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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

1 hour, 40 minutes

131 replies

Pinkponyclube · 03/09/2025 14:02

Would you go out for the day to a place one hour and forty minutes away, so drive there for one hour, forty mins, spend the day there and then the same back-with a 6 year old? Or would you make a weekend out of it
Do you consider that a lot for one day?

OP posts:
Mixingitup · 03/09/2025 14:04

Sounds fine with a 6 year old to me.

FuzzyWolf · 03/09/2025 14:05

I’d do that in one day but equally I wouldn’t judge anyone wanting to make a weekend out of it. At lot will depend on the six year old.

Jankled · 03/09/2025 14:05

Yes, really no big deal. Have regularly driven about 2 hours for a decent day trip since children were babies, eldest is 7 now.

Edited to add: I don't allow screens in the car either but will put on children's music/podcasts. I do consider being able to sit through a car journey a bit of a life skill.

Jellycatspyjamas · 03/09/2025 14:05

I’d definitely do that, start early have a full day there and drive back. At that age my two would sleep in the car on the way home.

Maloobu · 03/09/2025 14:05

Its a lot, but not too much.
I'd do it, my husband would insist on making a weekend of it. Which in reality means we dont do many/any day trips, as a whole weekend is too expensive.

Also depends what it is....is it worth the drive?

boringingoring · 03/09/2025 14:07

I wouldn't want to do it in one day regularly, but as a one-off I'd think it was fine.

NoCommentingFromNowOn · 03/09/2025 14:08

I do up to three hours for a day trip. But it’d have to be good.

I wouldn’t question 1hr 40mins with a six year old, that would be fine.

Hayley1256 · 03/09/2025 14:08

Yeah, I'm not sure why you wouldn't?

NoctuaAthene · 03/09/2025 14:08

I definitely wouldn't stay overnight, I would consider it a little on the far side especially as all my kids were quite badly car sick at that age, but depends on what exactly it is, would definitely want it to be something quite special for that length of drive otherwise I'd choose something more local. If it was worth the drive I'd do there and back in a day perfectly happily, perhaps with a wee and drink (and vom!) stop halfway but this would be for the benefit of the kids not the driver...

TheCurious0range · 03/09/2025 14:09

Yes and do all the time. We were off last week and most days had similar journeys to go to various places

Judashascomeintosomemoney · 03/09/2025 14:11

I would, no question, but then again I live in the country and it takes over an hour to get to the nearest city so I guess it's something we're used to. It would be quite nice to make a weekend of it though, if it's affordable.

InMyOpenOnion · 03/09/2025 14:12

I think it's much less of a faff to do the drive rather than stay overnight, especially as they will most likely be tired on the journey home.

Scampuss · 03/09/2025 14:13

Yes, of course, or further. I think we've done up to around 3 hours each way for a day trip.

StampOnTheGround · 03/09/2025 14:13

Sounds fine to me, we’ve further than that with our 3 year old and under 6 month old

Daisy12Maisie · 03/09/2025 14:14

If it’s a family member then definitely worth driving that far for a day trip.
For a day out for the 6 year old then yes. I personally wouldn’t do it with a 6 year old unless tow if it was for something like a shopping outlet village.

Icanttakethisanymore · 03/09/2025 14:15

I'd do it for a day out but I'd probably travel back at bed time so they could sleep on the way home.

Floranan · 03/09/2025 14:15

My son and DIL will do a 1.5 hr journey to see me for the day if commitments mean they can’t stay but much prefer to make a weekend of it. But yes they find it doable with their 2 (18months and 3). They do stay until about 8 and take the children home bathed and and their pjs so they can lift them out the car and straight to bed

ive been known todo this when mine were little, take toothbrush and a bottle of water and pjs quickly sort them out in the car park or more often a supermarket baby room. I got a few smiles from people who see them, but no one criticised.

Flakey99 · 03/09/2025 14:19

Can you do a nice stop on the way to break up the journey?

SJM1988 · 03/09/2025 14:21

I've done up to 2.5 hours for a day trip before but usually anything under 2 hours I would class as fine for a day trip. My 8 year old tends to sleep one of the drives the other we chat about things which is nice

GreenFlag · 03/09/2025 14:23

I get tired easily these days so I’d probably stay over night just to pace myself. But in the past I’d do it

DappledThings · 03/09/2025 14:23

Yes, done that for a child's birthday party a couple of times. Anything under 2 hours each way is fair game for a day trip to me.

Willoo · 03/09/2025 14:24

Of course I would. That’s nothing

CherryOakAsh · 03/09/2025 14:27

Yes, that wouldn't have been a problem for us. When our children were young we lived about as far from the sea as is possible to be. Used to be quite a trek to get there, but we never considered staying overnight - we wouldn't have been able to afford it, let alone all the hassle of packing and unpacking!

I live a bit closer to the sea now, but even so it often still takes more than 1.5 hours to get there, due to the traffic.

Mumstheword1983 · 03/09/2025 14:28

We do day trips like this regularly with 4 children ages 2, 7, 10 and 11. All good 😊

MaybeItsNotReal · 03/09/2025 14:30

Yes we do trips like that often, it's only 3 hours of your day travelling, which leaves a good 5 or 6 hours for exploring