How far would you drive to attend a coin show?

DoubleEagle59 · May 23, 2007 7:08AM

Assuming it is a very good coin show with plenty of dealers and lots of material, how far would you drive?

My limit is around 100 miles, or more like 2 hours tops.

ziggy29 · May 23, 2007 7:09AM

If I had a nice wad of cash to spend? Maybe 4-5 hours.

If I were just going to look and maybe buy a couple of small items? Probably not even 2 hours.

Newcomp103 · May 23, 2007 7:10AM

Charlotte was about 3 hours...that would probably be my max.

Fairlaneman · May 23, 2007 7:11AM

It takes a 400 mile round trip to just find one for me. The best show is a 500 mile round trip. One coin dealer within a 100 mile radius.

Ebay is great......

Ken

SilverEagles92 · May 23, 2007 7:11AM

<< Charlotte was about 3 hours...that would probably be my max. >>

Charlotte was about 3 hours for me too. Farthest I've driven for a show.

Geoman · May 23, 2007 7:12AM

I drive a little over 150 miles one-way twice a year from Duluth, MN to Minneapolis, MN. Probably won't drive any farther.

OKbustchaser · May 23, 2007 7:13AM

Drove 200+ each way this past weekend to attend TNA show. Much further would necessitate flying however.

itsnotjustme · May 23, 2007 7:19AM

How far is it between Norfolk and Atlanta? That is within my limit.

Last year I was back in the US for a course at Norfolk. The ANA show was in Atlanta, so I drove half way after class Friday, RON at Shaw AFB SC, made the rest of the drive Sat AM, spent a good 6 hours there picking up 5 coins, drive back to Shaw AFB SC (never checked out!), RON, then back to Norfolk. The fact I was away from my family and had little else to do outside class and PT made this more feasible. Also I had borrowed my sisters beater Toyota Camry with 160K miles already, so I didn't depreciate the car at all!

Fortunately I got some nice coins to make the trip worthwhile. Purchases were...

1838 Seated Half Dime MS64
1835 Bust Quarter XF40
1925 Lexington-Concord NGC AU58
1862 3CS MS63
185? Half Cent MS64BN

TomB · May 23, 2007 7:20AM

I've driven 1,200 miles each way several times.

Elcontador · May 23, 2007 7:29AM

Commuting around these parts is masochistic. If it's more than 45 minutes, I'm not interested. An exception would be if ANA was in San Diego, I would do that drive, which is close to 2 hours.

coinnut · May 23, 2007 7:30AM

For a small show (25 tables) I'd travel 3 hours round trip. I attend the Bay State Show in Massachusetts twice a year which is a 500 mile round trip.

itsnotjustme · May 23, 2007 7:32AM

OK, I looked it up. 1,000 km or 600 miles each way.

flaminio · May 23, 2007 7:34AM

Longest I've ever driven was to Sacramento; that's about two hours.

But the show was simply the destination -- the journey was the reward.

ziggy29 · May 23, 2007 7:36AM

<< Longest I've ever driven was to Sacramento; that's about two hours.

But the show was simply the destination -- the journey was the reward. >>

Yeah, that drive through Fairfield, Vacaville, Dixon and Davis is rewarding, isn't it?

ANACONDA · May 23, 2007 7:42AM

I drove from Dallas, Texas to Long Beach, California to go to a coin show. (I like to drive.) I also did 160 mph on that trip and averaged over 80 mph. I have video of both the mph and the average speed. Didn't get a ticket either.

BAJJERFAN · May 23, 2007 7:43AM

I shed many a tear drivin by Vacaville on I-80. For me anything worthwhile will be 600 miles or less, Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Kansas City, Omaha or Minneapolis.

flaminio · May 23, 2007 7:46AM

<< 

<< Longest I've ever driven was to Sacramento; that's about two hours.

But the show was simply the destination -- the journey was the reward. >>

Yeah, that drive through Fairfield, Vacaville, Dixon and Davis is rewarding, isn't it? >>

Depends on the company one is keeping

.

Cheddy · May 23, 2007 7:51AM

<< My limit is around 100 miles, or more like 2 hours tops. >>

curly · May 23, 2007 7:56AM

<< 

<< Longest I've ever driven was to Sacramento; that's about two hours.

But the show was simply the destination -- the journey was the reward. >>

Yeah, that drive through Fairfield, Vacaville, Dixon and Davis is rewarding, isn't it? >>

Don't knock it brother,.....one of old curly's fondest memories is a young G.I. curly on the 50 yd. line at a high school in Davis.

Rarity · May 23, 2007 7:57AM

If I have 10K in my pocket to spend, I would be willing to drive for 3-4 hours.

tightbudget · May 23, 2007 7:59AM

Depends on size of show

DorkGirl · May 23, 2007 8:02AM

It's 250 miles to Denver.

thecointrader · May 23, 2007 8:15AM

I drove from Sacramento to Salt Lake City for the ANA Money Show in 2001. Saw basketball center Karl Malone on the bourse floor, as well as some great coins (including a 1913 Liberty Five Cent Piece).

The drive between Reno and Salt lake, however, is about as beautiful as Shipwreck Effect Copper in an SGS slab.

DoubleEagle59 · May 23, 2007 8:17AM

There's a couple of shows that are a 4 hour one way drive to that I've been contemplating going to now for awhile.

The problem is...if I don't buy anything it's a llonnnggg drive home.

ScarsdaleCoin · May 23, 2007 8:19AM

HOW FAR

jobiwan115 · May 23, 2007 8:43AM

An hour, tops.

roadrunner · May 23, 2007 8:45AM

Driven to Baltimore many times over the years.
300 miles each way.

Another way to answer this is that I would drive at least as far
as Biddlesbank.

roadrunner

curly · May 23, 2007 9:03AM

I want to drive to the ANA show this August but I would have to go through Chicago from Springfield, Ohio. When's the best time to get through there?

Swampboy · May 23, 2007 9:11AM

Portland Spring '09. 3 hours.
I'll do 'er.

BAJJERFAN · May 23, 2007 9:14AM

<< I want to drive to the ANA show this August but I would have to go through Chicago from Springfield, Ohio. When's the best time to get through there? >>

Probly 2 am or 3 am might be your best bet.

LincolnCentMan · May 23, 2007 9:20AM

Three hours for a 150+ table one. Two hours for 70+ table one. One hour for a 40+ table one.

-David

Michigan · May 23, 2007 9:20AM

From Lansing, Mich. to St. Louis, Missouri in 1986 for the national silver dollar show and the 1st St. Louis paper money show - same downtownfacility but in two different wings. Not sure how many miles that was but it took quite a while to get there.

oxy8890 · May 23, 2007 9:25AM

<< 

<< Longest I've ever driven was to Sacramento; that's about two hours.

But the show was simply the destination -- the journey was the reward. >>

Yeah, that drive through Fairfield, Vacaville, Dixon and Davis is rewarding, isn't it? >>

The cities may be bad but the traffic is worse on that corridor now! But if Flaminio took the right person along for the ride that would make it a whole lot better.

Speaking of shows: Sacramento is the closest for me but I would not attend those shows if you paid me.

I will drive 100 miles to the Santa Clara show or 450 miles to the Long Beach show 2 to 3 times a year and think nothing of it!

123cents · May 23, 2007 9:26AM

<< Depends on size of show >>

Swampboy · May 23, 2007 9:30AM

<< Speaking of shows: Sacramento is the closest for me but I would not attend those shows if you paid me. >>

oxy8890,
WHy?
I have family there and was thinking of going one year.
-Gil

TONEDDOLLARS · May 23, 2007 9:37AM

Drove from Boston to Baltimore and back.

SanctionII · May 23, 2007 9:38AM

If I had the time off and was in vacation mode. I would drive across the country to attend a National Show (FUN, Baltimore). However, with kids, school and a law practice that demands my time, I barely have time to sleep at night, much less take a long vacation. Anyway, my wife probably would refuse to drive across country and would want to fly, but not alone. That means I would have to fly with her and that would defeat the purpose of a road trip (See the USA in my Chevrolet).

trozau · May 23, 2007 9:39AM

pretty far

DoubleEagle59 · May 23, 2007 9:40AM

<< Three hours for a 150+ table one. Two hours for 70+ table one. One hour for a 40+ table one. >>

I think LincolnCentMan may have come up with the right formula!!

Jcarney · May 23, 2007 9:41AM

Baltimore is about a 200 mile round trip. That's about my limit.

oxy8890 · May 23, 2007 9:44AM

<< 

<< Speaking of shows: Sacramento is the closest for me but I would not attend those shows if you paid me. >>

oxy8890,
WHy?
I have family there and was thinking of going one year.
-Gil >>

oxy8890 · May 23, 2007 10:09AM

<< 

<< Speaking of shows: Sacramento is the closest for me but I would not attend those shows if you paid me. >>

oxy8890,
WHy?
I have family there and was thinking of going one year.
-Gil >>

Gil,

Small shows usually around 40 tables (2-3 times a year). Very little inventory in my humble opinion compared to similar sized shows ( For example: I went to a show in the small town of Ogden UT last year and that show was much better than the 5 shows I attended in Sacramento in the last 2 years put together)!

Often the shows last 2 days in Sacramento but everyone has cleared out by the second day (I realize this is normal for most coin shows but in Sacramento they keep charging to get in and it's set up so you are unable to see who has cleared out until you have paid and you're inside)

In addition, there have been multiple operational issues that I have had with these shows as well. Therefore, I have stopped attending Sacramento shows at least for now.

If you are coming out here I would recommend making the trip on a Santa Clara show weekend. It would be about 110 miles from Sacramento but worth a 1 time trip. I have also heard that the Santa Rosa show is very good and that is about 100 miles from Sacramento but I have never attended this show.

One final note though, if you are coming out here and this is your first shot at the Sacramento show, I would say give it a try. Definitely go early on the first day (I believe you would waste your time and money if you do not).

Just because I don't care for the inventory and the operation doesn't mean it won't work for you. Besides it's just a one time thing for you and when you're from out of town, it's always fun to check out the local inventory.

MidLifeCrisis · May 23, 2007 10:13AM

<< If I had a nice wad of cash to spend? Maybe 4-5 hours.

If I were just going to look and maybe buy a couple of small items? Probably not even 2 hours. >>

Sounds about right...

WTCG · May 23, 2007 10:17AM

The farthest I will drive one way for one journey is about 250 miles. I will take an airplane flight for any destinations farther than that. That is the advantage of living close to three major airports. The farthest I will drive to attend a coin show is probably 150 miles for a good show and 60 miles or so for a mediocre one. 60 miles may sound like a lot of miles to some people, but on most weekdays I will drive 60 miles over the course of one day just for general errands.

As alluded to earlier, the drive from the Bay Area to Sacramento on I-80 isn't the most pleasant. The scenery is decent, but the traffic is horrendous about six days per week. I hate having to fight gridlock between Sacramento and Benecia on any given afternoon, whether it be on a weekday or weekend day.

messydesk · May 23, 2007 10:31AM

<< I want to drive to the ANA show this August but I would have to go through Chicago from Springfield, Ohio. When's the best time to get through there? >>

All vacations I've taken that involve driving south and east of here (i.e., going through Chicago) have had me leaving home at 6:30 on a weekend morning. You do not, however, need to go through Chicago to get to Milwaukee, but it'll take longer and cost more. You could drive to Muskegon, MI, and take the car ferry across Lake Michigan or you could take US 24 or I-74 to IL 47/WI 120 and I-43. Best bet is to try to get to the IL/IN state line around 11:00 AM on one of the ugliest stretches of Interstate highway in the country (I-80/294) and stay on I-294. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TAKE I-94 THROUGH CHICAGO THIS SUMMER OR YOU WILL MISS THE SHOW.

CoinKing · May 23, 2007 10:53AM

Does driving FROM a coin show count? Earlier this year I drove home from the Baltimore coin show...a 2,800 mile trip in three days...

Nic · May 23, 2007 10:57AM

Anything over 3 hours I'd fly.

. K

NumisOxide · May 23, 2007 11:12AM

Baltimore was about 6 hours for me from NY.(MY Dad drove) I just got my permit last month and when I get my license I'll be willing to drive really far for a worthy enough coin show(Like Baltimore).

Swampboy · May 23, 2007 11:19AM

Thanks oxy8890.

grip · May 23, 2007 11:43AM

I can take 6hrs with good company, otherwise 3 hrs I fly.

Al

BAJJERFAN · May 23, 2007 11:49AM

<< Does driving FROM a coin show count? Earlier this year I drove home from the Baltimore coin show...a 2,800 mile trip in three days... >>

Do you have a fear of flying Ron?

How far would you drive to attend a coin show?

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