# What is my travel time?

Works out the travel time for a distance at an average speed, adds time for stops, and gives the arrival time from a departure time.

- Page: https://www.acalculator.org/everyday-life/travel-time-calculator
- JSON spec: https://www.acalculator.org/everyday-life/travel-time-calculator.json
- Version: 6655325b2cbb

## Default answer

Example with the default inputs (Distance 250 mi, Average speed 60 mph): Traveling 250 mi at 60 mph takes 4 hours, 10 minutes in all (4 hours, 10 minutes moving).

## Inputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| d | Distance | How far you travel. |
| s | Average speed | Your average speed over the whole trip while moving. |
| stops | Stops (minutes) | Total minutes for breaks, fuel and meals along the way. Leave empty for none. |
| dep | Departure time | Optional: when you leave, to see when you arrive. |

## Outputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| total | Total travel time | Moving time plus stops, rounded to the minute. |
| moving | Moving time | Distance ÷ average speed, rounded to the minute. |
| hours | Moving time in hours | Distance ÷ average speed, in decimal hours. |
| arrive | Arrival time | The departure time plus the total travel time (the same time zone). |
| days | Arrival day | Whether you arrive on the day you leave or a later day. |

## Method

moving time = distance ÷ average speed; total = moving time (rounded to the minute) + stop minutes; arrival = departure time + total.

## Assumptions

- The average speed is your average while moving, over the whole trip; traffic and speed changes are in it.
- Moving time is rounded to the nearest minute, half a minute up.
- The arrival time is in the time zone you leave from; it does not change for time zones or daylight saving time.

## Worked examples

1. d = 402,336, s = 26.8224 gives total = {"hours":4,"minutes":10}, hours = 4.166667. Source: OpenStax, University Physics Volume 1, §3.2 Instantaneous Velocity and Speed (average speed = total distance ÷ elapsed time). https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/3-2-instantaneous-velocity-and-speed, retrieved 2026-10-02.
2. d = 300,000, s = 27.777778, stops = 30, dep = 08:15 gives moving = {"hours":3,"minutes":0}, total = {"hours":3,"minutes":30}, arrive = 11:45, days = The same day. Source: OpenStax, University Physics Volume 1, §3.2 Instantaneous Velocity and Speed (average speed = total distance ÷ elapsed time). https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/3-2-instantaneous-velocity-and-speed, retrieved 2026-10-02.
3. d = 1,931,212.8, s = 29.0576, stops = 120, dep = 20:00 gives moving = {"hours":18,"minutes":28}, total = {"hours":20,"minutes":28}, arrive = 16:28, days = The next day. Source: OpenStax, University Physics Volume 1, §3.2 Instantaneous Velocity and Speed (average speed = total distance ÷ elapsed time). https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/3-2-instantaneous-velocity-and-speed, retrieved 2026-10-02.

## FAQ

### How do I calculate travel time?

Divide the distance by the average speed: time = distance ÷ speed. 250 miles at 60 mph takes 250 ÷ 60 = 4.17 hours, which is 4 hours 10 minutes.

### How do I turn decimal hours into hours and minutes?

Keep the whole hours and multiply the decimal part by 60. 4.1667 hours is 4 hours and 0.1667 × 60 = 10 minutes.

### What average speed should I use for a road trip?

Use your expected average while moving, not the speed limit. Traffic, towns and slow stretches bring the average below the highway speed. Add breaks separately as stop minutes.

### How do I work out my arrival time?

Add the total travel time to your departure time. Leaving at 8:15 AM on a 3 hour 30 minute trip, you arrive at 11:45 AM. Past midnight the calculator says you arrive the next day.

### Does the arrival time change across time zones?

No. The arrival time is on the clock where you leave. If you cross a time zone, add or subtract the hour yourself.

### Can I use kilometers and km/h?

Yes. Pick km for the distance and km/h for the speed, or switch the page to Metric. 300 km at 100 km/h takes 3 hours.

## Sources

- OpenStax, University Physics Volume 1, §3.2 Instantaneous Velocity and Speed (average speed = total distance ÷ elapsed time). https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/3-2-instantaneous-velocity-and-speed (retrieved 2026-10-02)