Driving Time Duration Calculator

This calculator estimates how long a trip by road takes. Enter the distance in kilometres, or search a start and an end place on the free map to get the real road distance. Then enter your average speed, choose the traffic level and the number of rest stops. You get the basic travel time, the adjusted travel time, and a rough fuel and cost figure. It also works for a bus (20 to 100 km/h) or for a walking trip (3 to 6 km/h).

The key word is average speed. Your top speed on a motorway is not the speed that matters, because slow roads, junctions, lights, roadworks and queues pull the average down. A realistic average for a long mixed trip is usually well below the speed limit of the fastest road on it.

1. Basic time = distance ÷ average speed. This is the time with no delays at all.
2. Traffic adds a share of the basic time. Light traffic multiplies by 1.1 (10% extra), moderate by 1.3 (30%) and heavy by 1.6 (60%). Note that even light traffic adds 10%.
3. Rest stops add 15 minutes each, no matter how long the trip is.
4. Adjusted time = basic time + traffic extra + rest stop time.
5. Fuel = (distance ÷ 100) × consumption, using 7.8 L/100 km for highway, 11.2 for city and 9.5 for mixed roads. Cost = fuel × 1.5 per litre + 0.10 per km for wear and depreciation.

The fuel price and consumption figures are fixed averages used for a quick estimate, not your car's real values. If you know your car's consumption and your local fuel price, scale the fuel and cost results accordingly.

• 300 km at 100 km/h, light traffic, 1 rest stop, highway: basic 300 ÷ 100 = 3 h. Traffic 3 × 0.1 = 0.3 h. Rest 15 ÷ 60 = 0.25 h. Total 3.55 hours = 3 h 33 min. Fuel 3 × 7.8 = 23.4 L. Cost 23.4 × 1.5 + 300 × 0.1 = 35.10 + 30 = 65.10.
• 120 km at 60 km/h, moderate traffic, no stops, city: basic 2 h, traffic 2 × 0.3 = 0.6 h. Total 2.6 hours = 2 h 36 min. Fuel 1.2 × 11.2 = 13.44 L.
• 450 km at 90 km/h, heavy traffic, 2 rest stops, mixed roads: basic 5 h, traffic 5 × 0.6 = 3 h, rests 2 × 0.25 = 0.5 h. Total 8.5 hours = 8 h 30 min. Fuel 4.5 × 9.5 = 42.75 L.

Basic time for 100 km: 2 h 30 min at 40 km/h, 1 h 40 min at 60 km/h, 1 h 15 min at 80 km/h, 1 hour at 100 km/h and 50 minutes at 120 km/h. The chart under the calculator shows the same comparison for your own distance. If you think in miles, 60 mph is about 97 km/h and 70 mph is about 113 km/h (1 mile is about 1.609 km).

• Road type: motorways allow a high steady speed, city streets and rural roads with lights and junctions do not.
• Traffic and time of day: rush hour can add far more than 10% on busy routes.
• Weather and daylight: rain, snow, fog and ice lower safe speeds.
• Roadworks, border crossings, tolls and ferries: these add time that a distance formula cannot know.
• Vehicle and load: trucks, trailers and buses are often limited to lower speeds than cars.
• Breaks: tiredness is a safety risk. Many safety guides suggest a break about every two hours on long drives.

• Measure the real road distance with the map instead of guessing from a straight line. Roads are usually longer than the straight-line distance.
• Compare the map's time with your own estimate. The routing service assumes typical road speeds with no traffic, so your traffic setting shows what delays could add.
• Use a lower average speed than the speed limit and add a buffer when you have a fixed arrival time.
• Check live traffic and road closures just before you leave.