Planning

• Access what type of traffic your driveway will receive. If only passenger cars will use the road, you can make the width of the drive about 10 to 12 feet. If large trucks need accommodating, the driveway needs a width of about 20 feet. Don't forget about parking at the end of the drive. The average vehicle needs a space about 10 feet wide and 20 feet long. Incorporate a turn-around area into the design so that vehicles can avoid backing out into the main road.
  
  

Site

• Locate the drive on high ground to avoid low-lying areas that collect moisture. You want to lay out the driveway path so that the center of the drive remains higher than the edges because a higher center promotes good drainage. Getting your soil tested at the local county extension will ensure the ground on your proposed path will support the weight of vehicle traffic. See that the entrance from the main road has a clear line of site, and avoid sites for an entrance that lie within 30 feet of another driveway.
  
  

Soil and Gravel

• You might want to simply use the soil itself as the surfacing material for your driveway; however, if your have certain types of soil, this might not be possible. Clay soil can become slippery when it rains while sandy soil softens excessively when wet, advises Texas A&M University. Gravel makes a good surfacing option. Lay geotextile fabric along the drive path, and add layers of gravel to a depth of 10 to 12 inches. Verify that the bottom layer contains larger stones and that each succeeding layer uses progressively smaller pieces.
  
  

Paving

• Paving your driveway gives its an attractive, finished look and avoids some of the problems of soil and gravel surfaces, such as excessive potholes. If have designed your driveway well, paving it should present few major difficulties, although paving a long driveway is not a do-it-yourself project. Paving involves considerable expense, and you should investigate your local contractors thoroughly before signing any contracts.