How Far Do You/Would You Drive To Go To The Gym?

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JustJennie1
JustJennie1 Posts: 3,843 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I'm curious because I see a lot of posts where people won't go to a gym that's between 15-30 minutes away because it's "too far". How far is too far for you?

I suppose my perspective is a little skewed since I live out in the middle of no where so I have to drive far no matter what so my 20 minute drive to the gym is nothing for me. Any place worth going is about an hour away and a grocery shopping trip -- there, shopping, home -- can take me 2+ hours.

So how far is too far for you to drive to go to a gym?
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Replies

  • justal313
    justal313 Posts: 1,375 Member
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    I have a 2 minute drive (tops). I have in the past driven 20 minutes to get to my gym but they had crappy dappy hours and that drove me away much much more than the distance. My current gym is ALWAYS open that's the big draw for me, but the distace is excellent too,
  • wellbert
    wellbert Posts: 3,924 Member
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    ten minutes would be my maximum.
  • NZhellkat
    NZhellkat Posts: 355 Member
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    Drive to the gym? Oh I biked and used that as my warm up and cool down.
  • Lalouse
    Lalouse Posts: 221 Member
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    I live in New York City and for a long time, I wouldn't go to a gym if I couldn't get there using public transportation and/or if my public transportation was going to take more than 20 minutes. Now, we have a car, but I wouldn't sign up for a gym more than 15 minutes away by car (and that's how far mine is now) or if it didn't have parking!
  • tinak33
    tinak33 Posts: 9,883 Member
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    Everything is super close to me, so I wouldn't want to drive more than 10-15 min away for a gym... and it would have to be a really good one for me to drive that much.
    I would prefer 5-10 min. or less.
  • Dani_wants_to_be_fit
    Dani_wants_to_be_fit Posts: 550 Member
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    Unless I lived pretty far away from the gym I would never get on a bus or get a ride (I can't drive ha ha) I just think it goes against the whole point for me, but I do have a lot of spare time right now and can understand those who are in a bit of a rush to get there. Takes me about 30 minutes
  • sarahg148
    sarahg148 Posts: 701 Member
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    I think it depends upon the individual's work situation...free time, etc etc. For me, I have a pretty open schedule so I could do 15 tops. But my gym is about 7 minutes away with traffic. I prefer closer because I factor that time into scheduling how long I can workout. I don't want to drive more than I do now to only be able to workout for 30 minutes. I want to be able to workout for at least 45-90 minutes. Being closer just allows me to squeeze in quicker workouts vs not doing them altogether.
  • Retrofitnessmike
    Retrofitnessmike Posts: 6
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    10 min is the farthest
  • hborn
    hborn Posts: 12
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    I am the same and live in the middle of no where. It takes me 40 minutes to commute to work and such so driving 25 mins to the gym is the only option. I go to a place that is open 24/7 though so it's nice to be able to fit it in when I am out and about but I don't come home and then leave again to make a special trip for it.
  • Yogi_Carl
    Yogi_Carl Posts: 1,906 Member
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    For me, it is not so much the drive to the gym. I have a gym centre that is en-route to home from work. However, it is the parking up, getting changed and the workout itself, shower and getting changed after and then driving home that eats into three evenings a week when there are other things in my life I would rather be doing like spending time with my wife, tending to 100 square feet of fruit and vegetables for our yearly supply, walking our dog, playing my didgeridoo, watching the birds in my garden, doing my yoga, well - you get the idea.

    Better things to do with my time than running on a hamster wheel staring at a wall or even worse - staring at myself in a mirror while humping loads of iron around!
  • kimad
    kimad Posts: 3,010 Member
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    My gym is fairly close, about 2-5 minutes, but I also travel to another gym usually once a week or once every 2 weeks that is about 20-25 mins away. It would suck to have to do that 3-4 times a week, but I would becuase I need too. I won't work out at home religously, I can't workout outside all year round, so it's a sacriifice I make.
  • tidesong
    tidesong Posts: 451 Member
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    Right now, my drive is about 5 minutes. I could walk it if I were desperate. I wouldn't join a gym that was more than 10 minutes away. I'd be coming up with too many excuses about how I didn't want to go that far.

    ETA: I live in a major metropolitan area, and the gym I go to is affiliated with a local hospital. I do have to find street parking, or pay to park, which sucks. But the Big Box Gyms (i.e. Planet Fitness) are all out in the suburbs and are just way too far, and I know I wouldn't keep going!
  • kimosabe1
    kimosabe1 Posts: 2,467 Member
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    most of the time I walk about fifteen minutes but with snow it's to cold!
  • JustJennie1
    JustJennie1 Posts: 3,843 Member
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    most of the time I walk about fifteen minutes but with snow it's to cold!

    I would love to walk or ride my bike to my gym.
  • Crochetluvr
    Crochetluvr Posts: 3,143 Member
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    I can walk to my gym, if I want to. Its about a 15 minute walk. I dont need to go far....there are gyms popping up all over the place around here.
  • nunep
    nunep Posts: 21
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    About 10 minutes or 15 with traffic. Would not drive farther.
  • deb3690
    deb3690 Posts: 59 Member
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    Driving time is a big issue to me....I don't want to fight traffic or hit worse traffic later because I am delayed at the gym....I think i have things arranged now so that I can avoid any traffic or freeways ....choosing a place closer to home. I think it becomes another rationalization why I don't want to go to the gym in the first place....that's the deeper truth. Everything else is a complete excuse right? Im going to the gym this afternoon.....for real....Im going! Im determined! at 25 degrees outside its too cold to walk very far for me anyways!
  • caseythirteen
    caseythirteen Posts: 956 Member
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    My gym is only 6 or 7 minutes away which I love. I think 10-15 minutes would be as far as I would consider going and it would need to be a pretty fantastic gym.
  • sarahrbraun
    sarahrbraun Posts: 2,261 Member
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    I live rurally. I am a YMCA member, and there are 2 branches that are both within a 10-15 min drive from my house.
  • kuntry_navy
    kuntry_navy Posts: 677 Member
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    the gym in my home town doesn't open until 530. problem was, i had to work in a town 65 miles away at 7. so, i got a month to month membership in the town where i was working. i'd leave my house at about 4, so i could hit it for an hour and shower before 7. i think 100 miles would be my limit before i'd break down and buy a squat rack and some olympic weights

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