Road Trip Time Calculator (Driving Days and Breaks)
Enter the distance, average speed and your daily driving limit to plan the trip.
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Road Trip Time Calculator (Driving Days and Breaks) by TheCalcTools
How the Road Trip Time Calculator (Driving Days and Breaks) works
Driving time is distance divided by your realistic average speed, which is lower than the speed limit once traffic, towns and fuel stops are included.
Road safety bodies recommend a break of at least 15 minutes every two hours of driving. Splitting the trip into days of no more than about 8 hours of driving reduces fatigue, a major cause of crashes.
The formula
Worked example
Using the default values shown in the calculator:
| Driving distance (km) | 1100 |
|---|---|
| Average speed including traffic (km/h) | 85 |
| Maximum driving per day (hours) | 8 |
| Take a break every (hours) | 2 |
| Break length | 15 min |
| Start time | 07:00 |
- 1,100 km at 85 km/h is 12 h 56 min of driving.
- With an 8-hour daily limit that is 2 days with 1 overnight stop.
Result:
| Driving time | 12 h 56 min |
|---|---|
| Days on the road | 2 |
| Overnight stops | 1 |
| Rest breaks | 5 |
| Total time including breaks | 14 h 11 min |
| Arrival time (one-day trip) | Overnight stop needed |
Frequently asked questions
What average speed should I use?
On motorways and interstates, 80 to 100 km/h (50 to 60 mph) is realistic once stops are included; use less for mountain or city roads.
How long should breaks be?
At least 15 minutes every 2 hours. Stop sooner if you feel drowsy: a short nap and caffeine help, but only sleep fixes fatigue.
Sources and further reading
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This calculator gives estimates for information only. Check important results independently before you rely on them. See our disclaimer.