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?

Ah, right, you've introduced babies into the mix. No, I wouldn't do that. What a shame you didn't mention that in your OP.

@RiverTam it's irrelevant though. Im the one with the baby and I'm happy to do it. My friend is the one who isn't happy to drive and she would be coming alone.

Yeah I would do it twice a year. But I would expect said friend or family member to come to me in between my visits IYSWIM.

We used to drive 10-hour 'round trips' 3 or 4 times a year to take and fetch our older DC to and from uni! So a 2 hour trip twice a year isn't that bad to me!

I think it depends on your preference, 4 hours (round trip) would be quite tiring for me. I’d rather stay overnight and split the journey up, or get the train so I don’t have to concentrate. It also depends on the type of drive too, I’d be more likely up for it if it was quite a smooth journey - but if it involved difficult motorways susceptible to traffic or those hideous huge motorway roundabouts i wouldn’t be too keen.

I sometimes drive 4 hours each way in a day to see old friends. Tiring but do-able

Sorry, I misread one of your posts.

Depends on the car - a bag of shit ‘super’mini that’s nearly 15 years old and wheezes along isn’t pleasurable to drive further than 1 hour. Actually it just isn’t pleasurable to drive full stop

Arent babies in infant carseats only supposed to be in them for 30 mins at a time? Thats a lot of restbreaks on a 2h drive.

Not far at all! I would definitely do that for a friend

My friend simply thinks our of principle that 2 hours is too far to drive each way and that I should visit her and stay over as she lives in a city with hotels and I am rural (very rural) with no spare bedrooms and a DH who works silly hours.

She's happy for you to do the drive (and presumably pay for a hotel) but not happy to do it herself. So she's just lazy and doesn't value your friendship enough to put herself out.

@TulipsInbloom1 only under 4 weeks. Guidelines say 2 hours.

If youve had a long day then youre not going to be as alert driving home than when you started the journey out fresh though surely? Would a train for her be quicker or possible? Then youd both be happy.

Some people just dont feel comfortable/confident driving for that length of time.

I already do this upto 6 times a year to visit a friend as he doesn't drive. I enjoy driving anyway, but I do stay overnight, so it's not like I'm driving 2 hrs there and then driving back again a few hours later.

So, imo, YANBU.

Kids in tow- no
Without kids- if you would be there longer than the total travelling time

I would do that. That’s the max I would do for a return in the same day.
Our nearest decent beach is that far, family members live that far so it’s a length I’m used to.

Yes, if it's only a couple of times a year.

If it's two hours in ideal conditions, but usually more like 2.5/3 with traffic, I would stay over. But it still wouldn't stop me seeing a good friend.

Just seen that you'd have roughly 8 hours between the 2 car journeys, that I'd do as well, especially for a good friend.

We drive from Liverpool to Llandudno/North Wales for days out, during Summer. It used to be with children.

I've done a day out in Blackpool to.

She's being very Selfish.

Due to a health issue I would find driving 4 hours in a day too much, I would do the trip if I could stay over and rest in a decent bed in a pleasant hotel overnight. Then drive back next day.

I could do it by train no bother if I could get up and move about a bit to prevent my pain getting too bad.

I would have never contemplated it with DS at a few months old though - he was a pretty demanding baby and wouldn't have liked being in a car seat that long at all. Cue screaming for probably most of the way 😱

We regularly drive that with our 4dc (one of them a baby) for days out.

If she doesn't want to drive it could she use public transport and you drive?

It would depend on who the friend is tbh. I wouldn’t mind for a close friend who I know I would enjoy the company of. Not a problem. Someone who I’m not all that close with? Nah. That’s a four hour round trip so it’s potentially not going to be much of a day is it and then if it’s a bit shit or awkward on top? Nope.

Why doesn’t one of you drive (or train?) the whole way and then stay overnight or even two nights. Much nicer than both of you spending 4 hours of one day in a car.

For me, that's not far at all! But then, I used to regularly drive between North Yorkshire where my parents lived and where I lived near London. Now, years later, DH and I have to travel from Leeds to Worcestershire to see my MIL and my BIL and SIL and family, and to the south coast to visit my DSis and DBil and their family.

So to me, two hours each way is nothing at all, IMO YADNBU!

Oh and yes to the pp who called us "wet" - the concentration and focus required for driving particularly if you have any health issues is totally different than taking public transport !! Someone else is driving you! You can nap or read or play bloody candy crush if you want - don't think any of those would be a good idea on the motorway