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?

There is a back story, just you wait......

[quote JingsMahBucket]@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.[/quote]
Yeah I realise that, but I still don't get why? Two hours there, time there & 2 hours back is easy enough, without needing to share the driving.

We do this all the time. Up to 3-4 hrs for a day trip.

I don't think that is too far.

No I don't think it's too far. Anything up to 2.5 hours is ok. Unless you have to consider small children.

where's op ? part of me thinks op doesn't want to go, if so she should tell dh and if she wants to why the concern over driving time? unless she is expected to drive and doesn't like it or dh is a shit driver and she's nervous.

Oh yeah, I'd say that's absolutely fine. I drop my niece and nephew home on a two hour trip (so a 4-hour round trip). It's certainly fine with a break in the middle. I wouldn't think twice about it.

I suppose it depends how much you want to see them, it’s all relative. I would drive for as long as needed to see one brother, but wouldn’t drive two minutes to see my sister.

We do this to visit family - it’s tiring but what we need to do sometimes

I'd say it fine if not doing all the time.

We travelled further than that to go to the Harry Potter studio tour, and I travel 2 hours each way to see my sister in the school holidays.

I think this would be fine ,Just start out early and have a break for coffee/cake on the way up .We used to do 3.5/4 hours sometimes when DD was at Uni!

That's not too far! Probably just on the edge, but definitely do-able. Road trips can be fun anyway so I'd just try to make the most of it - think of some fun games for the journey (obviously word games so the driver can play too) and some snacks and you'll probably enjoy it :)

It's a long way but as a one off in these times doable. Or could you find a cheap premier inn, they keep sending me £29 deals, take your own food maybe.

Done that distance loads of times. No issue.

We did an 8 hour round trip to visit my mum in her care home garden last month. Maximum visit time allowed 30 minutes! We did have something to eat in a pub garden and then turned round and drove home. Luckily DH loves driving.

My mum on the other hand, visited relatives in Australia 10 years ago and they did a 200 mile round trip just to have some fish & chips. Apparently, that's not unusual in Australia.

It's relative to how long you can comfortably drive and if you think the reason is worth it.

Definitely doable as an occasional thing. Who knows when you might get the chance again?

I drove 3.5 hours every day for a month when my DH was in hospital a few years ago.

DH family live 4 hours away, we try to find somewhere in the middle. Will get harder over winter when the weather means we won't want to spend as long outdoors, but over the summer we'd often spend 6 or so hours together with a picnic, walk etc so seemed worthwhile.

We have portable DVD players for the kids in the car which we use on the return journey to keep them awake.

We could not have done it when dd was little because she screamed every time she was in the car. Now that she is older, we could do it just fine.

You could always turn it into an overnight and stay in a hotel for a night.

Yes, you should do it. We are living in unusual times.

There must be a massive backstory to this, like the OP has some disability where she can't sit down for long periods, or they have to fit 4 teenage children and 2 adults into a 5 seater car, or they don't actually own a motorised car at all and have to pedal like the Flintstones, or PIL are completely toxic and OP wants to go no contact but would rather be passive-aggressive about it than tell her husband ... or something! Either that or she's my ex-neighbour who saw anything over 5 miles as a bit of a long trek for a special occasion only. Because surely nothing but an enormous drip feed is going to justify thinking under 3 hours each way is too far.

We live in the arse end of nowhere, so that's fairly standard for us.

It's fine, just plan ahead for toilet stops, take loads of snacks and drinks, toys or tablet depending on age of your kids.

Neither reasonable nor unreasonable. Just whether you want/can afford to. I probably would.

If DH is happy to do the driving and you expect any children to behave then go.

If DH wants to voluntell you to drive then he's a CF, and if you know your children are likely to act up then YANBU to not want to go.

It's his family, DH could always go by himself.

I'd say it fine if not doing all the time

Sometimes you have to whatever the reason in these unusual times~ my son's doing a 250 mile round trip every day this week from his Tier 1 to Tier 2 to cover for another chef off sick [not covid] , leaving before 5am to get there to start at 8am. No choice as the Company's trying to keep above water.

I would grab the chance to see them whilst you are all still free to do so.

I wish my family were accessible with a 2 hour drive, haven’t seen them for nearly a year and our planned trip to see them at half-term is now looking illegal :(