• Welcome to the Fantasy Writing Forums. Register Now to join us!

Research: Travel Times

Here I'm listing some of my research into Travel Times, most of which I discovered on another forum, (naturally I can't remember where). However, it seems sound and makes a good guideline for writing.

- BY FOOT -
Average Walk Speed (Human): 2.5 to 3 miles per hour [≈4.02 to ≈4.83 km/hour]

On Roads/Trails:
Level or Rolling Terrain (≈20 miles/day [≈32.19 km])
Hilly Terrain (≈14 miles/day [≈22.53 km])
Mountainous Terrain (≈9 miles/day [≈14.48 km])

Off-Road:
Level or Rolling Terrain (≈15 miles/day [≈24.14 km])
Hilly Grasslands (≈12 miles/day [≈19.31 km])
Level or Rolling Forest/Thick Scrub (≈8 miles/day [≈12.88 km])
Very Hilly Forest/Thick Scrub (≈6 miles/day [≈9.66 km])

Unblazed Mountain Passes (≈6 miles/day [≈9.66 km])
Marshland (≈5 miles/day [≈8.05 km])

Modifiers:
(-)x0.25 for Heavily Laden Man
(+)x(0.25 to 0.5) for Very Experienced Hikers
(+)x(2) for specially trained man on a forced march for 20 hours & exhaustion at the end.


- BY HORSEBACK -
Average Walk Speed (Horse): ≈4 miles per hour [≈6.44 km/hour]

On Roads/Trails:
Level or Rolling Terrain (≈40 miles/day [≈64.37 km][avg.])
Hilly Terrain (≈30 miles/day [≈48.28 km][avg.])
Mountainous Terrain (≈20 miles/day [≈32.19 km][avg.])

Off-Road:
Level or Rolling Grasslands (≈30 miles/day [≈48.28 km][avg.])
Hilly Grasslands (≈25 miles/day [≈40.23 km][avg.])
Level or Rolling Forest/Thick Scrub (≈20 miles/day [≈32.19 km][avg.])
Very Hilly Forest/Thick Scrub (≈15 miles/day [≈24.14 km][avg.])

Unblazed Mountain Passes (≈10 miles/day [≈16.09][avg.])
Marshland (≈10 miles/day [≈16.09 km][avg.])

Modifiers:
(-)x0.25 for Poor Weather
(+)x0.5 for special training (Rangers/Scouts/Messengers) or horse breed
(-)x0.5 for Carts or Heavily Laden Horse

- SAILING -
(Average Speed: 5 to 8 Knots/hour)
5 Knots = ≈5.75 miles/hour [≈9.25 km], 8 Knots = ≈9.2 miles/hour [≈14.81 km]

Average Wind:
5 Knots = ≈138 miles/day [≈222.09 km]
6 Knots = ≈165.6 miles/day [≈266.51 km]
7 Knots = ≈193.2 miles/day [≈310.93 km]
8 Knots = ≈220.8 miles/day [≈355.34 km]

Note: I comprised the Sailing information myself and, as such, is by no means through experience, nor is it complete.

Portfolio entry information

Author
Ekorus
Read time
2 min read
Views
909
Last update

More entries in General

Top