Seeking Road Trip Advice

I dont think the hybrid system has to be treated differently as far as how long you drive it. I'd say make sure you check your tire pressure before the trip and during. Keep the car as light as possible and get the seat in the most comfy position you can. Other than that dont worry too much about the car and just enjoy driving it. I just had a 600+ mile roadtrip this past weekend and I thought the car performed great. Great gas mileage (of course) and the seats stayed very comfortable for me. My love for the car definitley went up a few notches during that trip. ENJOY!

 

Since the HV battery is better pampered when the car is Ready, the Hybrid system would be just as happy if you drove straight through.

It is tough to get google maps to stay on scenic drives, but here are some near the southern route
http://blueridgeparkway.indigofiles.com/directory_planner/Map_2010.pdf
Natchez Trace Parkway - Map
Main Map of the Talimena Scenic Drive Auto Tour

Here is a site to find scenic drives in the USA:
America's Byways

 

You may find that a full tank will take you further in the Prius than it did in your gas guzzlers.

I drove my 04 on a similar trip a few years ago and had no problems.

Like Smirv said, no special precautions, just drive and enjoy.

I'm looking forward to your coverage of the trip here.

 

Last Aug we drove strait 18 hours from Cleveland, OH to Winter Haven, FL. It was a nonstop trip except one stop in Charlotte NC to get gas. I left the car running. The car did great job going down all the big hills using regenerative braking.
I would recommend filling your tires to

Front 49
Back 47

If possible stay at around 60-65MPH using cruise control. You will get 60+ MPG on your trip.

 

You also don't want to push it because it is as hard on the driver as it is on the car. Set your cruise control drop in a CD and enjoy the ride. The faster you drive the more mental strain your under. Plus a speeding ticket will ruin your whole trip. Believe me doing five over the limit isn't going to make you any real time.

You may want to check out gas prices along the way to plan out your gas stops. It is a nice way to save on gas as you cross the United States. It is better to get gas before you cross a state border than after, only to find out it is 25 cents more.

AAA Fuel Gauge Report

If you click on the state name it will give you a more detailed picture of fuel prices around the state.

For example Iowa is $2.61, Illinois is $2.83, Indiana is $2.68, Ohio is $2.63, Pennsylvania is 2.71, New Jersey is $2.62

Obviously you want to fill up in Iowa, Ohio or New Jersey before crossing into Illinois or Pennsylvania. May not look like much but saving a buck here and buck there adds up over 5,000 miles.

 

You'll need breaks more often than the car will. Especially if you're a coffee drinker.

You'll likely find 49 psi gives you a rougher ride than you like, though certainly pressures above standard will yield better mileage.

Go easy on the junk food, stop when you're tired, and take time to see the sights.

 

If you can plan it, try to hit Sams Club for gas. In Ohio they are 20 cents lower per gallon then the lowest gas station.

The car rides nice with the tires at 49 and 47 PSI.

 

Changing drivers only when refilling the tank is too infrequent even on many non-hybrids -- 330 to 400 miles on my old cars. On a Prius, it is a recipe for serious road hypnosis.

Two other gas price resources:

Gas Buddy (this particular link is to a color coded map)
Gas Price Watch

Both sites use volunteer spotters, and participation varies. The later has sharply declined in my area.

 

Isn't it not not safe to go over the psi posted on the sidewalk of the tires? Just wondering because I will be going on a trip in a month from Illinois to Alabama.

 

Correct, stay under the warning on the tire itself. (for some Prius tires this is as low as 44 PSI, or as high as 51 PSI)

Higher pressures usually mean better mileage but worse ride.

 

We're headed from Vegas to Vancouver, round trip, in July. Can't wait. However, the car load will not be light with the hockey gear in the back.

 

Does this means that if my tires say 44psi max I can have it at 44psi considering that I am at or below the indicated load on the side wall of the tire?

 

This is very true. I'm in the middle of my first long trip: near Kansas City, MO to Richmond, KY. Stopped once for gas, but I needed to stop two more times. If you are in a hurry and doing Interstates and not blue highways, you get to see how well-appointed the rest stops are.

Caculated MPG for 580 miles: 49.5 doing 70 on the interstate running AC. The car still has less than 2000 miles.

 

On the Gen II Prius there is a 2 PSI offset front to back. As I left room for error, (I know me) I run 42 PSI in front and 40 PSI in back.

I am not up to speed on a 2010 enough to know if there is different PSI front to back on it. If so, try to preserve the ratio.

Gen II tire wear looked just like the 'under inflated' examples in Driver's Ed. 40 years ago.
Art's Automotive wants to maintain and repair your hybrid!
(near the end of the Prius Second Generation)