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