How long does it take to walk 20 miles?
About 6 h 40 min at an average 3 mph walking pace, or 5 h 43 min if you walk briskly at 3.5 mph. Twenty miles on foot is an ultra-style day. Blisters and fuelling matter more than pace — few people hold 3 mph for seven hours.
Your time for 20 miles
Distance: 20.00 miles · 32.19 km · roughly 40,000–48,000 steps.
Time to walk 20 miles at common speeds
| Speed | Pace / mile | Time | Typical of |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 mph · 3.2 km/h | 30:00 | 10 h | Stroll |
| 2.5 mph · 4.0 km/h | 24:00 | 8 h | Average |
| 3.0 mph · 4.8 km/h | 20:00 | 6 h 40 min | Brisk |
| 3.5 mph · 5.6 km/h | 17:09 | 5 h 43 min | Brisk |
| 4.0 mph · 6.4 km/h | 15:00 | 5 h | Power walk |
| 4.5 mph · 7.2 km/h | 13:20 | 4 h 27 min | Power walk |
| 5.0 mph · 8.0 km/h | 12:00 | 4 h | Race walk |
What changes the answer
Terrain. Hiking guides use Naismith's rule: allow an extra hour for every 600 m (about 2,000 ft) of climbing on top of the flat-ground time. On rough trails, expect 20–30% slower than on pavement.
Traffic lights and crowds. City walks often average 10–15% slower than a treadmill at the same effort because of crossings.
Fitness and age. Comfortable walking speed stays around 3 mph through middle age and drifts down after 60 — see average walking speed by age.
Want to know your own pace first? Time a mile and plug it into the walking pace calculator.
Questions walkers ask
How long does it take to walk 20 miles?
At an average pace of 3 mph, walking 20 miles (20.00 miles) takes about 6 h 40 min. A brisk 3.5 mph cuts it to 5 h 43 min; a relaxed 2.5 mph stretches it to 8 h.
How long is 20 miles at a fast walk?
A fast power walk of 4 mph covers 20 miles in about 5 h, before any stops.
How many steps is 20 miles?
Most adults take 2,000–2,400 steps per mile, so 20 miles is roughly 40,000–48,000 steps. Taller walkers and faster paces sit at the low end.