How long does it take to walk a marathon?
About 8 h 44 min at an average 3 mph walking pace, or 7 h 29 min if you walk briskly at 3.5 mph. A marathon is 26.2 miles. At 3 mph that is 8 h 44 min of moving time, which is why many big-city marathons publish walker-friendly cutoffs of 6–8 hours.
Your time for a marathon
Distance: 26.22 miles · 42.20 km · roughly 52,400–62,900 steps.
Time to walk a marathon at common speeds
| Speed | Pace / mile | Time | Typical of |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 mph · 3.2 km/h | 30:00 | 13 h 7 min | Stroll |
| 2.5 mph · 4.0 km/h | 24:00 | 10 h 29 min | Average |
| 3.0 mph · 4.8 km/h | 20:00 | 8 h 44 min | Brisk |
| 3.5 mph · 5.6 km/h | 17:09 | 7 h 29 min | Brisk |
| 4.0 mph · 6.4 km/h | 15:00 | 6 h 33 min | Power walk |
| 4.5 mph · 7.2 km/h | 13:20 | 5 h 50 min | Power walk |
| 5.0 mph · 8.0 km/h | 12:00 | 5 h 15 min | 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 a marathon?
At an average pace of 3 mph, walking a marathon (26.22 miles) takes about 8 h 44 min. A brisk 3.5 mph cuts it to 7 h 29 min; a relaxed 2.5 mph stretches it to 10 h 29 min.
How long is a marathon at a fast walk?
A fast power walk of 4 mph covers a marathon in about 6 h 33 min, before any stops.
How many steps is a marathon?
Most adults take 2,000–2,400 steps per mile, so a marathon is roughly 52,400–62,900 steps. Taller walkers and faster paces sit at the low end.