to think that 2 hours isn't that far?

[SkylarkMA]

An old friend thinks that 2 hours is a long way to drive to meet up for the day (it would be 2 hours back as well).

I don't think 2 hours is bad if it's only very occasionally and if this is a half way point between us.

Would you drive 2 hours to meet an old friend a couple of times a year? Or AIBU?

We do it reasonably frequently to see family. I prefer my own bed so we come home.

What’s the background to this?

Yes I would. I would prefer it to be daylight so for Winter would drive up for lunch then back after. In the Summer I would make more of a day of it and stay longer.

Its knackering as the only driver. But I rarely drive, so that adds to it.
I've driven nearly 4 hours, and run round after the kids for 4 hrs today. But it was lovely to see my friends.

Not far at all! After living in Europe and driving to another country to visit friends I can now drive up to about 4 hours to visit someone in the UK.Baffles me that some people think an hour is too far to visit people! With children I prefer to stop over and drive back the following day though.

Absolutely not a problem to see a friend! Takes an hour to go 10miles to work at rush hour and ut considerably less pleasurable lol

Depends. Pre kids - no problem. In my current fog like state being woken up every couple of hours than I absolutely wouldn't trust myself to be safe driving that much in a day. Is train an option?

I think 2 hours is ok if it is 2 hours. Where I live if somewhere is 2 hours away I have to allow extra time for what seems to be the daily accident on the motorway out of the county I live in then the inevitable slow traffic on the m25, then the same on the way back. That’s without factoring in the roadworks that are everywhere too. I am planning on meeting a friend in a few months time and am actually going to book an overnight stay in a hotel to make it more relaxing!

Its fine for a few times a year.

I drive a one hour round trip for a take away curry/Chinese here.

I'd do an hour and half happily. 2 hrs I'd do it, but moan a bit I think, especially with two young kids in the back. I find that the most exhausting. If no kids it's a lot easier.

Depends on the drive too! Round the M25? Eugh. Through the Welsh countryside, no problem!

It really depends on how you're getting there.

One of my close friends lives 3.5 hours from me in theory that's not too bad

In practice because I can't drive for medical reasons it's:

A costly cab to a mainline station
2.5 hours to London
A journey across London to a different mainline station
Another train to the home county they are in

So 2 hours of easy road - fine

2 hours of bollocking round with stoppage and delays, a ball ache.

I semi regularly visit a friend who is 4 hours away on a good day (5 on a bad!). Personally I am happy to put the effort in, he lives in a beautiful part of the country and circumstances mean he doesn't drive. A train would be a nightmare (actually 4 to get to me).

I wouldn't

I do this a lot... most of my dearest friends live more than 2 hours away so I'm used to it - it's no big deal and a pleasure to meet someone I care about. But then I enjoy driving and I think nothing of driving much longer distances.

I am a (relatively new) driver but I would definitely do it. It’s not that long but then I have to do 3-4 hours driving quite a few days a week anyway. And I like driving. That makes a difference.

There's 2 hours driving, 2 hours driving and 2 hours driving. Urban driving and congested motorways are harder going than free-flowing motorways. It could be well over 100 miles, or substantially less depending on road conditions.

I would consider it for a friend to share the distance. I mainly drive within 15 miles and 2 hours is something occasional a few times a year that I seldom exceed in a one way journey without a substantial break before the return leg.

I drive but don't like it so I'd try and get public transport

It’s not that far! Most people I know these days commute for an hour or more to get to work each day.

I used to commute that far for work on a pretty regular basis. (Site based and on top of a full day's work). Didn't enjoy it, but would do it for a friend. I would really want it to be an easy two hours though, and not one where I had to allow contingency time.

I also know that I only feel I can do that because I did it in my old job: I was forced to get good at long drives, even though I hated them. Now I don't hate them, so that's a plus, but I also recognise that other people may still find them difficult.

Not far at all. Worth it to meet a friend or relative.

I don't think it's that far. To do it every few months.

Too far in one day! If I could stay overnight and come back the next day that would be fine.

I do it several times a year to meet up with a much valued friend. Not far at all.

Definitely not too far, I drive further than that regularly to see friends.

I've done it, and will again. I find it hard going but if I want to do it and feel that is the only realistic option, well, I do.

Are they suggesting an alternative?

My DH commutes two hours each way Monday - Friday so I don't think that's too far a couple of times a year.