Three days · England
The Lakes, the Peaks, the Dales and the Moors, all reachable from most of the country in a morning.
Two nights lets you push properly out of the home range. Plan a longer run on day one, the best driving in the middle and an easy return.
Days
3 days, 2 nights
Rough distance
559.2 mi
Daily average
186.4 mi
Best months
April to October, with the Lakes best midweek
Checked by the Drivers Atlas desk
Scored and written by the Drivers Atlas editorial desk, drawing on driven routes across the UK and Europe, mapping data and member road reports. Daily distances are set for enjoyable driving rather than maximum ground covered. How we score roads.
Last reviewed 25 April 2026
Day by day
Day 1
About 186.4 mi and 4 hr 29 min behind the wheel including transit.
Day 2
About 186.4 mi and 4 hr 35 min behind the wheel including transit.
Day 3
About 186.4 mi and 4 hr 40 min behind the wheel including transit.
Practical
Manchester, Kendal or Sheffield
2 nights. On anything longer than five days, book two nights in the best base rather than moving hotel every evening.
Budget for roughly 559.2 miles of driving plus any vignettes or tunnel fees for the countries you cross.
Other lengths