Drive Time Calculator – Estimate Travel Times by Car
Instantly calculate your journey's duration, see your average speed visualized, and get key trip insights.
Trip Parameters
Journey Analysis
How to Plan Your Trip
Our calculator simplifies trip planning into three easy steps, giving you a clear and accurate estimate for your journey.
Enter Trip Details
Input the total distance of your trip and your estimated average speed in your preferred units (miles/km or mph/kmh).
Set Departure Time
Enter the time you plan to start your journey. This allows the tool to calculate your estimated time of arrival.
Analyze Your Journey
Click "Calculate Trip" to see the total drive time, your estimated arrival, and the recommended number of stops for a safe trip.
Understanding Average Speed
Your "Average Speed" is the single most important factor for an accurate time estimate. It's not just the speed limit, but a blend of all the different speeds you'll travel.
What it Includes
Your average speed should account for:
- Highway or freeway speeds.
- Slower speeds on city streets or rural roads.
- Potential slowdowns for traffic or construction.
Choosing a Good Estimate
A good rule of thumb for long road trips is to use an average speed that is slightly below the main highway speed limit. For example, for a trip mostly on a 70 mph freeway, an average speed of 60-65 mph is a realistic estimate that accounts for minor slowdowns.
Key Features of the Analyzer
Our tool is designed to give you a comprehensive and intuitive overview of your travel plans.
Live Speedometer
The animated speedometer in the results panel provides a dynamic visual representation of the average speed you've entered.
Arrival Time Projection
By factoring in your departure time, the calculator gives you a clear Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) to help you plan your day.
Stop Recommendations
For longer trips, the calculator suggests the number of recommended stops (roughly one every two hours) to promote safe driving habits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get quick answers to common questions about calculating your drive time.
Does this calculator account for stops and breaks?
The main "Total Drive Time" calculation does not include time for stops. It calculates the pure driving duration based on your distance and average speed. You should manually add the time for your planned stops (e.g., 15 minutes per stop) to the final result to get your total journey time.
How is the number of recommended stops calculated?
The recommendation is based on general safety guidelines from transportation authorities, which often advise drivers to take a short break for every two hours of continuous driving. Our calculator divides your total drive time by two to give you a simple estimate of how many breaks you should plan for.
Can this calculator account for traffic?
Not directly, as traffic is unpredictable. However, you can account for it by adjusting your average speed. If you know you'll be driving during heavy rush hour traffic, you should lower your average speed input to get a more realistic time estimate. For real-time traffic data, you should always use a GPS navigation app like Google Maps or Waze.