Cambridge to Exeter and back in one day

[Baked_bean]

Hi guys,

I am going to be driving From cambridge to exeter and back in one day tomorrow. Am i mad? Its a round trip of just over 500 miles.... i have driven 300-350 in a day before but from some peoples reactions im wondering if its a good idea?

I will obviously keep well rested and stop when needed as im not in a huge rush, as long as i can be home for work on monday morning....

[Deerfoot]

Baked_bean said:

Am I mad?

Not at all. I once did Gutersloh to Bristol (just over 600 miles) in a day, stopping only for the Calais Dover ferry in a Smart, all 698cc and 61 bhp of it.

Just get plenty of rest tonight and a few breaks tomorrow and you`ll be fine.

[Six Fiend]

Considering I used to regularly do things like Bristol - Leeds - Bristol - Cambridge - Bristol in one day you're not mad at all.

500 miles a day every day is harder

Don't try to rush, take your breaks, chill and it's easy

Oh and you might like to get some ear plugs, they take away the drone and wind noise which makes a big difference.

Edited by Six Fiend on Saturday 4th August 17:10

[MiniMan64]

Easy peasy, not that far really. I've done Hertfordshire --> Plymouth and back two days running in a van. Bar a random 1am traffic jam on the M25 it was fine.

[The Nur]

500 miles shouldn't be a problem as long as you are sensible about it and don't try to do it in one stint.

Plenty of breaks, plenty of coffee and you will be fine. What are you doing it in?

[Mister3man]

Shouldn't be any trouble. I regularly do outskirts of Ipswich to Torquay and back without any trouble. It's about 720 mile round trip iirc

[Graebob]

Take breaks. Don't drink a lot of coffee, you'll end up crashing (caffeine crash, not the other kind!) early on and feeling st. Save the coffee for the return trip. Get some fruit juice or something Don't do more than 200 miles without a break.

Just my 2p and how I'd approach it. Used to do Middlesbrough > Bristol and back on a weekend quite regularly.

[Baked_bean]

Thanks guys, my stepdad who is a HGV vehicle driver said it wont be a problem but a few people look at me like i am mad....

Yeah ill take it easy, ill be doing it in a new transit van so shouldnt be too bad (at least it isnt an old LDV pilot :P)

[krunchkin]

I had to drive back from Edinburgh to London in my stty work Prius yesterday. If I can do that then anythings possible..

Still, had my shiny red s2000 to take out this morning for a massive burn up, so, swings and roundabouts

[Six Fiend]

Baked_bean said:

Thanks guys, my stepdad who is a HGV vehicle driver said it wont be a problem but a few people look at me like i am mad....

Yeah ill take it easy, ill be doing it in a new transit van so shouldnt be too bad (at least it isnt an old LDV pilot :P)

New Transit? Doddle! Sit back and enjoy the view

I went to a wedding 200 miles away last summer. Nearly everyone else there was commenting on what a huge journey it was

[The Nur]

Graebob said:

Take breaks. Don't drink a lot of coffee, you'll end up crashing (caffeine crash, not the other kind!) early on and feeling st. Save the coffee for the return trip. Get some fruit juice or something Don't do more than 200 miles without a break.

Just my 2p and how I'd approach it. Used to do Middlesbrough > Bristol and back on a weekend quite regularly.

+1 actually, I meant to say keep the coffee for the return but it slipped my mind

[Johnnytheboy]

When are you planning on heading back?

The return journey may not be a lot of fun between lunchtime and mid-evening I fear.

[davepoth]

Make sure to get a good night's sleep - that's pretty important. Also have a good breakfast before you leave.

[Graebob]

Six Fiend said:

New Transit? Doddle! Sit back and enjoy the view

+1 Love that new Transit.

[Baryonyx]

Baked_bean said:

Hi guys,

I am going to be driving From cambridge to exeter and back in one day tomorrow. Am i mad? Its a round trip of just over 500 miles.... i have driven 300-350 in a day before but from some peoples reactions im wondering if its a good idea?

Not a big deal, as long as you're up for it. I did Newcastle to Luton and back in a night a few weeks ago. Set off at 2330 from Newcastle, stopped for 15 minutes at Wetherby services, arrived at Luton at 0300, set off at 0330 and back in Newcastle for 0710. 540 miles and no stop on the way back. Almost emptied a brimmed tank of the company Mondeo I was driving too! Concentration never wandered, had a great time.

[cossy400]

We have this "BIG" journey syndrome, with the MIL/FIL/SIL/BIL. they live down south near harlow, we live up in the midlands near Leek, door to door ive done it with a toilet and expensive cup or st tea, in just short of 3 hours. Not pulling any trees up at that either 75MPH tops.

Anyway i do it 3/4 times a yr, MIL/FIL come up here once a yr and its like there going to the moon, BIL/SIL are supposed to be coming up later this yr and that will be the 1st time in over 5 yrs they ve managed it.

[joe_90]

We livein bath, in laws in Scotland, we do it a few times a year with the kids! It used to be somewhat quicker 10 years ago in the s2000....

[JimmyTheHand]

It depends on how long you plan to stay in Exeter and how bad traffic is. 500 miles travelling should be OK, but on top of an 8 hour day at in middle or huge traffic jams may not be best

[paulmoonraker]

I drive to and from Chester and Manchester in a day quite often - 480 mile round trip... It's no problem, proving I am not knackered... Go to bed early

[mrmr96]

Baked_bean said:

Hi guys,

What car are you in? Hope it has cruise control and comfy seats!