Have you ever wondered how long does it take to walk 8 miles? Perhaps you’re considering this as your new daily exercise routine, or maybe you’ve just signed up for a charity walk. Walking 8 miles a day is a significant distance, especially if you do it every day. But for a day hike, it can be a lot of fun and you can always take rest stops along the way.
Walking offers numerous health benefits, especially if it’s a daily habit but the time it takes to complete 8 miles can vary hugely depending on your walking pace.
Whether you’re a brisk walker or prefer a moderate pace, this guide takes a look at just how long it takes to cover the distance. From walking uphill to using a treadmill or walking to lose weight – we’ve got it covered!
How Far Is 8 Miles?
8 miles is 14,080 yards or 12,874 meters or just under 13K.
How many steps is 8 miles walking?
The number of steps it takes to walk 8 miles can vary depending on a person’s step length (stride length), fitness level, and pace.
Walking 8 miles is the same distance as approximately 16,000 to 19,200 steps.
This estimation is based on an average step length of around 2.2 to 3 feet. Keep in mind that this is a general estimate and individual results may vary. For people with a shorter stride, the total number of steps may be higher, while those with a longer stride may find they take fewer steps.
How Long Does It Take To Walk 8 Miles?
The time it takes to walk 8 miles can vary greatly depending on a number of factors, including your walking pace, fitness level, and the terrain you’re walking on. However, to give you a general idea, let’s consider the average walking speed for a healthy adult.
Walking speeds vary from person to person but typically the average person walks at a pace between 3 to 4 mph. At this speed, it takes approximately 120 to 160 minutes to walk 8 miles.
This is just a rough estimation. Some people can power walk maintaining a speed of 5 miles per hour. At this pace, you could finish your 8-mile walk in just over 1.5 hours.
Of course, this is assuming perfectly flat terrain and consistent energy levels. Realistically, if you’re walking on varied terrains, hiking up mountains, or including breaks, it could take a lot longer.
Factor in your own personal fitness level. If you’re new to walking long distances, you may need to take a slower pace and include more rest stops. 8 miles can take 4 hours at a walking speed of 2 mph.
Often walking speed depends on your intent. If you’re trying to walk at a brisk pace you’ll walk faster. If your aim is a moderate walking pace with friends, expect 8 miles to take longer.
If you know your walking pace for one mile, you can calculate your walking speed for 8 miles from the following chart:
| Walking Speed (mph) | Walking Pace (min/mile) | Time Taken To Walk 8 Miles (hour: min) |
| 2.0 | 30.0 | 4:00 |
| 2.25 | 26.7 | 3:34 |
| 2.5 | 24.0 | 3:12 |
| 2.75 | 21.8 | 2:54 |
| 3.0 | 20.0 | 2:40 |
| 3.25 | 18.5 | 2:28 |
| 3.5 | 17.1 | 2:17 |
| 3.75 | 16.0 | 2:08 |
| 4.0 | 15.0 | 2:00 |
| 4.25 | 14.1 | 1:53 |
| 4.5 | 13.3 | 1:46 |
| 4.75 | 12.6 | 1:41 |
| 5.0 | 12.0 | 1:36 |
What Is The Average Walking Speed?
Based on research by Schimpl, Moore et al. average walking pace is typically 3 mph for a healthy adult. This translates to a pace of 20 minutes per mile.
However, this varies from person to person as numerous factors come into play, such as age, sex, and fitness level.
Age and sex have less impact than you might expect. The research by Schimpl, Moore et al. found a difference of just 1.2 minutes when walking a distance of 1 km aged 20 compared to 60 years.
Over 8 miles, that’s about 16 minutes. Most adults with a good fitness level retain the ability to keep up a brisk walking speed as they get older. It’s only a lack of fitness in older adults that has a big impact on average walking time.
Find out more about average walking speed by age and sex.
Walking Pace Over Longer Distances
Fitness is the main factor affecting walking speeds on flat terrain. Most people slow down the further they walk. It takes a good fitness level to maintain the same pace on a long walk.
When you’re walking a long distance, it’s best to walk slower at the start. It helps you avoid running out of energy over the last few miles.
If you’re new to long distances, practice with different walking paces. Try walking at an easy pace for a mile, a moderate pace, and a brisk pace. Which pace could you keep up over an 8-mile walk?
If your aim is walking 8 miles every day, it’s always important to build up your mileage slowly. Start with a distance that’s in your comfort zone. It could be 2 miles or 3 miles or 5 miles. Each week add an extra mile to your daily total and you’ll soon reach your 8-mile-a-day target.
Walking Pace On A Treadmill
Personally, I can’t imagine walking 8 miles on a treadmill. I find treadmills are great in very hot or wet weather but the most I can manage is 3 miles or an hour of walking.
Everyone has different boredom thresholds – I just prefer to walk outdoors in the fresh air, enjoying nature.
If you prefer to walk 8 miles on a treadmill, aim for a brisk walking pace where you’re making an effort and your heart rate is elevated but you can still walk and talk. You can also take breaks or alternate walking with jogging if it helps.
Walking speed can be faster on a treadmill than walking outside. Instead of uneven pavements and street furniture to dodge, you have a flat consistent treadmill belt to walk on.
On a treadmill, you can set the speed setting to the pace you want to walk at. So if you set the speed to 3 mph, it will take you 160 minutes to walk 8 miles. At a speed of 4 mph, it will take 120 minutes to walk 8 miles.
Walk Uphill
Walking up hills adds resistance and challenges your muscles more than walking on a flat surface. Uphill walking also burns more calories and increases your heart rate, which is great for getting fit faster.
Use our Calories Burned Walking Calculator to find out how many calories you burn walking uphill. How many calories you burn will depend on your body weight and walking speed, but it can be almost twice as much as walking on level ground.
Of course, walking uphill is slower. Expect to take an extra 30 minutes for every 1000 feet of climbing. An 8-mile walk with 3000 feet of elevation gain can take 4 hours and 10 minutes.
Find out more about hiking times and how to allow for elevation. If you’re walking on terrain where the paths are poor walking times will increase significantly.
Benefits of Walking 8 Miles A Day
Walking has tremendous potential health benefits. Regular walking can:
- Reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke
- Improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels
- Strengthen bones and muscles
- Improve balance, coordination, and overall fitness levels
- Reduce stress levels
- Increase energy levels.
Walking 8 miles a day can also help you reach your weight loss goals. When combined with a healthy diet, walking is one of the best ways to burn calories and lose weight in a sustainable way. Over time, you’ll find walking 8 miles gets easier and you’ll start to see the results.
Thoughts from Love Life Be Fit
If you’re looking for an achievable way to stay fit and healthy, try walking 8 miles every day. Start small, be consistent, and soon you’ll amaze yourself with what you can achieve!
And don’t forget to enjoy your walks – let nature inspire you! Taking in the sights and sounds of nature can make walking 8 miles a day more enjoyable and help you stay motivated.
If you’re new to walking it’s best to follow a training plan instead of trying to walk too far too soon. Find out more about how to get started.
Need more information? Find out how long does it take to walk 6 miles or 7 miles.