Travel Time Calculator
How long will the journey take? Compare travel time by car, walking, bike, bus or train and plane for any two places. Or work out time, distance or speed with one simple formula.
Travel time
-
Car time comes from the road route. Walking, bike and bus or train use the road distance at typical speeds. Plane time includes 2 hours at airports. All times are estimates.
Distance
Speed
Time
What is a travel time calculator?
A travel time calculator tells you how long a journey will take. You enter where you start and where you are going. The tool finds the distance and works out the time for each way to travel.
This one does two jobs. First, it compares car, walking, bike, bus or train and plane side by side. You see which is fastest and when you would arrive with each.
Second, it solves the classic formula. Enter any two of distance, speed and time, and it finds the third.
Five ways to travel
Car, walk, bike, bus or train and plane in one view.
Arrival times
Pick when you leave and see when you get there.
Formula solver
Find time, distance or speed from the other two.
Pace too
See minutes per mile and per kilometer for walks and runs.
How to use the travel time calculator
Four steps for a full comparison.
- Enter your journeyType where you start and where you are going. Pick each place from the list.
- Set your timeChoose when you leave and whether you want miles or kilometers.
- Pick trafficLight, normal or heavy. It changes car and bus times.
- CompareSee each way to travel as a bar. The fastest one is marked.
The travel time formula
Distance, speed and time are linked. If you know two, you can always find the third. Keep your units the same, like miles with mph or kilometers with km/h.
Find time
Time = Distance ÷ Speed
150 miles at 60 mph takes 2.5 hours, which is 2 hours 30 minutes.
Find distance
Distance = Speed × Time
Walking at 3 mph for 2 hours covers 6 miles.
Find speed
Speed = Distance ÷ Time
100 km in 1 hour 15 minutes is an average of 80 km/h.
Average speeds we use
Real speed changes with roads, hills, weather and you. These are typical averages that include normal slowdowns, not top speeds.
Want a different number? Use the Distance, speed, time tab and type your own speed.
| Way to travel | Average speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Walking | 3.1 mph (5 km/h) | Easy city pace |
| Bike | 10 mph (16 km/h) | Casual riding with stops |
| Bus or train | 25 to 55 mph (40 to 90 km/h) | Slower in cities, plus waiting time |
| Car | From the road route | Speed limits plus your traffic setting |
| Plane | 500 mph (805 km/h) | Plus 2 hours at airports and 30 min taxi |
Which way is fastest?
It depends mostly on distance. For short trips, the time to park or get to a station matters more than top speed.
Short trips (under 3 miles)
- Bike is often as fast as a car in a city.
- Walking wins for very short hops.
- No parking time to add.
Medium trips (3 to 300 miles)
- Car or train is usually fastest.
- Fast trains beat cars between big city centers.
- Flying rarely helps once airport time is added.
The airport time is the same for any flight. Long distances make up for it.
Travel time by distance at a glance
Rough moving times with no stops. Use the calculator above for your real journey.
| Distance | Walking (3.1 mph) | Bike (10 mph) | City car (30 mph) | Highway (65 mph) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mile | 19 min | 6 min | 2 min | 1 min |
| 5 miles | 1 h 37 min | 30 min | 10 min | 5 min |
| 10 miles | 3 h 14 min | 1 h | 20 min | 9 min |
| 50 miles | 16 h 8 min | 5 h | 1 h 40 min | 46 min |
| 100 miles | 32 h 15 min | 10 h | 3 h 20 min | 1 h 32 min |
Example: a 300 mile trip three ways
Here is how the calculator thinks about a city to city trip of about 300 miles. The flight is fastest in the air, but the airport time eats most of the gap.
Door to door, flying still wins by about two hours here. On a 150 mile trip, the car would likely win. That is why it is worth checking every time.
| Option | Moving time | Extra time | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car at 60 mph | 5 h | 15 min break | 5 h 15 min |
| Train at 50 mph | 6 h | 10 min wait | 6 h 10 min |
| Plane at 500 mph | 36 min | 2 h 30 min | 3 h 6 min |
What changes your real travel time
The formula gives moving time. Real journeys add a few extras. Plan for them so you are not late.
Traffic
Rush hour can add 30 to 50 percent to a city drive.
Waiting
Buses, trains and flights mean time at the stop, station or gate.
Parking
Finding a spot and walking to the door can add 10 minutes or more.
Hills
Walking and cycling slow down a lot on steep roads.
Weather
Rain, snow and wind slow every way of travel.
Breaks
On long drives, plan a 15 minute rest every 2 hours.
Walking and cycling pace
Walkers and runners often think in pace, not speed. Pace is how many minutes it takes to cover one mile or one kilometer.
The formula solver shows your pace for any speed. Here are common ones to help you pick a realistic number.
| Activity | Speed | Pace per mile | Pace per km |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slow walk | 2.5 mph | 24:00 | 14:55 |
| Normal walk | 3.1 mph | 19:21 | 12:02 |
| Brisk walk | 4 mph | 15:00 | 9:19 |
| Easy jog | 6 mph | 10:00 | 6:13 |
| Casual bike | 10 mph | 6:00 | 3:44 |
| Fast bike | 18 mph | 3:20 | 2:04 |
Travel time for your daily commute
The average one way commute in the US is a little under half an hour. Over a year, that adds up to more than 200 hours on the road.
Small changes make a big difference. Leaving 15 minutes earlier can miss the worst traffic. Cycling a short route can be as fast as driving once you count parking.
Use the compare tab with your home and work address. Try light and heavy traffic to see your best and worst days.
| One way commute | Per week (5 days) | Per year (250 days) |
|---|---|---|
| 15 min | 2 h 30 min | 125 hours |
| 27 min | 4 h 30 min | 225 hours |
| 45 min | 7 h 30 min | 375 hours |
| 60 min | 10 hours | 500 hours |
Who uses a travel time calculator?
Anyone who needs to be somewhere on time.
Commuters
Compare driving, cycling and the bus for the daily trip to work or school.
Travelers
Decide whether to drive, take the train or fly to the next city.
Walkers and runners
Plan a route and know how long it will take at your pace.
Event planners
Tell guests when to leave so they arrive on time.
House hunters
Check the travel time from a new home to work, school and shops.
Students
Practice speed, distance and time problems with real numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about travel time, speed and distance.
How do I calculate travel time?
Divide the distance by your average speed. For example, 120 miles at 60 mph is 2 hours. Add time for breaks, traffic and waiting.
How long does it take to walk a mile?
About 19 to 20 minutes at a normal pace of 3 miles per hour. A fast walker can do it in 15 minutes.
How long does it take to bike a mile?
About 6 minutes at 10 mph. Faster riders on road bikes can take 4 minutes or less.
How do I find average speed?
Divide the total distance by the total time. Use the Distance, speed, time tab and choose Speed.
Is flying always faster than driving?
No. With about 2 hours at airports, driving is often faster for trips under 300 to 400 miles.
Does it use live traffic?
No. It uses a traffic setting. Choose light, normal or heavy to match when you travel.
Can I use kilometers?
Yes. Switch the units to kilometers, or pick km and km/h in the formula solver.
How is bus or train time estimated?
We use the road distance and a typical speed for that length of trip, plus 10 minutes of waiting. Check the real timetable for your line before you go.
How long is a 10 mile walk?
About 3 hours and 15 minutes at a normal pace of 3.1 mph, without stops. Add rest time for a long walk.
Why does the tool say a mode is not practical?
Some options make no sense for a trip. For example, walking 500 miles, biking across an ocean or flying 20 miles. The tool marks these so you can focus on real choices.
Is the travel time calculator free?
Yes. It is free with no sign up. Use it as often as you like.
Driving a long way?
Plan breaks, overnight stops and a day by day timeline.