Just curious...how far would you go for a daytrip?
 

It seems as if a majority of the posters on this messageboard would stay fairly close to their homebase for a daytrip, which makes sense. But what is the maximum amount of time (or miles) you would go? My husband and I have done daytrips that have been 3-4 hours away from our homebase (waking up early and getting in late). Obviously, it probably depends on where the daytrip is (such as a city vs. a small town) but I'm just curious.

Are you talking about daytrips from home or daytrips while on vacation?

Daytrips while on vacation can be ok, as we did two while staying in London. One to the Cotswolds with a hired driver who was a great guide as well, and the second to Bath & Stonehenge. These were great opportunities to get a taste of the areas we visited. Both were full, long days.

Good thing was not having to get a separate hotel for overnights and move all our luggage along. Drawback was not having as much time to explore London itself, which has plenty to see and do.

I think it just depends on your interests, how much time you have on your trip and if you like the idea of having a homebase and then exploring via daytrips from there.

I might be more inclined to add some daytrips on second visits to big cities when I've already seen a majority of the city's sights.

As for how far would I be willing to go...as far as makes sense to be able to travel to & still have enough time to see what you want to see at the destination of the daytrip.

Perhaps 2-3 hours each way of travel with 6 hours at the location? I'd probably draw a radius around the city and see what's doable.

Another factor might be if I was driving or taking some other mode of transport, as being tired on the way back is a bigger concern if you're driving, especially in an unfamilliar country.

Great question! Trish

we live in donegal in the northwest of ireland and often go to dublin for the day (about 3 and a half to four hours each way). when we were attending dog shows we have gone as far as donegal to limerick and back in a day (about 5 hours each way) and carlow (about the same as limerick). until recently one of our sons was living in galway and we'd often pop down for the day (four hours each way). we'd probably get on swimmingly in the outback of australia!

I'm sorry...I guess I should have specified that I meant on vacation. While I don't do many daytrips of that distance from home (at least not for pleasure!), I am usually willing to do them while on vacation. I don't like to pack and unpack too often so I try to limit myself to one area and plan daytrips.

Anything more than a couple of hours away would have to be really spectacular. Four hours (round trip) of down-time during a precious vacation day is pushing it for me.

rome to pompeii by train (actually two trains). total time around 4hrs each way. spent less than 4 hrs there before heading back. didnt see naples as family members were tired. i liked pompeii but it did work out to be quite expensive and a whole day less in rome

Great question and one that I have considered many tmes myself on my trips. I look forward to the responses.

When I am driving, ususally on my own, I will cap total driving time off at about 5-6 hours, which is really TOOOO much. I will do this when I know the scenery will keep me interested, so the drive itself is enjoyable. I also avoid retracing my steps. For example, I toured the Picos de Europa recently and the drive was about 5.5 hours to and from the Parador in Fuente De. It was WELL worth it. I also have a stock of CDs and books on tape to listen to when I get bored or for long stretches of highway.

Public transportation I have less patience for, so I try limit that to under 2 hours, as there is ususally about another 20-30 mins at each end involved in getting to train stations etc. I would only do a long journey if I absolutely want to see what is at the other end (otherwise, I'll hire a car or stay overnight).

However, the VERY worst and most stupid round trip I ever did was from Cordes sur Ciel to Carcassonne and then a tour of the Cathar region. I started the

Sorry, I got cut off ...

I started the journey by car, on my own, at 9am and returned to the hotel at midnight. The only break from driving was a 90 min tour of Carcassonne and a 30 min break in the Cathar region. This journey I DO NOT recommend :)

Really looking forward to responses on this question!

Regards Ger

We usually try to keep it to 2 hours (one-way) by car and about 2.5 hours by train. There are exceptions, of course. :)

Two hours away from base.

Max for me would be an hour or maybe two, depending on how a daytrip destination fit into the rest of my itinerary. For example, if I were staying in Rome and then heading to Florence, I would not want to daytrip to Orvieto. I would rather do it on the way, even if it meant pulling a one-nighter in Orvieto. Although I enjoy seeing beautiful scenery, I really don't enjoy seeing it from the car, especially not twice in one day. I guess my motto is pack and re-pack, but don't backtrack.

I don't really care about distance. Time is what matters to me.

The max would be 2 hours one-way and that would be pushing it. I prefer closer to 1 hour or less. Four hours out of my day just to travel is not my style.

I'd be more likely to do a longer 2 hour one-way train trip rather than a car. At least in a train I can drink a beer, see the world go by and people watch.

When I'm stuck in a car I feel like I'm at home. Not a good feeling for me on vacation. :-)

We day-tripped from Madrid to Sevilla (350 mi) on AVE (2.5 hours) to see some of the Semana Santa Processions one year: Dep Madrid's Puerta de Atocha 07:30; arr Sevilla Santa Justa 10:00. Dep Sevilla 20:00; arr Madrid 22:30. The next time we do that will be during Sevilla's Flamenco Festival (Sep-Oct): we'll Depart Madrid around 20:30, arr. Sevilla just in time for Supper; visit several Flamenco venues and catch a 6-or-7 AM AVE back to Madrid where we will be staying with relatives.

I differentiate between Day-trip and Day-tour: For example, we took tours from Santander (Cantabria) to Bilbao; one to San Vicente de la Barquera, Comillas and Santillana del mar; and a third to the Picos de Europa. All were day long tours. I don't think I would enjoy driving thru the Gorge of the Rio Deva (as O'Reilly must have done on the way from Unquera to Fuente De). But in a Motorcoach we got to enjoy the scenery.

For us (2-'Seniors') it depends on what there is to see along the way and whether there are tours available.

My extreme was a TGV daytrip from Paris to Lyon for lunch with a Swiss friend. Normally we try to keep one way travel time under 60-90 minutes on day trips.

On each of our trips, my wife (and my passenger) has this complaint: "We're spending too much time in the car, this is no vacation for me!"

I have to be careful in planning our daytrips for this reason. If we do take a sizable daytrip, I'll surely plan for a leisurely (non-automotive) day after it.

We prefer to think of day-trips as car-trips (or I guess you could do train-trips). Part of the experience is seeing what is in between the destination spots. I likes Rick Steves answer to a question on the PBS beg-athon when someone asked "what is the best daytrip from London?" His immediate answer was "Paris!" "You can catch an early chunnel train, spend a glorious day in Paris and take a late train back to sleep in the same bed if you want to." No that is a good daytrip.

We prefer to think of day-trips as car-trips (or I guess you could do train-trips). Part of the experience is seeing what is in between the destination spots. I likes Rick Steves answer to a question on the PBS beg-athon when someone asked "what is the best daytrip from London?" His immediate answer was "Paris!" "You can catch an early chunnel train, spend a glorious day in Paris and take a late train back to sleep in the same bed if you want to." Now that is a good daytrip.

My maximum is two hours there and two hours back. Beyond that, I'd reorganize my itinerary.

Well when I am in Italy I am at the mercy of my friends (but believe me no complaints). Train ride about 3 hours. Car trip preferrably 2 hours or a bit more.

Not that big on day trips. I was trying to think of any I've taken more than an hour away from where we still had a room and I couldn't think of any. We did a big loop around Sighisoara one day, but I don't think we ever were more than 45 mins away from where we started. Otherwise, I tend to look for a reason to go to that area and stay a night. Of course, that sometimes makes me one of those "pack/unpack too often" people (except I don't).