🚗 Road Trip Time Calculator
Enter the distance, your average speed and break time to get the total trip time, driving time and an estimated arrival.
Total trip time
6 h 30 m
Driving only
6 h 0 m
Arrival
14:30
Driving time is distance ÷ average speed, plus the breaks you add. Use a realistic average speed, well below the limit once you allow for towns, traffic, fuel stops and slow stretches, for a trustworthy arrival time. 🔒 In your browser.
How the road trip time calculator works
Driving time is the distance divided by your average speed; add the total time you'll spend stopped, fuel, food, rest, for the full trip time. Give a departure time and the tool projects your arrival, rolling over past midnight if the drive is long. It works in kilometres or miles, matching the speed unit you choose. Worked example: 540 km at a realistic 90 km/h average is 540 ÷ 90 = 6 hours of driving; add two 20-minute breaks (40 minutes) for 6 hours 40 minutes total, so a 9:00 departure arrives about 15:40. The single biggest source of error is the average speed, a figure well below the limit, since it must absorb every slowdown and stop.
The key is using a realistic average speed, not the speed limit. Towns, junctions, traffic, roadworks and fuel stops all pull the average down, so a motorway trip that seems like "120 km/h" often averages closer to 90. Estimate low and you'll arrive on time.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate driving time?
Divide the distance by your average speed, then add your break time. 600 km at an average 100 km/h is 6 hours driving; add a 30-minute lunch stop for 6½ hours total.
What average speed should I use?
Use your realistic door-to-door average, which is well below the speed limit once you include towns, traffic, junctions and stops, often around 90 km/h (55 mph) for a mixed motorway trip, less for rural or urban routes.
Does it include rest and fuel stops?
Yes, enter your total expected break time and it's added to the driving time. A good habit is a short break every couple of hours, which also keeps you alert.
How is arrival time worked out?
It adds the total trip time (driving plus breaks) to your departure time, and if the drive runs past midnight it shows the arrival with a "+1 day" marker so overnight trips read correctly.
Can I use miles instead of kilometres?
Yes, switch the distance unit to miles and enter your average speed in mph. All the results then use the same unit.
How do I estimate arrival time for a long drive?
Add the total trip time, driving plus all your breaks, to the departure time. For a drive that runs past midnight, the tool marks the arrival "+1 day" so an overnight trip reads correctly rather than wrapping to the wrong date.
How often should I take breaks on a road trip?
A common safety guideline is a rest of at least 15 minutes every two hours of driving, and avoiding driving at the times you would normally be asleep. Add up that break time and enter it here; it is part of the total trip time even though you are not moving.