it decent.
 
   / How long of a driveway is too long? #23  
Just buy a condo. Then you won't have to deal with any of that stuff!! J/K

I didn't realize you were a member here!

As you know, I maintain 1/2 mile of easement along with 550' of driveway. I have the tools that make it relatively easy. Any questions about time involved, tools used etc, you can PM me.
 
   / How long of a driveway is too long?
  • Thread Starter
#24  
Just buy a condo. Then you won't have to deal with any of that stuff!! J/K

I didn't realize you were a member here!

As you know, I maintain 1/2 mile of easement along with 550' of driveway. I have the tools that make it relatively easy. Any questions about time involved, tools used etc, you can PM me.

Thanks, Greg! Good to see you here, too. I'm mostly a lurker over here:D
 
   / How long of a driveway is too long? #25  
Sounds like you have an idea on the maintenance aspect and only you can decide that for yourself. Another consideration is the installation cost. Maintenance will be much easier if it's built right from the beginning, and that will cost more. Skimp on the up-front money and you'll pay in maintenance...
 
   / How long of a driveway is too long? #26  
I stayed at a hunting lodge in WY once that had a 12 MILE driveway.
 
   / How long of a driveway is too long? #27  
I stayed at a hunting lodge in WY once that had a 12 MILE driveway.

I have a 1/4 mile blacktopped but even maintenance on that is expensive. If gravel is plentiful, no problem but some places if road gravel needs to be shipped in for 20-30 miles, shipping costs can be nuts. Count your costs. It does sound nice though. I needed 2 medium trucks of road gravel hauled in by me and it was 3-4 hundred a truck and it doesn't go far.

I was going from Montana to Wyoming 20+ years ago with our pop-up camper and wanted to stay at a campground/lodge type place. Turned down the driveway and it was stony to the point where is wasn't fun to drive. The driveway, as I remember, was 20 miles. A short hike from the campsite there was a nice waterfall so it was worth it. Maybe it was the same place you mentioned.
 
   / How long of a driveway is too long? #28  
The ranch was called Rockin 7 ranch, it was a large cattle operation (110,000 acres) as well as a hunting outfit. I remember it being southeast of Casper, and there was a large lake and public ground nearby. That’s about all I can remember offhand. Beautiful country, I could have spent a week out there just walking the canyons.
 
   / How long of a driveway is too long? #29  
The ranch was called Rockin 7 ranch, it was a large cattle operation (110,000 acres) as well as a hunting outfit. I remember it being southeast of Casper, and there was a large lake and public ground nearby. That’s about all I can remember offhand. Beautiful country, I could have spent a week out there just walking the canyons.

For that kind of country, you mean a lifetime. Hips keeps me from enjoying stomping around outdoors that way now.
 
   / How long of a driveway is too long? #30  
Our drive is just under 1/2 mile. I had the advantage that it has been a rough logging road for a long time, so most of the potholes that form where tree root balls were still rotting in the path had stabilized, and it was pretty well packed dirt. I once thought about building farther out (another 1/2mile) on our property, but in hindsight I think that would have been too much. Plus as others have noted, it would have required a lot more to run electric and water.

We have put down probably 30 loads of gravel now, first, river rock, and then crusher run, giving just an inch or two of coverage over all. And that seems to be giving a good stable, smooth, low-maintenance road, except where we have one steep place. A little tune up with a box blade once or twice a year takes care of that. I'm thinking of buying a land plane to do an even nicer job.

All-in-all, I think that 1/2 mile is just about perfect!

- Jay
 

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