To think this is too far to travel for a day trip?

[Blackcat1989]

Due to Covid DH’s family who live 4-5 hours away want to meet up but we’re trying to arrange to meet in the middle somewhere. They’ve found a national trust place that’s 2 hours 20 mins away. DH thinks that’s reasonable for a day and obviously we’d be returning the same distance later on. So over 4 hours of driving altogether.
I’m not sure what the alternative is at present except to not see them, but it feels like a lot of driving for one day. Thoughts?

Where i am from that is not too far, we have done 4 hours each way for a day trip BUT regardless it is a personal thing so I dont see it as a right or wrong thing but I would not say no just to get out of it

YABU. I drove 4.5 hours on Friday evening to see a couple of friends, I stayed 2 hours!

Do you have small children who you'd be taking?

That driving wouldn't bother us for a day trip now ds is 4. I wouldn't have done it with a baby though.

I would, and have done that for a day trip. I bet that's some people's commute every day. If I really wanted to see them, I would do it 😁

Well - it’s halfway for both families, and as you say, what is the alternative? You could travel to them and stay in a hotel, they could travel to you and stay in a hotel, or you could stay in a hotel near the NT place.

Otherwise it’s go or don’t go, that’s all.

(I’d go.)

It's ok if you can split the driving.

The only way I can see family is by driving 2.5hrs. Now I can't even officially go inside my parents house...

It's worth it. Tiring, but worth it.

YABU. Family is exceptionally important right now and you can’t keep him from them because “it’s a bit of a long drive”

I did 2 hours fairly regularly with young children to meet up with good friends

It's really not that far!

It's fine.

I regularly do this kind of day trip. Easier when it's easy roads and motorway admittedly. For my family these half way meetings have hugely lifted our spirits and much better than FaceTime. I'd say do it!

Seems quite far for a day trip to me unless you really want to see them

In normal times that might be a bit far for a day trip but based upon the circumstances and the limited options available it seems to be worth making the extra effort.

As a previous poster said, for some people that's their normal daily commute. You'll only need to do it as a one off or occasional trip. You could break it up by stopping off for food somewhere on the way home.

As long as DH deals with the children and the driving, what's not to like?

I used to have to do all the driving too both ways... usually DH was at home and when we arrived tired at the end of a busy day he took over putting the DC to bed etc

We do that regularly. It’s not ideal, but it’s fine.

Seems fine if it's an occasional thing, which it sounds like

Wouldn't want to do it daily

Does your DH not drive?

That is nothing.

That's nothing fora day trip

We have friends that live 2.5 hours away. Once a month they come to us for the day or we go to them. We spend as much time driving as being together but we do it because we want to see each other. It sounds like you don't want to go.

Reverse the situation and think how would you feel if DH didn't want to based on 2.5 hour drive.

You don't supply info about kids etc, but if they're not very young, its easy enough to keep them somewhat entertained or they just snooze.

That's nothing to me, often drive further than that for a day trip. YABU.

Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't think twice at driving 2.5 hrs to meet someone for lunch.
These days, as I'm in a high risk area, I'd consider the benefit v risk (as I'm doing with almost all aspects of our lives) and perhaps would wait if I felt it irresponsible.

"As long as DH deals with the children and the driving, what's not to like?"

Why would he have to do that? Selfish way to think