What average speed should I assume?

For a mostly-highway trip, 55-65 mph average is realistic once junctions and traffic are counted. Mixed roads with towns often average 40-50 mph. Always assume less than the speed limit.

How often should I take a break?

Safety bodies recommend a rest of at least 15 minutes roughly every two hours of driving to fight fatigue. Build these into the estimate rather than pushing through.

Does the calculator account for traffic?

It uses the average speed you enter, so lower that speed to reflect expected traffic, or add buffer time. For live traffic, cross-check with a maps app close to departure.

Should I add time for an electric car?

Yes — add a 20-40 minute charging stop roughly every 150-200 highway miles. Overlapping charging with meals and breaks keeps the added time small.

How Long Will My Road Trip Take?

Published 1/19/2026 · 2 min read · Car calculators

Marco Bianchi — Home, DIY & motoring writer at OneKitly

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In short

Divide the distance by your realistic average speed to get driving time, then add stops. For 300 miles at an average 60 mph, that's 5 hours of driving; add a 30-minute meal and two 15-minute breaks and the trip takes about 6 hours. Average speed on a real trip is always lower than the speed limit because of towns, traffic and slowing for junctions.

Estimate a drive's real duration: divide distance by average speed, then add stops for fuel, food and rest. A simple method with a worked example.

Driving time is just distance over speed

The core formula is time = distance ÷ speed. Use a realistic average, not the speed limit: even on a highway trip, junctions, tolls and traffic pull the effective average down to around 55-65 mph. For mixed roads with towns, 45 mph or less is common.

Stops are what people underestimate

A long day of driving isn't just wheels turning. Budget for fuel or charging, a proper meal, and a short stretch-your-legs break roughly every two hours to stay alert. On a full-day drive these easily add an hour or more — plan them in rather than being surprised by them.

For EVs, charging stops shape the schedule

An electric road trip adds charging time roughly every 150-200 miles of highway driving. A 10-80% DC fast charge often takes 20-40 minutes, which pairs naturally with a meal or break. Plan stops around the car's real highway range, and the extra time is modest and predictable.

Worked with our own calculator

Road trip time calculator

Given

Distance (km): 550
Average speed (km/h): 110
Total stop time (minutes): 60

Result

Driving time (hours): 5
Total time (hours): 6

These figures are produced by the calculator below, not typed in by hand — they are recomputed whenever the tool changes.

Run it on your own figures →

Frequently asked questions

What average speed should I assume?: For a mostly-highway trip, 55-65 mph average is realistic once junctions and traffic are counted. Mixed roads with towns often average 40-50 mph. Always assume less than the speed limit.
How often should I take a break?: Safety bodies recommend a rest of at least 15 minutes roughly every two hours of driving to fight fatigue. Build these into the estimate rather than pushing through.
Does the calculator account for traffic?: It uses the average speed you enter, so lower that speed to reflect expected traffic, or add buffer time. For live traffic, cross-check with a maps app close to departure.
Should I add time for an electric car?: Yes — add a 20-40 minute charging stop roughly every 150-200 highway miles. Overlapping charging with meals and breaks keeps the added time small.

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