Fair Date Location – Find Equal Distance Date Spots That Show You Care
Meeting someone new? Picking a date spot that's equally convenient shows respect and consideration—setting the right tone from the start.
Suggesting a place near your apartment on a first date sends the wrong message. Making them travel 40 minutes while you walk 10 feels inconsiderate. Fair date planning builds trust.
Why Date Location Fairness Matters
Common challenges:
- Suggesting a spot near you feels selfish; suggesting one near them feels try-hard
- You waste time in the "you pick" / "no, you pick" loop
- One person ends up traveling significantly farther, creating imbalance from the start
- Transit users get stuck commuting an hour while drivers arrive in 15 minutes
- The awkwardness of realizing mid-date that one person made way more effort
You match with someone who lives across the city. They suggest a coffee shop "in the middle"—but it's a 15-minute drive for them and a 45-minute bus ride for you. You go anyway, arriving flustered and late. The date starts on the wrong foot.
You're excited about a first date and suggest a trendy spot you love. You walk there in 10 minutes. They drive 35 minutes in traffic. Midway through drinks, they mention the commute. You feel guilty; they feel under-appreciated. The vibe shifts.
Why the geographic midpoint fails:
A geographic midpoint between two addresses might look fair on a map—but if it's near a highway exit for one person and requires two bus transfers for the other, it's not actually equal. True fairness is about time and effort, not miles.
Why manual planning doesn't work:
Manually coordinating date locations means: (1) admitting you don't know the area well, (2) making the other person do the research, or (3) spending 20 minutes looking up routes for each suggestion. Most people just pick somewhere familiar—which is rarely fair.
First impressions matter. Picking a date spot that's convenient for you but burdensome for them signals a lack of thoughtfulness. Conversely, choosing a truly fair location shows you value their time and want to start things equitably.
How Where2Meet Finds Fair Date Locations with Equal Travel Times
Where2Meet calculates real travel times from both locations and suggests date spots—restaurants, coffee shops, bars, parks—where commutes are balanced. You both see the routes and agree on a fair meeting point before the date.
How Where2Meet helps:
- Show consideration from the first message by suggesting a fair location
- See actual travel times for both people, not just distance
- Discover new date spots in neighborhoods neither of you frequent
- Filter by ambiance: coffee shops, cocktail bars, casual dining, parks
- Avoid the awkward "you pick" back-and-forth with transparent data
❌ Before Where2Meet:
You: "Want to meet for drinks?" Them: "Sure, where?" You: "How about [place near you]?" Them: "That's kind of far for me..." You: "Oh, sorry. Where works for you?" [10 messages later, you compromise on somewhere neither of you loves]
✅ After Where2Meet:
You: "Want to meet for drinks?" You share a Where2Meet link. Both add locations. The map shows 3 bars where you'd each travel 18-20 minutes. You both vote on the one with the best vibe. Easy, fair, and no awkwardness.
Create a date event, add both starting locations (your place and theirs), and set transportation preferences (driving, transit, biking). Where2Meet shows you venues where travel times are equal—coffee shops for casual first dates, restaurants for dinner, bars for drinks. You share the link, they see the options, and you pick together.
If one person drives and the other uses transit, Where2Meet shows separate travel times for each mode. You can filter to find spots accessible by both methods.
How to Plan a Fair Date in 2 Minutes
Create Your Date Event
Set the event: "Coffee Date" or "Dinner Friday" with the time you want to meet. Add your starting location.
Share the Link
Send the event link to your date via text or app. They add their location and transportation preference (driving, transit, etc.).
💡 Tip: Frame it casually: "I found this cool tool that finds fair meeting spots—added my location, just add yours and we can pick a place together!"
Review Fair Options Together
Where2Meet shows venues where travel times are equal. Browse coffee shops, restaurants, or bars, and see each option on the map.
💡 Tip: Look for spots in neighborhoods neither of you frequent—it makes the date feel like an adventure for both.
Pick a Spot & Confirm
Vote on your favorite venue, confirm the time, and you're set. Both people arrive knowing the commute was fair.
Pro Tips for Fair Date Planning
Pro Tips:
Suggest the Tool Early
Use Where2Meet when setting up the date, not after you've already debated locations. It avoids the "you pick" / "no, you pick" awkwardness.
Frame It as Thoughtful, Not Transactional
Say: "I want to find somewhere that works equally well for both of us" instead of "I calculated optimal travel times." Romance > logistics.
Explore New Areas Together
Fair meeting points often land in neighborhoods neither person knows well. Turn this into a positive: "Let's try somewhere new for both of us!"
Common Mistakes:
❌ Obsessing over exact minute-by-minute fairness
Why: A 2-minute difference is negligible. Focus on balance, not perfection.
✓ Fix: Look for options where travel times are within 5-10 minutes of each other. That's fair enough.
❌ Picking a "fair" location in an unappealing area
Why: Fairness matters, but so does vibe. A central parking lot isn't a date spot.
✓ Fix: Filter by venue type (coffee, restaurants, parks) and pick the fairest option among appealing places.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is using a planning tool too formal for a first date?
Not if you frame it right. Position it as being thoughtful: "I want to pick somewhere fair for both of us." Most people appreciate the consideration—it shows you respect their time.
What if we live in completely different cities?
Where2Meet works for cross-city dates. It will suggest meeting spots between cities, often in a town or neighborhood along the route. You can also filter for places with good parking or transit access.
Can I suggest multiple options and let them choose?
Yes. Where2Meet shows several fair venues, and you can shortlist your favorites. Share the link and let them vote or add preferences.
What if one person has a car and the other doesn't?
Set each person's transportation mode separately. Where2Meet will show venues accessible via both methods—e.g., places with parking AND near a train station.
Start Your Date on the Right Foot
Show consideration from the first meetup. Find fair date locations where both people's time is respected.
Plan a Fair Date