How it works
Driving time = distance ÷ average speed
Rest breaks = one every N hours of driving (not counting the end of the trip)
Fuel stops = distance ÷ distance per tank, rounded up, minus one
Total = driving time + break and fuel stop minutes
Days = driving hours ÷ daily limit, rounded up
A fuel stop doubles as a rest break, so the calculator only adds extra breaks when you drive longer than your break interval between fill-ups.
Worked example
600 miles at a 55 mph average, a 15-minute break every 2 hours, fuel every 250 miles (20 minutes each), 8 hours of driving per day.
- Driving time: 600 ÷ 55 = 10 h 55 min
- 5 breaks are due; 2 fuel stops cover two of them: 2 × 20 + 3 × 15 = 85 min of stops
- Total: 12 h 20 min, more than the 8-hour limit, so plan 2 days.
Total trip time with breaks and fuel stops
A 15-minute break every 2 hours and a 20-minute fuel stop every 200 miles.
| Distance | 50 mph avg | 55 mph avg | 60 mph avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 150 mi | 3 h 15 min | 2 h 59 min | 2 h 45 min |
| 300 mi | 6 h 35 min | 6 h 02 min | 5 h 35 min |
| 500 mi | 11 h 10 min | 10 h 15 min | 9 h 30 min |
| 800 mi | 18 h 00 min | 16 h 33 min | 15 h 05 min |
| 1,200 mi | 27 h 10 min | 24 h 44 min | 22 h 40 min |
Planning a comfortable towing day
Start early, aim to arrive with daylight left to back in and set up, and leave margin for traffic and weather. Hilly routes and headwinds cut average speed and raise fuel use, so your range per tank and your stops change too: plan them with thetowing range calculator and budget the trip with thetowing fuel cost calculator.
Use breaks to walk around the rig: check tire sidewalls, hub temperatures (by hand, near the hub, not touching), the hitch, safety chains and lights. Five minutes at each stop catches most problems before they become roadside repairs.
Common mistakes
- Using the speed limit as the average. Real averages are much lower once stops and traffic are included.
- Skipping breaks. Fatigue builds faster when towing in wind and traffic.
- Assuming solo fuel range. Towing can cut range per tank by a third or more.
- Planning to arrive after dark. Unfamiliar campsites are hard to navigate at night.