Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

What is the furthest you would travel in a day?

77 replies

PeanutPies · 07/04/2025 20:25

It could be my travel anxiety speaking but we need to go to Manchester tomorrow, driving from St Albans. We need to travel back as have other plans for the day after- for some reason I feel this is too far and not sensible to drive back the same day. Is it my anxiety speaking?

OP posts:
FlyHighWithTheRightAngles · 07/04/2025 23:14

I do an 8 hour round trip quite often, but what others do doesn’t matter. You need to feel ok with it and be safe.

WhatWouldTheDoctorDo · 07/04/2025 23:19

If there’s two of you to share the driving, that’s absolutely fine. We have done 8 hour one way journeys several times, it’s long and it’s boring, but splitting it into a return journey is fine.

take some snacks, put together a playlist, it’ll be fine!

LadyLolaRuben · 07/04/2025 23:20

I've driven from the northwest to Brighton one day and returned the next. So return journey in 24 hours. Was fine

monktasmic · 07/04/2025 23:28

We often drive to visit family near Southampton from Manchester and if needed could drive back the same day (DH did it when I was pregnant a few times when his DF had cancer and he wanted to attend appointments).
we drove to past Inverness recently. It’s was 7.5 hours without breaks- was fine but we were in a massive Merc 4WD (not ours, a courtesy car) which was really lovely to drive. I think in a small car / bad weather I wouldn’t want to drive long distances though.

Springee · 08/04/2025 00:06

As a train journey it wouldn't bother me, but I see driving is different.

Itsdewaltday · 08/04/2025 00:25

13 hrs was my longest drive, but that's because of roadworks around Antwerp (now has the nn fucking twerp!). But drive to Germany in a day once a year. Usually takes us 10 hrs including ferry.

Pandimoanymum · 08/04/2025 00:41

I drove from South Wales to Epsom and back in one day, which doesn't sound too bad, but traffic on M25 was awful and took me 4 hours each way. I was exhausted and wished I'd stayed overnight. I also did Cardiff to Newcastle in one day but I think that would be a bit much for me now.

SpringIsSpringing25 · 08/04/2025 00:49

MerryBeret · 07/04/2025 20:36

I'm not sure what my longest journey is, but I'm pretty sure that MrsTerryPratchett has gone all the way to Milan.

Ya think??

🤣🤣🤣

IainTorontoNSW · 08/04/2025 01:01

Buttonknot · 07/04/2025 20:28

So that's about a 3 hour drive each way? I'd do it, but it would be on the upper limit of what I think is acceptable.

In Australia that would be regarded as a very short day trip.

On next Friday 11th, we are leaving at noon after three hours at work for the Queensland Gold Coast. My home is near Wyong, NSW and my grandson has to be back in Coomera, Queensland. Put those two places into a map program. Road time will be about 9.5 hours with three stops for fuel, toilets and food, say 20min, 40min and 20min. (20 min stops will not require fuel) ... so we should land at his place around 11pm.

The 860km includes 110km/h speed zones on dual or triple carriageway for 90% of the trip. It's a nice run (in Australian terms).

I have a doctor's appointment back here 11am Monday and I work three hours Monday afternoon 3:15-6:30pm so I will wake up Sunday morning at his house and drive from 5am/6am through the day. When driving alone, I do 90-120 minutes at a time. I'll be back by dusk Sunday evening to sleep in my own bed..

IainTorontoNSW · 08/04/2025 01:03

@PeanutPies

Six hours drive is "a bit light on" for Australians. You should find a more detailed post from me about my 1700+km trip near this post ... just one or two places above.

CanelliniBeans · 08/04/2025 01:10

I’ve done Kent to Northumberland and back in a day. Several times. I don’t advise it but at the time it was essential.

MrsTerryPratchett · 08/04/2025 01:12

MerryBeret · 07/04/2025 20:36

I'm not sure what my longest journey is, but I'm pretty sure that MrsTerryPratchett has gone all the way to Milan.

London. I did tell you that 4 times <sigh> Grin

And then MNHQ locked me out for posting too much. Umm, yes because the site is crap.

mathanxiety · 08/04/2025 01:44

I've driven 7 hours outbound, packed a car with all of a DC's university stuff, and driven back. 14 hours driving, one hour schlepping/ packing the car.

Left at 6am, arrived home at 9pmish.

I'd say that's about the limit for a day

mathanxiety · 08/04/2025 01:46

I've also driven 14 hours outbound and then returned two days later (another university related trip).

PersonalBest · 08/04/2025 03:56

Buttonknot · 07/04/2025 20:28

So that's about a 3 hour drive each way? I'd do it, but it would be on the upper limit of what I think is acceptable.

I do this for funerals (Irish. So attend lots of funerals) but wouldn't like more than circa 3 hours each way. I find it very doable but I don't mind driving.

garlictwist · 08/04/2025 04:45

If I was coming back the same day 90 mins would prob be the furthest or maybe 2 hrs on the train. If I was staying a night or more then five hours perhaps?

MikeRafone · 08/04/2025 04:46

700 miles is my limit

RawBloomers · 08/04/2025 04:58

I think that’s doable but a bit tiring. Would want to plan to miss crunch times.

I’ve driven 12 hours in a day before. Wouldn’t want to do that again if I had a choice.

MooseBeTimeForSnow · 08/04/2025 05:25

I regularly travel 520 miles to my home in the mountains. Takes roughly 7.5 to 8 hours. Vancouver is easily 16 hours and I know some who will do it in one day.

People here drive for 4.5 hours just to visit the nearest Costco and IKEA!

oakl79 · 08/04/2025 05:25

I used to regularly do wales to Kent/devon/manchester/liverpool/london etc, work all day and drive home again. Now perimenopausal and 1 1/2 hours or more I book a hotel as my anxiety is too bad (also developed anxiety around bloody motorways ffs 🙄).

Radiatorvalves · 08/04/2025 09:13

IainTorontoNSW · 08/04/2025 01:01

In Australia that would be regarded as a very short day trip.

On next Friday 11th, we are leaving at noon after three hours at work for the Queensland Gold Coast. My home is near Wyong, NSW and my grandson has to be back in Coomera, Queensland. Put those two places into a map program. Road time will be about 9.5 hours with three stops for fuel, toilets and food, say 20min, 40min and 20min. (20 min stops will not require fuel) ... so we should land at his place around 11pm.

The 860km includes 110km/h speed zones on dual or triple carriageway for 90% of the trip. It's a nice run (in Australian terms).

I have a doctor's appointment back here 11am Monday and I work three hours Monday afternoon 3:15-6:30pm so I will wake up Sunday morning at his house and drive from 5am/6am through the day. When driving alone, I do 90-120 minutes at a time. I'll be back by dusk Sunday evening to sleep in my own bed..

Show quote history

That’s like London to south of France (or Milan which keeps being mentioned!). Australia’s distances take some getting used to.

isthismylifenow · 08/04/2025 09:20

I also live in a very vast country so this is a trip we would do without a second thought, but it doesn't matter what other people do OP.

What do you feel comfortable doing?

Perhaps you could stay over and then leave really early the next morning so that you are back in time for the next event?

SlipperyLizard · 08/04/2025 09:23

I did a similar trip to meet my sister’s new baby, it was fine but in your shoes either the Manchester trip or the next day activity would need to be very important to me to make it worth doing - otherwise I would cancel one or the other.

Seeline · 08/04/2025 09:26

If there's two of you driving, then I wouldn't even think about it.

It really depends on what you're used to though. Since my DCs hit late teens/early 20s I have become much more comfortable with longer solo drives for uni open days etc.
I regularly do solo Surrey to Bristol return trips in a day and Surrey to Norwich the same without even thinking about it now.

Xiaoxiong · 08/04/2025 09:31

It entirely depends on your personal comfort level. I can drive for hours on end without getting too tired. Longest car journey I've ever done in a day was 12 hours (northern NH to DC) and I probably could have kept going if needed. DH finds 4 hours from London to Cornwall absolutely exhausting.

On Saturday I'm doing a 300 mile round trip from London to Hereford, and DH is very concerned about it! I know it would wipe him out but honestly I'm looking forward to my audiobook, podcasts and music. Maybe a bit of radio 3 or 4 to break it up.