Plan a long drive realistically. Enter the distance and a sensible average speed, and this tool works out the driving time, then adds rest and fuel stops so the total reflects what the day will actually feel like.
How it works
The core calculation is driving time = distance ÷ average speed. On top of that, the tool adds rest and fuel stops: it inserts a stop after each segment of the interval you set (for example every 200 km), but not at the destination, then multiplies the number of stops by your stop duration. The total time = driving time + total stop time. You can switch freely between miles/mph and kilometres/km/h, and all figures update as you type.
Example
A 600 km trip at an average 80 km/h, stopping 20 minutes every 200 km:
- Driving time = 600 ÷ 80 = 7.5 hours = 7 h 30 min
- Intermediate stops = 600 ÷ 200 − (none at destination) = 2 stops = 40 min
- Total = 7 h 30 min + 40 min = 8 h 10 min
| Component | Value |
|---|---|
| Distance | 600 km |
| Average speed | 80 km/h |
| Driving time | 7 h 30 min |
| Stops | 2 × 20 min = 40 min |
| Total | 8 h 10 min |
Everything is calculated in your browser, with nothing sent anywhere.
Choosing a realistic average speed
The single most common mistake is using the speed limit or motorway cruising speed as the average. Your average over a full trip is almost always lower because of:
- Built-up areas and towns along the route
- Traffic lights and roundabouts
- Congestion at peak hours
- Road works and variable speed limits
- Acceleration and braking cycles
A typical motorway trip that cruises at 70 mph (113 km/h) might average 55–60 mph (90–97 km/h) over the whole journey. A route mixing motorway and A-roads might average 45–50 mph. Enter the average that fits your specific route rather than the legal maximum.
How stop frequency affects the day
Longer stop intervals keep the driving time high and reduce total stop time, but make fatigue build faster. Shorter intervals add more breaks and a little total time, but many drivers find the day easier. Official guidance in many European countries recommends a 15-minute break after every 2 hours of driving.
| Driving style | Suggested stop interval |
|---|---|
| Long motorway, minimal fatigue | Every 2–2.5 h |
| Mixed roads with passengers | Every 1.5–2 h |
| With children or pets | Every 1–1.5 h |
Running the calculator with two or three different stop configurations takes seconds and gives you a realistic range for arrival time.
Planning multi-day drives
This tool calculates one continuous leg. For a trip spread across multiple days, run each day’s driving leg separately with its own distance, average speed, and stop schedule. Summing the daily totals gives the full trip time, and you can see immediately whether a given day’s leg is too long for a single sitting.