I used to make a 7 hour drive from N. VA to Hatteras 2-3 times a month. Set up camp, fish, surf, sleep, fish, surf, break down camp, drive home. After a couple years doing that in a jeep with girlfriend (now the wife), 2 dogs and all the surf and fish gear - it got a little tiresome. Then one time on our way back home as we we're driving thru Chesapeake I said, "If we lived here, we'd be home now." Next thing you know, we packed the house and moved.
But now that I live 20 minutes from the hot spots down here, I only do 'quickies' - 2-3 hours here for a blues run at Lynnhaven or LIP, schoolies at Chix, etc. Now that the OBX is heating up, I will hit Pea Island to Hatteras 1x-2x/month and those are typically 8-10 hour days.