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?

My daily commute is pretty much 2 hours each day, so no, for me it wouldn't be too much

I wouldn't blink at that. Leave after breakfast, have lunch and spend the afternoon there. Have dinner at a pub on the way back.

@hopefulhalf

My favourite expression here is " for the americans 200 years is a long time, for the brits 200 miles is a long way". It depends on ; How many drivers Age of children if any Comfort of vechicle State of the roads

DS was looking at trainers in a shop a few weeks back. The guy he was dealing with was Polish I think. He told DS that unfortunately the only store with these trainers was Gretna (we were in Manchester at the time). DS laughed and said 'no thanks'. The man said where he was from the drive from Manchester to Gretna was a trip to the Supermarket.

It did make me laugh and consider that really the UK isn't that big after all.

Totally doable, particularly in the circumstances

@shitinmyhandsandclap

My daily commute is pretty much 2 hours each day, so no, for me it wouldn't be too much

*Each way

DD is at uni 2.5 hours from us and we regularly drive up to take her and her housemates out for Sunday lunch. It's really not that far!

Pre Covid I did that to the office and back a few times a week. YABU

That’s a day trip. Doable.

It wouldn't bother me but if you don't want to do it could he not just go by himself?

Partly depends on the route, the weather, and sharing driving. I used to drive to Brum a lot and the m40 in the rain was very tiring. If I drive on smaller roads through Surrey, Sussex etc I find it much more enjoyable and less tiring, esp if the traffic is ok and it’s sunny!

Not too far at all. We booked my Dad a trip to Silverstone Stadium for one of those tours - we had two tickets so my partner went with him (more his thing). I went along to do the driving, took us 3.5 hours each way and all I did in between was sit in Costa waiting for it to finish. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. Meeting halfway in the middle is fair all round.

When I was at uni, I had to spend 2.5hrs each way on my commute, and it goes quicker than you think.

You're with your DH, you can listen to the radio (maybe even put a podcast on if there's something you're both interested in).

If it's really bothering you, can you not book into a hotel at the other end?That way you can stay the night, or even make a long weekend of it and stay two.

It's really not that far though, not as a one off.

I have driven further to go to a restaurant fir dinner. Your life must be a small world if you never leave your local area except on vacations.

"We used to do Liverpool to Wales for a day trip"

That's half an hour!

No it’s not too far but you seem to be putting obstacles in the way as I assume you don’t want to see DH’s family. Why do you need to go? Can you just send him and the kids without you?

@rorosemary

It's ok if you can split the driving.

Why on Earth would you need to split 2 hours driving?!

Not far at all. The coast is almost 2 hours from us so we drive that every time we visit the beach.

We've been doing a 3 hours each way day trip to see family. It's tiring but the only other option is not seeing them and that's not acceptable to me.

Before I came to live here I regularly used to do a glastonbury day trip 4 hours each way. I'd get up at 5.30 and drive without stopping until I got there. It was fine. If 2 people can do the driving even better.

I don’t think that’s too bad. London to Whitstable for a day by the sea is about two hours with traffic.

Not ideal but fine especially now - split the driving if you can.

@MJMG2015
Why on Earth would you need to split 2 hours driving?!

The PP likely meant one person drives there and the other person drives back.

Hell, don't ever move to MidWales - everywhere is at least two hours away.
My two young children and I do a four hour round trip twice a month with no problems.

It’s not ideal but not that bad as an exception

It's not that far @Blackcat1989

But be aware that all NT places have to be booked in advance for specific time slot (Assume you know this).
Their cafes may or may not be open (many along with EH sites are doing takeaway coffee etc only.)

How essential is it that you all meet NOW?

I have only seen my mum twice since March and one DC not at all because of high infection rates in their own areas and they are long distance.

Surely you can hold off for a while if you don't fancy the trip?