A driveway is a structure: base, drainage and compacted asphalt working together. Get those right and it's smooth black for twenty years.
Asphalt bids hide their differences underground: base depth, mix thickness after compaction, and drainage handling. Ours states each in writing - ask every bidder for the same numbers and watch the cheap quote get quiet. Thin asphalt on thin base looks identical on day one and alligator-cracks by year three; the difference was always in the spec.
New asphalt is drivable in days and fully cured over the first season - care instructions come with the invoice.
Compacted, not fluffed: commonly 2.5-3 inches over 6-8 inches of base for cars, more for RV pads. Your quote states yours - hold every bidder to writing.
Asphalt costs less, installs faster, flexes with freeze-thaw and repairs invisibly; concrete wins on hot-weather sheen. In freeze climates we're biased for good reason - we'll give you both sides straight.
Foot traffic next day, vehicles in 3-5 days depending on weather. Avoid sharp wheel-turns while parked for the first season - it's soft science, literally.