Last year was the first year we finally got around to putting up a snow fence. Our driveway runs north/south and the west winds blow the snow over the drive and usually close it at least a couple of times a year. Not so last year! DH set the fence up about 12 feet to the west of the driveway. I thought it looked a bit odd out that far, but as it turns out it worked perfectly. Snow will still drift a bit, but with the fence set out that distance from the drive, it did the job. Stakes were put in at about 5 feet from each other. He did regret not making the fence "tighter" as it did start to sag on the north end a bit. Those winds can really be something out in the middle of bare fields. Hope this helps.