Road Trip Time Calculator
How long a drive really takes with breaks, and when you will arrive.
Good to know. Average speed is never the speed limit. Towns, traffic and the queue for coffee pull it down.
How it works
In plain words
Divide the distance by your average speed for the driving time. Add a break after each full stretch of driving, but not at the end, and add the total to your departure time.
The formula
driving = distance ÷ average speed breaks = ⌈driving ÷ stretch⌉ − 1 trip = driving + breaks × break length
Worked example
500 km at an average of 90 km/h is 5 h 33 min of driving. With a 15-minute break every two hours, two breaks, the trip takes 6 h 3 min: leave at 08:00 and arrive at 14:03.
Sources
- The Highway Code, rule 91 (rules for drivers and motorcyclists) A break of at least 15 minutes after every two hours of driving.
Sources checked October 3, 2026. 3 automated tests check its answers on every change.
About the road trip time calculator
Navigation apps are good at driving time, but a long trip is more than driving. This calculator adds the breaks you should take, and shows when you will actually get there.
The average speed is the number that matters, and it is lower than you think. Even on a motorway or interstate, traffic, roadworks, towns at either end and slowing down to exit pull the average well below the limit: about 80–90 km/h, or 50–55 mph, is realistic for a mixed long route. If your app gives a driving time, divide the distance by it to get the average to use here.
Tiredness is a major cause of serious crashes, and it builds without warning. The UK Highway Code recommends a break of at least 15 minutes after every two hours of driving, and many countries give similar advice. Plan longer stops for meals, and share the driving if you can. A short nap and a coffee help when sleepiness hits; turning up the radio does not.
To work out the fuel for the trip, use the fuel cost calculator; for time zones on the way, the time zone converter.
Questions people ask
How long does it take to drive 500 km?
About 5½ hours of driving at an average of 90 km/h, or about 6 hours with two 15-minute breaks.
How often should I take a break when driving?
The UK Highway Code recommends at least 15 minutes after every two hours of driving.
What average speed should I use?
Lower than the speed limit: about 80–90 km/h (50–55 mph) for a long mixed route, more on empty motorways, less through towns.