How much extra time do you allow for a long motorway journey?

Posted by intothedepthsofhell@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 11 comments

Got a longish drive Manchester to Stanstead to get a flight. Google says 3.5 hours but motorways are so unpredictable I want to allow some extra time. I seem to remember someone saying something like an extra half an hour for every hundred miles. How much extra time do you add on?

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11 Comments

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Rutankrd@reddit

Certainly allow about 4 hours to be honest M56, M6 ( toll) M1, A14 and M11 A14 can be a bit crap

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Hamsternoir@reddit

It depends where the route is, I'd allow at least an extra hour, got caught on the A14 the other day and an extra half hour added on to the journey. If you're catching a flight then add 2 hours. Better to be early and have a beer instead of being stuck on the M11 and watching your flight take off.

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old_gift_09@reddit

For a flight I'd add 1-2 hours! I figure I'd rather be early and sit and enjoy a couple of beers than miss a flight!

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Tumeni1959@reddit

5 hours ahead of the time you want to be there, on the day, look at google maps again to get travel time. It will vary according to traffic conditions, and will take account of delays from accidents and road works. If you have a few days to go, check it daily at the time of day you expect to be travelling, to see if times differ at that time of the day. Google will show you the travel time at the time you look - if this is (for instance) midnight, when you'll be travelling in rush hour, your timing will be skewed

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BigDanglyOnes@reddit

I’d go +1.5 and find somewhere to relax when I’m there.

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Spike-and-Daisy@reddit

Stansted? You should’ve set off yesterday.

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Chilton_Squid@reddit

I use Google Maps and ask it how long it normally takes at that time of day.

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tmstms@reddit

Hmmm. I do a LOT of these kinds of journey, and I have to say I do use a bit of local knowledge/ experience with what I know are choke points and roadworks. I usually add on half an hour. If all is going well, then it can be used for a toilet/ services stop. For a flight, I'd add an extra hour instead, because it can take time to get from the airport car park into the terminal. If the routing is M6- round Brum - A14- M11, though, you should be fine once you are past Brum, and I would say, you have two get out of jail cards, to pay for the M6 toll and to come off early on the A50.

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intothedepthsofhell@reddit (OP)

M6 toll all day long. Made the mistake of thinking it would be clear on the M6 and as soon as you go round the next bend you hit the back of the traffic. Never again.

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tmstms@reddit

Waze gives pretty good real-time adaptation to traffic conditions. Just drive with it on.

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nicthemighty@reddit

For me, it depends on the potential diversions. If there are plenty of routes then I leave less extra time. If the closed motorway or bad traffic leaves you with little options, then I'd probably add 30% to the Google maps estimate