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

[Shoutingonthesekidsshows]

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

With that type of trip, we have left 7am, get breakfast en route. Leave for return leg 3pm. Gives you 6 hours approx at your destination.

When are you going, as if it's 2 hour, you'll be driving in the dark if you leave at that time now?

Yes we would and do regularly, as we're 2 hours from the coast. We've done this since DC were babies (just had flashbacks of whipping the portapotty out in many a layby! 🤣)

I had to read your post twice. Yes i would do it it with a 5 week old ( and have) Do you ever wonder how other people manage to visit family, go to the coast if they live inland, drive to hospital appointments ( check out Lerwick to Aberdeen) Your child is 5

Definitely, 2 hours is nothing. Have fun - life is short!

Yes I would and did with my DS - we live rurally and to get anywhere different it was a journey (and a half) we did all sorts and had great fun

I wouldn't personally. It doesn't sound worth the time in the car. I would imagine there are nearer places that would be as fun for a 5yo. We have done this length drive occasionally for a day trip but usually to either visit family or go to the coast, which we can't do nearer. Would leave around 8:30am and head home around 5.30/6ish.

We did that sort of drive a lot but I'd avoid coming home at 4.30. That would feel rushed to me.

If we did it, we'd leave straight after breakfast or get something en route, and eat an early dinner out before coming home, or on the way back. Pyjamas in the car for the drive back. Pixar movie or similar on the Ipad.

Otherwise I'd look into a Premier Inn which can be about £80, and maybe do less activities when there to make budget for it. We like free museums and walking around towns and parks.

My DHs parents live 2-2.5 hours (traffic depending) away in London and I detest when he says he will 'pop' there and come back in the same day
It's too tiring for everyone!

I did this when the DDs were 5/6, longish drive followed by a walk up and down a mountain. They slept soundly in the car on the way back and the minute we got home at about 7pm they woke up and one of them said “I feel like I’ve just woken up in the morning! What are we going to do next?”

So watch out 😁

I do.

I leave at 8am to go big places like theme parks that are open 10am.

But I stay u til 5/7pm when they shut and come home later.

I wouldn't leave at 10am, drive for 2 hours, have lunch, do a 1 hr activity, have a drink and drive home again.

If it's to go to a tourist city look at using trains.

Saves so much fuss over parking etc and adds to the adventure.

Yes. As a family we do things like this regularly as we don’t live in a big city where these attractions are right on our doorstep.

I don't think 2 hours journey is necessarily too long for a day trip, but all the activities when you get there sound too passive and too long for a five year old to sit still with no opportunities to let of steam

No. Go make memories! 2 hours is nothing!! I get praised all the time for the amount of places my kid has been to 'considering I don't drive' ....I'll take several trains, buses....walk...to get to somewhere for a day out. I've seen myself leave at 7am and not home until 10pm....sometimes I book a hotel if its a hassle but distance won't stop me.

Done it loads with kids from newborn to now.

Did Wales and back in a day (4 hours there and 4 back) never had an issue.

But then neither DH or I get stressed at "parking".

Also, we're both very used to long drives anyway.

I'd do it if the children are normally good in the car, not if they are prone to getting bored quickly/fighting/getting carsick.

It's not the drive that would put me off, it's what you're doing when you get there. That's a long way to go to wander around some shops, play in a park and go on a boat for an hour for a 5yo.

It just sounds a bit boring for her, really. There's a lot of sitting around to do nothing much.

Not sure if I missed where this was explained - Are the dogs going with you or what are your plans for them on your long day out? I’m assuming you won’t be leaving them alone at home for all that time?

Yes, my family live that distance away and never stayed overnight. Get everything ready the night before so you can leave early. Have breakfast in the car. Make sure your husband knows where he's going to park 🙄and set off home at 4 pm.

Definitely

I've done that many times for a day out when my kids were young. Yes, it's a long tiring day, but it's worth it for a nice day out.

May I ask, though, why you don't want to be driving home in the dark? Would that make the day feel too rushed if you're worrying about that?

Yes. I’d leave at 7am - lunch stop 2/3rds of the way there. Arrive 9:30 ish

Return - leave about 6pm, dinner half way home

Lunch at 8:30am? Did you mean breakfast?

Yes but it's important to get the timings right! You either need to leave yours really early to allow for a nap in the car on the way back or later to allow them to fall asleep in the car close to bedtime and then get carried in the house to bed.

Not without it's risks and it's a whole load of faff just for the day but I can't justify staying over unless we are making a holiday out of it which we did last year when we went to Butlins.

If it all goes tits up in terms of sleeping then it's not the end of the world, it's one day and it's nice to have a day out somewhere different.