Hiking Time Calculator
How long will that hike take? Enter distance and elevation gain — get an instant estimate with Naismith's rule.
How Naismith's Rule Estimates Hiking Time
Scottish mountaineer William W. Naismith devised this rule in 1892, and it is still the standard quick estimate used by hikers worldwide:
1 hour per 5 km (3 miles) of horizontal distance, plus 30 minutes per 300 m (1,000 ft) of ascent.
Enter your route's distance and total elevation gain above. The calculator applies Naismith's rule instantly, then adjusts for your fitness level — relaxed hikers get a 20% buffer, fast hikers a 15% reduction. The breakdown shows how much of your time goes to covering ground versus climbing.
📏 Metric & Imperial
Kilometers/meters or miles/feet — switch with one tap.
💪 Fitness Adjustment
Relaxed, average or fast pace — the estimate adapts to you.
📊 Time Breakdown
See flat-ground time and climbing time separately.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Naismith's rule estimates hiking time as 1 hour for every 5 km (3 miles) of distance plus 30 minutes for every 300 m (1,000 ft) of elevation gain. It was devised by Scottish mountaineer William W. Naismith in 1892.
Naismith's rule gives a solid estimate for an average hiker on reasonable terrain. Adjust the fitness slider for your pace, and add extra time for rough trails, heavy packs, bad weather, or high altitude.
The classic rule only adds time for ascent. Gentle descents are roughly covered by the base pace, but steep descents can slow you down — add 10–20% for very steep downhill sections.
Choose Relaxed if you hike occasionally or carry a heavy pack, Average for a regular hiker, and Fast if you are fit and hike often. When in doubt, pick Relaxed — it is better to arrive early than to be caught out after dark.
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