Hiking Time Calculator
A free tool to estimate how long a hike will take based on your GPX route and optional pack weight and rest breaks.
The Hiking Time Calculator estimates moving time and total hiking time for any route based on a GPX file, with optional adjustments for a loaded pack and rest breaks. It is free, requires no account, and runs entirely in your browser.
What it is for
- Estimating how many hours a route will take before committing to it
- Splitting a long-distance route into realistic daily stages
- Comparing pace scenarios (light pack vs. heavy resupply load)
- Getting a day-range estimate for multi-day routes at different daily targets
Step 1 — Upload your GPX file
Drag a .gpx file onto the upload zone, or click Browse files to select one. Once uploaded, the tool displays:
- Distance (km)
- Elevation gain (m)
- Elevation data status — whether the file contains real elevation data or whether a 5% gradient estimate is being used
The estimate updates immediately after upload, before any optional inputs are entered.
Step 2 — Refine your estimate (optional)
Two optional inputs adjust the baseline calculation:
| Input | Effect |
|---|---|
| Pack weight (kg or lbs) | A heavier pack slows your pace — applies a load factor to the base speed |
| Rest breaks (minutes per hour) | Adds break time to the moving time to give a total elapsed time |
Leave both blank to get the raw moving-time estimate.
Reading the result
The result panel shows up to four figures, depending on the route length and inputs:
| Figure | Shown when |
|---|---|
| Moving time | Always — the core estimate excluding stops |
| With breaks | When rest break minutes are entered |
| Day range at 8 hr/day | Routes long enough to span multiple days |
| Day range at 6 hr/day | Routes long enough to span multiple days |
Day-range estimates use moving time only. Your daily target (6h or 8h of walking) determines the number of camps — adjust to match your actual pace and daily goal.
How the calculation works
The tool uses Naismith's Rule (1892), the standard planning formula for hiking:
- Base pace: 5 km/h on flat ground
- Ascent penalty: +1 hour per 300 m of elevation gain
- Pack load adjustment: heavier packs reduce effective speed
Naismith's Rule gives a minimum estimate for a fit hiker on a good trail. It does not account for rough terrain, river crossings, poor conditions, altitude, or fatigue on consecutive days. Add a buffer — typically 20–30% on technical routes or when going unsupported.
Naismith's Rule does not include a descent penalty for typical gradients. Steep or technical descents — scree, scrambling, exposed ridges — take significantly longer than the formula suggests. Use your judgement on routes with major technical descents.
No elevation data in the file
If the GPX does not contain elevation data, the tool uses a 5% gradient estimate — a conservative average applied across the route distance. For accurate results, use a GPX file that includes elevation (most exports from AllTrails, Gaia GPS, Garmin Connect, and Komoot include it).
No account required
The calculator works without a Trailkeep account. All processing happens in your browser — your GPX file is never uploaded to a server.
The tool does not save state between sessions. Closing or refreshing the page clears everything. Save any results you need before closing.
Using it alongside the Trip Planner
Once you know how long the route takes, use the Trailkeep Trip Planner to build the full day-by-day itinerary: split your route into days, add waypoints, attach a gear list, and share one link with your emergency contacts.