A reasonably fit person can typically walk about 20 miles (approximately 32 kilometers) in a day if walking continuously for around 5 to 8 hours, depending on pace and conditions. This is considered a sustainable distance for someone in good shape without heavy equipment
. For the average person, daily walking distances are much shorter. Most people walk about 1.5 to 2 miles per day (around 3,000 to 4,000 steps), with more active individuals reaching about 5 miles (roughly 10,000 steps)
. Walking 10,000 steps or about 5 miles per day is often recommended for health benefits and is achievable for many adults as part of their routine
. In more strenuous scenarios, such as hiking long trails, people may average 8 to 10 miles per day, with some pushing 12 to 16 miles depending on terrain and fitness
. Soldiers historically marched about 16-24 kilometers (10-15 miles) per day, indicating the upper limits for sustained walking under physical stress
. In summary:
- Average person walking casually: 1.5 to 5 miles per day
- Fit person walking for exercise or travel: 8 to 20 miles per day
- Endurance hikers or soldiers: 15 to 24 miles per day
The exact distance depends on fitness, walking speed, terrain, and purpose of walking
