To drive to the other end of the country on my own?

[QuestionableMouse]

There's a yearly event coming up in a couple of months that I've gone to for the past two years. It's ~300 miles away and I really want to go this year. The person I normally go with is pregnant and due about two weeks after said event so doesn't want to go this year.

I'm quite a nervous driver so the thought of doing this is pretty scary! AIBU to consider it?

Allow plenty of time

Ensure you have AA or RAC or Green flag car recovery

Car mobile phone charger & mobile phone

Paper map

Music or radio

sleeping bag

food and water (cheaper than service station)

If the motorway is shut you can use the A roads that run parallel

If you are not in a hurry you can break the journey down into small stages by stopping at service station or a place that you wish to visit
I have stopped at towns or seaside places for lunchtime, good way to explore new places in the daytime

Sometimes when I am going on long journeys 400+ miles I leave at 1 to 2 am. Generally much less traffic. But driving in the dark may not be ok for you

Sadly going nowhere near Gloucester- huge shame because I love a good bacon sarnie!

Canterbury is where I'm headed. :)

I do it a couple of times a year, but dh isn't keen for me to drive over 300 miles on my own in winter in case the weather is bad.

But it's ok for my kids to do this, but not me! It really bugs me. If you're a reasonably competent and experienced driver, I can't see any obvious problems. Use a good sat nav, but be aware of the basic way you want to get there.

Good luck.

I've done at least one 300+ mile trip for the last four or five years. I just normally have someone with me.

Looking at the route on Google Maps now and feeling sick/scared! :( I'm such a fucking wimp. :(

Break the journey down into bite size chunks. It isnt a 300 mile journey it is a series of 30 mile journeys.

Remember the saying of Laozi:

a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

Thanks. I think it's just one of those things where I'd have to bite the bullet and crack on.

Do it. I drove from Glasgow to Dorset (over 450 miles) on my own with a sickly baby one Christmas. Yes, I got lost once or twice and yes it was awful, not least because the car stank of sick (thanks to dd vomiting) but it was a huge achievement to do it.

We were meant to fly but baby got an ear infection which meant hiring a car and driving or spending Christmas with just my baby dd.

Go for it. It's my idea of heaven! Just make sure to stop for breaks (obvs!) and coffee if you feel tired. Don't have heavy sleep inducing food just before you go or during the journey.

Go for it! I'm a nervous driver. I don't even like driving to see friends in nearby cities although I do it and it's fine. I totally understand I'd think it's a big deal too.

Others have given great advice about planning and the journey. I can't add to it other than yes, have confidence you can do it! Good luck!

What's happening in Canterbury? - I live about 15 miles away from there!

Sleeping bag? Leave at 2am? What kind of nonsense is that?!!

This sort of post really annoys me. Can you imagine a man asking this? Just do it.

Go for it! Apart from actually getting there, doing it on your own will really boost your confidence. Just take note of the good advice on here, eg take a paper map, and write your route out with road numbers before you go. make sure anything you will need during the journey is in the front footwell, rather than the boot.

I did it a few months ago (444 miles Kent to Glasgow). I had my 6 and 4 year old in the car and the weather was unbelievably horrific. The rain was SO horrific that I couldn't see the car in front of me.

Things that helped;

• Sat nav (I think there is a google maps thing that talks like sat nav)
• Print route from AA route finder. I then wrote on a large post it the big junction changes so M25 - leave j12 for M3 etc. At a glance I could see in advance when I was going to have to exit. I had this stuck on the sun visor.
• personally I only did one stop once I was over the half way mark.

nibblingfingernails- Rallycross at Lydden Hill! :)

caravanista Quite frankly I don't care if this sort of post annoys you. How do you know I'm not male?

You dont pay to cross the dartford bridge as you go any more, you have to pay by the website before you go, or within 24 hours. Just as a point in passing.

Enjoy your rallycross.

I do this on a regular basis and have done for years. Take regular breaks and you'll be fine.
YWBU not to.

'Thanks. I think it's just one of those things where I'd have to bite the bullet and crack on.'

And because you are on your own, no-one will know if you stop every hour and buy yourself a treat for having got that far. Or will know if you take a wrong turn and have to retrace a few miles (My personal speciality at Olympic level)
The fear is worse thsn the actual event.

Just don't go round the M25 several times and you'll be fine.

Once around the M25 is enough!!

I knew about the Dartford Crossing but thank you. 😊

I do it a couple of times a year, but dh isn't keen for me to drive over 300 miles on my own in winter in case the weather is bad. But it's ok for my kids to do this, but not me!

Poor man, does he realise he is trapped in 1952?

You're lucky he lets you drive at all Jane.
Are your kids male or female?

I have one of each Armchair

I've decided I'm going to keep looking at the route. I'll soon get bored and get over my nerves I hope

My top tip I s to make sure you take a car charger for your phone. I regularly drive long distances but also have a weird fear of getting lost.

I keep a charger in my car so I know I will be able to have my sat nav on for the whole journey.