a usual day on the trail started very early, just before dawn. nobody actually rode in the wagons unless they were sick or very young. the ride was too bumpy, too dusty, and added too much work for the oxen. instead, people walked beside their wagons. usually, groups traveled almost all day, except for an hour around noon for lunch. then they kept moving until just before sunset, when they would stop to set up a campsite. most groups traveled about 15 miles per day, though on the best days they could move 20 miles a day. since oxen moved at about 2 miles per hour, this meant a day's travel could last up to ten hours.