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?

I'd drive two hours each way no problem.

Depends in factors like- the weather, the type of roads yr driving on, what time of year, whether it'll be light or dark, children with you or not and yr own driving abilities and tolerance if driving for 2 hours back again. I wouldn't though.

I don’t regard a two hours drive as too far at all.

Hours are the counting of time not distance. 2 hours is too long or X miles is too far.

(Pedantic arse misses the point of the thread )

I don't like driving but I'd travel for that long on a train and back same day to see a friend.

My commute often takes 2 hours thus to see a friend yes definitely

No, I happily do that for a few hours meet up. I commute much longer than that every week day anyway!

And yes, I have young dc. They come too.

We've a friend who lives in Jersey. She says some people think 20mins is too far there, so all things are relative.

I´d do it, no problem. In fact, now I come to think of it, I have a few friends living about 2 hours away that I visit regularly.

I would happily do 2 hours each way a few times a year to see a good friend.

To me, just going by myself, it's not far but it's too far to do on impulse. It's going to block out the best part of a day, assuming the time spent there is enough to be worth the trip. (It's also far enough that I'll be thinking about affording the fuel).

For a good friend this is probably my upper limit for a day

I'd do it and not consider it too far. In my experience, how long you commute for plays a role. I have commuted 2 hrs each way, each day for several years so would just think of it in those terms. People I know who have only ever had < 20mins commutes would think this was bonkers far to go for just a day.

My brother, SIL and 2 young children did it on christmas day for the day, slightly over 2 hours each way. We did invite them to stay over but they didn't.

For my immediate family or best friends I'd drive that for a cup of tea.

I've done commutes that far, but only for a temporary role.

But I've driven twice that to drop a near stranger off in the middle of the night to see their dying parent.

But then I like driving. I'd go out for 8 hour drives for fun before I had my children. Now I question a trip across town with them in the car.

Yes, every now and then 2 hours there and 2 hours back is fine, as long as the actual meet-up lasts long enough to make it worth it. I don't drive so it would be bus or train for me.

I hate doing 3 hours there and back in one day though, especially if it's by coach rather than train. I'd try to stay over in that case.

Friends travelled 3.5 - 4 hours here and back to see me. I'm very grateful because I wouldn't do it myself in the same day.

i wouldn't routinely do that no - and I don't mind driving. 1 hour journey (EW) is about my max for a day trip.
I do have friends who live further away and I see them a couple of times a year, but we take it in turns to see each and other tend to stay over.

I think I'd like to stay over, make a weekend of it

No, I wouldn’t do it. Two hours could easily become three if traffic is bad.

Too much for me. I imagine that the roads in Australia/US are not congested like here so it isn’t as bad.

A bit far

I used to think nothing of this. But with a baby in tow it's now too far.

the government consider a 90 minute commute twice a day completely reasonable 5 days a week so an extra 30 minutes 2-3 times a year is definitely ok
I would find driving 2 hours across london from east to west a lot more stressful than going from say durham to harrogate or from stourbridge to bradford on avon
leave at 9am arrive by 11 coffee do something lunch and head home about 4 in winter though would be happy to stay until 7 in summer
my limit for driving is about 2.5- 3 hours before a break my parents live 5.5 hours away I leave early about 7 to make sure through the city before 8 then stop about 10 for late breakfast and a bit of fresh air and then aim to get there about 2pm, I am happy driving that myself but would not want to come back the next day

My friend does a 6 hour round trip to see me!

We did North East to Kent and back in a day last year to see SIL, BIL and nephews. It was the only option in and around work. No bother, but I find driving a joy rather than a chore.