How long does it take to walk 50 miles?
About 16 h 40 min at an average 3 mph walking pace, or 14 h 17 min if you walk briskly at 3.5 mph. Fifty miles is usually split over two or more days. Done in one go, it is an endurance event with organised support and sleep management.
Your time for 50 miles
50.00 miles · 80.47 km · about 114,200 steps at your height. Climbing uses Naismith's rule (+1 hour per 600 m / ~2,000 ft of ascent).
Time to walk 50 miles at common speeds
| Speed | Pace / mile | Time | Typical of |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 mph · 3.2 km/h | 30:00 | 25 h | Stroll |
| 2.5 mph · 4.0 km/h | 24:00 | 20 h | Average |
| 3.0 mph · 4.8 km/h | 20:00 | 16 h 40 min | Brisk |
| 3.5 mph · 5.6 km/h | 17:09 | 14 h 17 min | Brisk |
| 4.0 mph · 6.4 km/h | 15:00 | 12 h 30 min | Power walk |
| 4.5 mph · 7.2 km/h | 13:20 | 11 h 7 min | Power walk |
| 5.0 mph · 8.0 km/h | 12:00 | 10 h | Race walk |
What changes the answer
Hills. 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. Enter your route's elevation gain above to include it.
Terrain. Rough trails, sand, snow and mud slow everyone down, often well beyond what the climb alone explains. Plan conservatively off-road.
Traffic lights and crowds. City walks are usually slower than a treadmill at the same effort because of crossings.
Fatigue. On long walks most people slow in the final miles; experienced walkers on Reddit's r/walking say the same. Breaks of 5–10 minutes an hour keep the overall pace steadier.
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, or plan any route with the walking time calculator.
Questions walkers ask
How long does it take to walk 50 miles?
At an average pace of 3 mph, walking 50 miles (50.00 miles, 80.5 km) takes about 16 h 40 min. A brisk 3.5 mph cuts it to 14 h 17 min; a relaxed 2.5 mph stretches it to 20 h. That is moving time only — over this distance, sleep and rest days dominate the real total.
How long is 50 miles at a fast walk?
A fast power walk of 4 mph covers 50 miles in about 12 h 30 min, before any stops.
How many steps is 50 miles?
Most adults take 2,000–2,400 steps per mile, so 50 miles is roughly 100,000–120,000 steps. Taller walkers and faster paces sit at the low end.
How many calories does walking 50 miles burn?
At 3 mph on flat ground, about 3967 calories for a 150 lb (68 kg) person and 5291 for a 200 lb (91 kg) person, using Compendium of Physical Activities MET values. Hills and faster speeds burn more.
Can the average person walk 50 miles?
Not without preparation. Distances like 50 miles need progressive training, good footwear, a fuelling plan and usually several breaks or several days.