I Chased Uber Surges on New Year’s Eve—Then One Ride Stopped Meoc
New Year’s Eve is one of those nights every rideshare driver circles on the calendar. Big crowds. Big emotions. Big money... at least in theory.
This year, I decided to go all in. I created a plan, cleared my schedule, and committed to seeing how far I could push myself. By the morning, I had earned $613, spent 18 hours out of the house, and driven 323 miles.
But the biggest lesson of the night wasn’t about surge pricing, bonuses, or tips. The most important thing came from a single ride that never even happened, reminding me what truly matters in this work.
The Numbers (Because They Matter)
Let’s start with the data, because that’s usually why people click.
Total earned: $613.42
Time out of the house: 18 hours
Miles driven: 323
Uber
$545.55 total
$348 fares
$91 promos
$105 tips
$20 cash tip
$60.74 per active hour
Lyft
$47 total
$13.38 in tips
$62.70 per active hour
Costs
~$96 in expenses (at $0.30/mile)
Roughly $28/hour overall
It was a long night. Not a straight 18 hours of driving, I took breaks, charged the car, ate, even grabbed a short nap, but it was still one of the longest single-day pushes I’ve done.
5 Lessons From New Year’s Eve
1. Create a Plan
New Year’s Eve isn’t a “turn the app on and see what happens” night. If you want to do a hardcore shift, you need a plan:
How long will you drive
Where will you go
When you’ll rest
When will you stop
I planned for flexibility: extra clothes, backup locations, and enough time to chase opportunities if they came up. Even when the plan changes, having one keeps you from making tired, bad decisions.
2. Think Bigger Than Your Home Market
For short shifts, staying close to home makes sense. For long shifts? A bigger radius can pay off.
I drove more than an hour from home just to work that night. That’s not for everyone, but if you’re ready for a long haul, expanding your radius gives you more options and more leverage.
3. Hotspots Repeat
Surges aren’t random. On Uber, the biggest surge often anchors to the same location for hours, sometimes most of the day. The dollar amount may fluctuate, but the place usually doesn’t.
If you identify that gravity point early, you can work smarter instead of just driving blindly into traffic.
4. Have a Friend
This one surprised me. Driving in the same city (not a car) with a friend, even virtually, changes everything. My friend Zeke and I stayed in touch all night, sharing surge info, party locations, and timing.
When you’re on a ride, you can’t see the map. Having someone else watching helps you avoid bad accepts, hit surges more consistently, and honestly… makes the night fun instead of lonely.
5. Be Kind (The Ride of the Night)
This is the one that stuck. Right before midnight, I accepted a ride. The passenger came out with bags, clearly not heading to a party. We loaded everything into the trunk. Then she walked back inside.
As midnight approached, I got frustrated. Surges were popping. This was the moment. I was annoyed, impatient, and already mentally counting the money I wasn’t making.
Then she came back out.
She was crying.
She asked to unload her things. So we stood at the back of the car together as the clock hit midnight, me trying to say “Happy New Year,” her clearly dealing with something far bigger than the night itself.
The ride never happened. I made almost nothing from it.
But it stopped me cold.
What That Ride Taught Me
The apps turn everything into a game: surge zones, timers, streaks, bonuses. It’s easy to forget that real people are involved, both in the front seat and the back.
That moment reminded me:
Not everyone is celebrating.
Not every night is about maximizing dollars.
You don’t want to win the game and lose your humanity.
Could I have made more money that night? Probably.
Would it have been worth it? I’m not so sure.
2026 - Making Gig Work Fun Again!
That’s why, for 2026, I’m focusing on more than earnings or optimization. I’m after fun, community, and what really matters as a rideshare driver: remembering our shared humanity.
I’ve been running small challenges with friends: shortest ride, longest ride, biggest tip, most memorable story, and I’m opening those up to other drivers. Not to compete over who’s “better,” but to remind ourselves why we started doing this in the first place.
To keep the fun going, I’m opening up a $100 New Year’s Eve Challenge for drivers. There are four $25 Venmo prizes: shortest ride of the night (by time), longest ride of the night (by time), biggest in-app tip, and most memorable ride story. Trips must have taken place on Uber or Lyft between December 31 and January 1 at 4:00 a.m. To enter, email admin@tipyouintheapp.com with the subject line “NYE Challenge,” include a screenshot of the ride, and—if you’re submitting for the story category—a well-written paragraph describing the experience. Winners will be paid via Venmo only.
$100 New Year’s Eve Challenge Details
$25 – Shortest ride of the night (by time)
$25 – Longest ride of the night (by time)
$25 – Biggest tip (in-app only)
$25 – Most memorable ride story (well-written paragraph)
Rules & Submission
Trips must occur Dec 31 – Jan 1 (until 4:00 a.m.)
Uber or Lyft only
Screenshot required
Email submissions to admin@tipyouintheapp.com
Subject line: NYE Challenge
Venmo payouts only
Final Thought
New Year’s Eve didn’t just give me strong numbers; it gave me a vital reminder of what’s truly important.
Drive smart. Earn well.
But don’t forget: we’re humans first.
Often, the most meaningful moments are in the rides that never happen.
