Rate of change in position, or speed, is equal to distance traveled divided by time. To solve for time, divide the distance traveled by the rate. For example, if Cole drives his car 45 km per hour and travels a total of 225 km, then he traveled for 225/45 = 5 hours. Created by Sal Khan.

To calculate total travel time, you must sum the duration of every segment of your journey, including "transit" and "buffer" times. The formula is: Total Time = (Time to Airport/Station) + (Wait Time/Check-in) + (Flight/Train Duration) + (Layover Time) + (Post-Arrival Processing) + (Time to Final Destination). In 2026, travelers are advised to use the "door-to-door" method for the most accurate planning. For example, if it takes 1 hour to get to the airport, you arrive 2 hours early, fly for 4 hours, wait 1 hour for bags/immigration, and take 1 hour to get to your hotel, your total travel time is 9 hours—even though the flight was only 4 hours. When crossing time zones, it is easiest to convert all times to a single reference zone (like UTC) or simply calculate the "Elapsed Time" by subtracting the local start time from the local end time while adjusting for the time zone offset. Most modern travel apps like Google Maps or TripIt now do this automatically, but manually verifying the "buffer" times for security and customs is essential for a stress-free trip.