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AIBU?

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Original poster

Would you go somewhere just for a day out if it was a 2 hour drive away

101 replies

Shoutingonthesekidsshows · 14/02/2024 09:08

With a five year old?
Two hours driving time each way, lunch/dinner there, a boat trip and hour long open top bus trip. Is it easily doable or too much stress?
Expensive to book a hotel and pay for dogs to go in a kennel at the moment

OP posts:
notknowledgeable · 14/02/2024 09:19

Yes! and make the journey a fun part of the day

Yorkiepud2614 · 14/02/2024 09:23

If I wasn’t willing to travel 2 hours I wouldn’t get to see much, we go to Edinburgh for the day and that takes 3.5 hours and Skye which is just over 2 hours.

rookiemere · 14/02/2024 09:28

I'd get up early and stop for breakfast on the way. I've travelled 2 hours each way for a really nice outdoor spa and it was fine.

RootVegAndMash · 14/02/2024 09:32

Wouldn't blink at it tbh.

We've done far further, have done 4 hours ish many times in a day. Leave at 6am, back home by midnight, full day trip in the middle. Usually stopping for dinner on the way home somewhere, packed lunch for in there.

Original poster
Shoutingonthesekidsshows · 14/02/2024 09:33

But with kids?

OP posts:
MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 14/02/2024 09:35

The only way to find out is to do it! Set off early and have a lovely day.

Octavia64 · 14/02/2024 09:37

I've done three hours in my own with kids for a day trip. Wouldn't do it often.

Family are 2 hours drive away so day trips to meet up with cousins etc are frequent.

ElevenSeven · 14/02/2024 09:38

Yes, definitely

nighttimeforgenerals88 · 14/02/2024 09:39

We do this a lot with my 2 and 4yo DC. They're absolutely fine. We tend to leave around late nap-time (2:30/3pm ish) so they can sleep in the car on the way home)

Seeline · 14/02/2024 09:39

I wouldn't worry about the drive but I don't think either of mine would've appreciated a boat trip and open top bus at that age. They are too young to know what they are looking out for . We did it for things like a beach trip or national trust etc, where they would be active all day.

Original poster
Shoutingonthesekidsshows · 14/02/2024 09:41

@nighttimeforgenerals88 What time would you leave in the morning to get there though

OP posts:
Original poster
Shoutingonthesekidsshows · 14/02/2024 09:43

She loves buses so would love the open top element, but not for an hour, we may skip that.
She’s been on short boat trips before, so as long as that is quite brief, it would be fine.
Aside from that, it’s lunch and playgrounds 🤷🏻‍♀️

OP posts:
notknowledgeable · 14/02/2024 09:44

I dont think two hours is a lot, tbh - many of our day trips have been further

NerrSnerr · 14/02/2024 09:46

I'd personally do this, but it's probably not worth it if you're anxious about timings etc.

We'd probably leave about 8am and stay for tea there or maybe stop for food on the way home.

idontlikealdi · 14/02/2024 09:47

Yes, I wouldn't query it.

PuttingDownRoots · 14/02/2024 09:49

We did for the seaside. Leave at 7.30ish, bacon sandwich on arrival, picnic on the beach, boat rides, mini golf, arcades etc the fish and chips and drive home with zonked out kids.

loudbatperson · 14/02/2024 09:56

We used to do this all the time when the children were younger.

If you never do this stuff your child will not build up the tolerance for it.

Original poster
Shoutingonthesekidsshows · 14/02/2024 09:58

@loudbatperson True, but I just want a nice day, not a stressful one, regardless of building tolerance

OP posts:
RedPony1 · 14/02/2024 09:58

We were taken around on longer journeys than that in horse lorrys going to competitions, we very rarely stayed over unless it was a multiple day comp, and it was often 3/4am starts and 10pm home.
Lots of my friends do that now with their young children too.

Needmorelego · 14/02/2024 10:01

That was my childhood.
2 hours in a car for a day out is nothing.
I grew up in the middle of England so any seaside trip would be at least 2 hours.
We went all over the country to different seasides, steam train places, little theme parks, day out walking up a big hill, wildlife parks, anywhere really.......
The car journey is part of the day - listening to the radio and singing along. Playing eye spy. Stopping at a service station. All fun.

StripyHorse · 14/02/2024 10:03

Is the bus trip a hop on and hop off affair? Perhaps that would be more manageable to break up the trip with stops - and provide a way of getting around more quickly.

I was going to suggest playgrounds or parks to burn some energy but you have already factored that in.

Sounds do-able, especially if the next day isn't too full on for the little one.

Dis626 · 14/02/2024 10:04

Yes, I've done similar loads of times.

DoYouWantToStartACultWithMe · 14/02/2024 10:04

So let's say you leave by 9, arrive about 11am, run around, have lunch, do your planned activities, in the car by 5?

Six hours of a day out is plenty. I'd do it without really thinking about it tbh.

bingoringo4 · 14/02/2024 10:05

I've been doing this since mine were babies, why so anxious?

SpicyMargaritaPlease · 14/02/2024 10:06

Yes, definitely. We Live in the midlands so if we ever want a day at the seaside in summer, we have to drive for at least 2 hours.
We tend to make a longer day of it though and we'll leave straight after breakfast and take pyjamas to put the kids in for them to fall asleep on the way home, so we start the journey home just before their bedtime.