What is a day trip?

Question

What would you consider to be a reasonable amount of driving for a day trip? I've read a couple of new entries under the "Day Trips" subject headings which suggest that travellers make a day trip to a destination which is three or more hours' drive from the place that they're writing about.  In my mind, a day trip shouldn't require plane travel or more than four hours of driving, in total. I'm pretty tempted to edit out the suggestion of a day trip to a destination 4+ hours away. (And I double-checked the distance using MapQuest, just in case I'd misremembered.) What do you think?

Judy_in_Calgary · Accepted Answer

Country_Wife, I agree with you that 4+ hours of driving in one direction is too much for a day trip. Interestingly enough by that definition Victoria, which is such a popular day trip out of Vancouver, only JUST qualifies as a day trip. I personally do not think it is ideal to do Victoria as a day trip, but zillions of people do it.

I personally find that 5 - 6 hours of driving, in total, is feasible. It depends on what else you’ll be doing with that day. Obviously if you drive for 5 – 6 hours, you cannot also do an extensive hike.

My definition of a day trip is an 8-hour outing, that is, an outing in which the driving and the other elements together add up to no more than 8 hours. If I’m responding to a query on the forum and I recommend a more ambitious outing, say one that will take 9 - 10 hours in total, I try to remember to include a warning to that effect.

I don't know what you mean when you say that a day trip should not involve plane travel. If you are referring to conventional plane travel, the kind that involves going through airport security, etc., I think you're right. However, I think the floatplanes that go from Vancouver Harbour to Victoria Harbour are fine for a day trip (although there again I try to remember to include a warning that they are more expensive than surface travel).

reinarubia · Answer

For me, a day trip is only about two hours each way with the trip in between . Of course the cost of travel has to be considered also. If you read my comments, though, you will see I am no longer changing other people's Inside pages. I have learned that the Inside Pages don't necessarily give you the whole story and I am not willing to babysit them either.

Bezi · Answer

I have seen "day trips" on inside pages that are a 7 hour journey one way! I am begining to think that some of the people writing these pages haven't been to the place in questio otherwise they wouldn't call it a day trip. Sometimes it is tempting to take out the whole page as it is all wrong.

I think there are too many headings anyway; all this dining, fine dining, dining with a view, special dining etc. Who needs this stuff!

AlaninBenalmadena · Answer

Surely a day trip is planned for enjoyment of the route and also of the destination. If you travel more than 4 hours each way you will have a very short time at your chosen spot, and eventually get home tired. We usually try a circular route to include somewhere we have not seen, drive no more than 90 minutes, stop for restroom & coffeey, continue to destination, relax and stretch legs, eat, learn a little about that spot, and return via another route, stopping again about halfway for an afternoon break. We may be lucky in our area as there are great beach resorts, beautiful cities, superb mountain scenery, and the people are friendly wherever we go.

SYLVIAMARJ · Answer

i live in autralia, in the state of queensland and on the gold coast, which is the most beautiful place, we sometimes do a day trip north to a place called caloundra, nice white beaches and lovely parks.. its about a 2 hour drive.. i dont think day trips should be more than 2 hours each way.. more than that and we stay overnight. I have been to canada, in fact was married in Vancouver, and went back again a few years ago took the greyhound bus to Banff, then Calgary and Lake Louise - so i know distance as well. Stick to 2 hours each way i say. - sylviamarj.

forest_le · Answer

Well, a day trip as my thoughts may be a one or two-day trip, and should not waiting for plane.

I like go out of the hotel in the early morning and only come back in late afternoon or eve.

This trip was so interesting in north Vietnam with panviet travel which i think you may also like.

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Huong Pagoda (Perfume Pagoda) ~ 'Travel to the buddhism center of Viet people.! (1day)

Heritage in culture

7h30 .The bus to pick you up at the hotel to take 2 hours road trip. Taking row-boat trip to visit that land on the Yen stream to Thien Tru. Then you will enjoy time to trekking go up and down visit the main cave so nice, step by step you will arrive Huong Tich cave on the top of the mountain to see Golden-Silver tree, rice stuck....One hour down. Have lunch at bottom mountain in restaurant beside.

PM : After lunchtime ,you will go to visit the Heaven Kitchen pagoda and to know about Buddhism ancient architectural at Le Dynasty. Then you will come back by row-boat trip and 2 hour road trip to Hanoi and arrive at about 18h30.

Fearless802748 · Answer

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What is a day trip? - Traveler Articles Forum

What is a day trip?