72 Hour Uber Driver Challenge – Winner Gets the Tips
Two Teslas. Two strategies. 72 hours.
That was the setup when I challenged my friend Zeke to see who could make the most money driving Uber over one weekend, from 4 a.m. From Friday to 4 a.m. on Monday, we pushed our Teslas (my 2023 Model Y vs. his 2023 Model 3) to the limit.
But this wasn’t just about revenue. We competed across three categories:
Total Revenue – who could bring in the most money?
Revenue Per Active Hour – efficiency counts, not just grind.
Total Tips – the ultimate tie-breaker. And to make it enjoyable, the winner gets the loser’s tips.
Day One – Settling In
Friday morning started like most Uber shifts: coffee, early airport runs, and plenty of optimism.
I stayed local in Ithaca at first, but soon grabbed a big ride from Cortland all the way up to Rochester. Solid fare, but it burned most of my day. That became the theme of my weekend, chasing long hauls.
Zeke, on the other hand, started in Syracuse but navigated back down to Ithaca, grinding short trips. By the end of Day One, he had the ride count. I had the miles.
Day Two – The Big Haul
Saturday was the turning point. I scored a reservation from Ithaca to New Haven, Connecticut. That’s nearly 250 miles, over $250 in revenue, and a $60 tip on top. A dream ride.
However, it came with a cost: my whole Saturday was gone in one fell swoop. Four rides total for the day.
Meanwhile, Zeke was stacking short trips, bonuses, and Lyft promotions. Volume vs efficiency. The race was heating up.
Day Three – The Push
By Sunday, fatigue was setting in. I ended up driving around Oneonta just to see what the market was like. Not much action there.
Zeke kept grinding Ithaca and Syracuse. He also finished out his Lyft and Uber bonuses, a significant edge I didn’t capitalize on.
At one point, I thought I was out of it. I even went home, ready to call it a day. But the competition pulled me back. Late Sunday night, I turned the app back on and Uber rewarded me with a three-hour ride to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Biggest tip of the weekend.
The Results
At the end of 72 hours, here’s how it looked:
Levi (Model Y): 34 rides, ~1,600 miles, $270 tips
Zeke (Model 3): 128 rides, ~778 miles, $88 tips
In total revenue, Zeke edged me out thanks to bonuses. But tips? I crushed him. The tie-breaker came down to earnings per active hour.
The final reveal was tense, digit by digit. In the end, I beat Zeke by $ 3 per active hour, helping me earn his $88 in tips!
Lessons Learned
Strategy matters. Long rides can be great, but volume and bonuses often win.
Location matters. Zeke lived in Ithaca (ride hub). I lived out in Cazenovia (ride desert). Huge difference.
Tips matter. More than half of my riders tipped, compared to about 25% for Zeke. Passenger experience counts.
Miles kill profit. I drove nearly twice the miles for less money.
Final Thoughts
The 72-hour Uber Driver Challenge wasn’t just about numbers; it was about proving how different strategies play out in real life.
Would I do it again? Absolutely. But next time, maybe I’ll rethink the long-haul strategy. Or maybe… raise the stakes even higher.
Until then: drive smart, know your numbers, and don’t forget, miles and tips can make or break your weekend.
