Potential 3+ hour journey - how long would you leave as a buffer?

[Jamjarcandlestick]

I’m not sure if it’s because it’s hot my patience for DH is wearing thin, or if he did deserve a head tilt (and for me to ask him to explain his maths…)

Journey tomorrow is 165 miles. DH says it takes 3.5 hours and as we need to be there at noon to leave at 8:00. I mention we’ll need to stop, leave some buffer room etc, he then says 7:30.

I’ve had a look on google maps and the journey is typically 3.5 to 4:45 hours at that time.

What we’re going to isn’t as important as a wedding but pretty important for us to be driving across the country.

It would depend on the mode of transport - i assume you're driving. It would depend partly on the roads/cities you're likely to be using, especially the ones around 08:00-09:00. but for a 4ish hour drive, I'd probably also want to allow for a loo break, so I'm on the 07:30 departure, if not a little earlier

I used to use Luton airport frequently. I can get there in an hour. But on a Friday evening, round the M25, I would allow 3 hours.

If you want to leave earlier to be extra sure you’ll get there on time then just say to DH I want to leave at x time. I’ll do the first half of the drive and we’ll have a stop off half way to swap. That way he can sleep extra in the car or whatever if that’s why he doesn’t want to leave early, find a compromise, it’s not worth an argument

I would leave at 6.30am.

I'd probably leave just before 7....but it depends on how important it is to be on time. If it was to catch a flight I'd probably build more time into it...if it was to meet family for a lunch at home, I wouldn't be so cautious.

Depends on where. Journeys that involve the M25, M6 or M62/M60 need a lot more leeway than the A1 north of Leeds for example.

I'd leave at 7.00 and plan a breakfast stop around half way. If you're fairly but not overly generous with your time, you can decide on the day whether you have time for a proper break or will need a quick pit stop and eat in the car on the way.

How long it will take to park and arrive when you get there needs to be factored in - I'd want to be walking through the door no later than 11.50 and you might need another loo stop on arrival, which you might want to do before you actually check into wherever you're going.

It would depend on the roads you have to use, and what the alternative routes might be in case of road closures/accidents etc, but I would probably leave at around 7 as I would need at least one loo stop. Even with motorway services that always seems to take at least 20 mins, but can be longer if you actually need to divert off your route.

Depends on the route and on the event. I hate being late to anything.

DH has a very laid back approach to time keeping and is forever underestimating the time it takes to travel somewhere. I always insist on leaving extra early for the airport etc on the grounds that, once there, we can relax, have coffee/something to eat. Better to be 2 hours early for a flight than 5 minutes late

Depends on the route and how critical it is for you to be there dead on noon.

But for that distance I would expect most of it is on motorways etc? In which case, I would think 4.5 hours to travel 160 miles is more than fine.

Aim for 7-8am and check Google maps at 6am and decide based on actual travel conditions in the morning...

depends on roads. London to Norfolk is 3hrs at the right time of day, as bad as 6 hrs in rush hr. Even 7 hrs with an M25 issue

The route definitely makes a difference along with "is anything happening"

It can take from 7 minutes to 40 minutes for me to get to work depending on what time of day and if there's a match for example

If it's not vitally important to be there for 12 then 7:30 gives you plenty of buffer time

I'd start three days before.

So would my Mum 😂