How much driving would you do for a day out/activity?

[MarvellousMrsMaisel]

I am generally happy to travel for an hour - DC similar. Means a fairly small radius for days out. DC2 has a school outing that will be 2 1/2 hours each way - and that is if traffic is ok, likely longer. Seems way too much to me but I guess we probably miss out on some places.

Depends on the place really. Would travel further for a theme park or beach etc, than a walk in the countryside for example.

For a day out, up to 3 hours drive away, more than that I would take the train or stay over.

A day trip would be up to about 2 hours. You can leave at 8 be there for 10. Then leave at about 5 and be home in time for tea.

Up to 2 hrs?

But we live in a not well-connected rural county, and I grew up here too. It was normal, my parents loved a day out.

When we lived in London there was no need to drive, but if we did would still say over an hour e.g. to the coast.

Hmm, an hour max really. Kids are 5 and 8

That's a long way for a day trip imo.

Day trip up to 3 hours or so

2 hours max, and it would have to be good.

In a car, probably 1.5 hours, maybe 2.

Probably about 1 1/2 hours.

If over that, we usually end up getting a Premier Inn the night before. But we have done 2 hours or so for the day.

School did a trip which was probably just under 90 mins. They had a few hours at the place but seems a long way to go (back for 3ish).

2 1/2 hours is a fair way - but I guess it's a longer day than normal?

2 or 3 hrs. But we're used to doing long distance with our nearest shop 45 mins away

For my two favourite events each year I get up at 5am, drive 4 hours, spend all day there, leave at 8pm and drive back.

60-90mins at the most. We don't do it often though.

Depends how old DC is!

I remember going to theme parks as days out in secondary school and that would have been about a 3 hour journey each way. Absolutely fine on a special occasion, age 13+.
On a standard weekend I would only really want about 1-1.5 hours maximum each way.

I'd say up to an hour is fine, maybe a bit over. Kids are 8 and 10 and 10yo has ASD and gets anxious on big days out / long journeys.
Obviously for something special I'd go further.

I think school trips are different though and could be longer.

If I'm driving:
For an activity (for a few hours) up to an hour away. For a full day out, probably up to 3 hours max but it would have to be something seriously good/special event to make me willing to spend 6 hours on the road for the round trip. 2 hours for a less special but still good day out.

It's different if you're not driving, though. I'll go further if I'm on a bus or train, as I can relax on the journey and even snooze a bit on the way home if tired.

I'm with you an hour is my limit. School did a 2.5 hour trip as well left at 9.15. They had about an hour and a half at the venue which seemed a bit short considering the travel.

Primary school used to take kids to France for the day (we are around 2.5 hours from Dover!). That was for year 5 kids when my eldest DD started in reception, they’d stopped it by the time she got to year 5 after a few years of delays on the crossing. A very early start and late finish from what I heard from the older parents.

Otherwise, they have had trips of 2 hours each way into central London and 2.5 hours to the seaside.

DD at 11 went to Spain on a 26 hour coach trip in year 7!

Up to 30 minutes for activity. Up to an hour for day trip or match or competition or holiday. I'm not one for travelling.

2.5 hrs is the maximum. We’d miss out in the lovely beach we’ve discovered and amazing pine forests for cycling if we didn’t go that far. My family also live that far so I got used to doing that length.

From where I live near Bristol an hour and a half travel by car would geot me to Exeter, Cardiff, Birmingham or West London. So that's about as far as I would travel . Maybe a little longer to get to an exact location within one of those cities.

If it’s a school trip then I would just think it’s their problem and I’m sure they’ve consider loo stops, possibly would ask about snacks though.

Do you have any concerns in particular like if they have something they need to get back for or travel sickness etc?

I'm not worried about it I'm just surprised they do it. My eldest did the same trip and said they barely had any time at the venue and the journey back took 3 1/2 hours. He was utterly fed up. Similar experience with a central London trip. (If we are doing London we take the train and we usually stay in a premier inn too.)

@MarvellousMrsMaisel

I am generally happy to travel for an hour - DC similar. Means a fairly small radius for days out. DC2 has a school outing that will be 2 1/2 hours each way - and that is if traffic is ok, likely longer. Seems way too much to me but I guess we probably miss out on some places.

I think that much depends on where you live.

We live rurally, so I wouldn't blink twice at a 2 to 3 hours radius. But I would assess whether an overnight would be preferable based on likely traffic.

As a teacher we did similar length trips, but they would be longer days to have sufficient time there.