Europe’s ‘Extreme Day Trip’ Trend Is Coming to the U.S.
Instead of London to Lisbon and back again in 24 hours, think New York to Miami.
When most of us plan a day trip we envision hopping on a train or driving a couple hours at most for some leisurely time away, a mental break from our busy schedules. But what about hopping on a plane, flying 1200 miles, spending the day at the beach and returning home that night? Does that sound relaxing to you?
That’s what Kevin Droniak did when he booked himself a round-trip flight from New York to Miami simply because he felt like a beach day (who among us). “You probably don’t know this, but Miami is a day trip from New York City,” begins his video. Then he reads our minds: “You might think this is unhinged, but I’d much rather start my day in the sky than waking up later in my bed and spending my day not at the beach.” Droniak’s flight to Miami took off from JFK at 7 am and landed at 10 am, while the return took off at 7:50 pm and landed him back in NYC at 11 pm. He carried nothing more than a backpack, used public restrooms to change, and returned home salty and sunkissed to be in bed by midnight.
If this whirlwind of a day sounds appealing to you, you’re not alone. It’s called the Extreme Day Trip, it’s the complete opposite of the slow travel trend, and it’s creeping into the US after already taking the UK by storm. Less about getting the adrenaline flowing X Games-style, as the name would suggest, it’s about maximizing your time away. On the EDT, airports are treated like train stations, with people hopping over to another country in a day, typically jamming as much activity in as their constitutions will tolerate. It’s even spawned supporting materials: In February of this year the book Extreme Day Trips: A practical guide to help get the most of a day trip abroad or overnight stay in Europe was published by a fan of the format. And there’s a Facebook page and separate, independent website and app for tips on cheap fares and getting the most out of your EDT itinerary.
It’s turned into almost a competitive sport, with people seeing how far and “extreme” they can get with their itineraries. Some UK daytrippers have gone as far as New York, but mostly they stick to European destinations. And because it won’t count unless they do it, they’ve gotten to posting on TikTok about their day-long adventures.
There are several reasons a day trip is preferable to spending extended time in a destination. The change of scenery shakes up the mundane. Even if your work schedule is packed you can satiate your adventurous spirit. They obviously don’t require much time, if vacation days are a concern and in the UK especially, flights can be cheaper than train tickets.
One guy booked a round trip to Rome for 30 pounds; there are reports of Ryan Air flights of 1p (!). “When I saw Ryanair offer flights for 1p each way I thought ‘what do I have to lose?’” one day tripper told Euronews.
With rates that cheap you don’t even have to pack much in. You can just go to the home of Lego in Billund, Denmark if that’s your thing.
The downside to this is the environmental impact of so many short-haul flights and the fact that flying is one of the worst types of transport for emissions. But some EDT practitioners justify the practice by attempting to offset their carbon footprint when they travel by plane. (Others say the flights are already going, so what’s the harm?) One Euronews interviewee tells them he donates to a native tree planting every time he flies.
Of course it’s much easier to get cheap roundtrip flights in the UK and Europe, with the plethora of low-cost airlines and countries just a stone’s throw away. But Droniak is not the only US citizen to brave the extreme daytripping frontier, and the idea is catching on. One Thread user says he’s hopped from Portland to both Austin and Dallas on day trips, utilizing 4-hour redeyes. One person on r/delta flew from Richmond to New York just for a bagel fest (now we’re talking).
If adventure and budget (and bagels) overrides sleep and a leisurely pace, perhaps the extreme day trip is for you. To get the best deals, be flexible in your destination and play around with Google Flights. Research what you want to do beforehand, and have some options in case plans fall through. And read up on how to make sure you can sleep on the plane.