Need to know how long does it take to walk 9 miles for a challenge hike or maybe your aim is to walk 9 miles a day. This post will help you plan your walks and ensure you’re adequately prepared.
The time it takes can vary based on your walking speed, terrain, and even the weather. On average, it could take anywhere from under 2 hours to 4.5 hours. But we’ll help you understand all the factors that can affect your walking time so you can hit the road (or trail) with confidence.
If you’re walking 9 miles a day for fitness, it’s just as important to know how long it’s going to take. You’ll want to make sure you’re not pushing too hard and that you have enough time to rest and recover.
Most people walking every day wear a fitness tracker to count steps and include all movements in their tally. It’s a sound approach to increasing your daily step count. Just convert steps into miles to make sure you’re hitting your target.
How Far Is 9 Miles?
9 miles is 15,840 yards or 14,484 meters or approximately 14.5K.
How many steps is 9 miles of walking?
The number of steps it takes to walk 9 miles can vary depending on a person’s step length (stride length), fitness level, and pace.
Walking 9 miles is the same distance as approximately 18,000 to 21,600 steps. Basically, the distance you’ll walk every day on a 20,000 steps challenge.
This estimation is based on an average step length of around 2.2 to 3 feet.
How Long Does It Take To Walk 9 Miles?
At a moderate walking pace of around 2.5 mph (miles an hour), it would take 3.6 hours to walk 9 miles. That’s 216 minutes.
If you can walk faster than 2.5mph, then the time will be reduced and vice versa if your speed is slower.
Walking speed on a hike is typically 3 miles per hour. You’re making an effort and walking with purpose so your time will be faster than a moderate pace.
Walking pace, fitness level, and terrain are just some of the factors affecting how fast you walk.
If you’re walking for fitness aim for a brisk walking pace. At a brisk pace, your heart rate will be elevated but you’ll still be able to walk and talk.
The average person walks at a brisk pace between 3 to 4 mph. At this speed, it takes approximately 135 to 180 minutes to walk 9 miles. That’s between 2 hours 15 minutes and 3 hours.
Some people are able to power walk hitting speeds of up to 12 minutes per mile. At this pace, you can walk 9 miles in 108 minutes (1 hour 48 minutes).
These times assume consistent energy levels and perfectly flat terrain. That’s why it’s important to factor in resting stops, hills, and any other factors that can affect your walking speed.
If you know your walking pace for one mile, you can calculate your walking speed for 9 miles from the following chart:
| Walking Speed (mph) | Walking Pace (min/mile) | Time Taken To Walk 9 Miles (hour: min) |
| 2.0 | 30.0 | 4:30 |
| 2.25 | 26.7 | 4:00 |
| 2.5 | 24.0 | 3:36 |
| 2.75 | 21.8 | 3:16 |
| 3.0 | 20.0 | 3:00 |
| 3.25 | 18.5 | 2:47 |
| 3.5 | 17.1 | 2:34 |
| 3.75 | 16.0 | 2:24 |
| 4.0 | 15.0 | 2:15 |
| 4.25 | 14.1 | 2:07 |
| 4.5 | 13.3 | 2:00 |
| 4.75 | 12.6 | 1:53 |
| 5.0 | 12.0 | 1:48 |
Find out more about walking for weight loss. How long does it take to walk 6 miles, 7 miles, or 8 miles?
What Is The Average Walking Speed?
The average walking pace is often used as a benchmark for determining the duration of a walking journey. According to research conducted by Schimpl, Moore et al., the average walking speed for adults is typically 3.0 mph (miles per hour), a pace of 20 minutes per mile.
This speed can, however, vary considerably depending on an individual’s fitness level, age, health status, and the terrain they’re walking on.
It’s health status that makes the biggest difference followed by 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. That’s just 17 minutes over 9 miles.
Walking uphill or on uneven terrain can significantly decrease walking speed. It’s important to understand the condition of the trail when you’re planning a 9-mile hike.
As a walker, understanding your own average speed can help you estimate your walking time more accurately, set realistic goals, and pace yourself effectively during your walks. Try timing yourself at different effort levels over a mile distance to get a feel for how fast you can walk.
Walking Pace Over Longer Distances
When walking over longer distances, most people slow down the further they walk. You have to be very fit to maintain a constant fast pace.
If you’re not a regular walker or used to engaging in endurance activities, you’ll find yourself running out of energy. Muscles get depleted leading to a slower pace.
However, if you’re fit and used to long-distance walking, you’ll find it much easier to maintain your pace over 9 miles or more. Regular exercise helps build stamina and endurance, and you’ll find you can go further for longer.
Investing time in getting fit and training for trekking can pay off when it comes to long-distance walking.
If your aim is walking 9 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
9 miles will seem a long way on a treadmill. It can be a boring experience and without the usual distractions of nature, it can seem like an eternity.
The good news is if your goal is to walk 9 miles every day, training on a treadmill can help you build up speed and endurance over time.
Walking on a treadmill isn’t for everyone. But you can add walking intervals and vary your pace to make the sessions more interesting.
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 180 minutes to walk 9 miles. At a speed of 4 mph, it will take 135 minutes to walk 9 miles.
Walk Uphill
Uphill walks help build strength, especially in calves, quads, hamstrings, and glutes. Hills are also a great way to improve fitness – it takes a lot more effort to hike up a steep hill.
You’ll burn more calories and get fit faster. Use our Calories Burned Walking Calculator to find out how many calories you burn walking hills. 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. A 9-mile hike with 3000 feet of elevation gain can take 4 hours and 30 minutes. Add extra time for rest stops.
This is based on Naismith’s Rule which allows one hour for every 3 miles of walking plus an additional hour for every 2000 feet of altitude gained.
Will You Lose Weight Walking 9 Miles A Day?
Walking 9 miles regularly comes with numerous health benefits from improved cardiovascular health to lower blood pressure and better mental health.
One of the benefits of walking is calories burned and weight loss. How much weight you’ll lose depends on your current body weight and how fast you’re walking.
Most people burn 720 to 900 calories walking 9 miles every day. That’s up to 6300 calories per week. Providing you combine walking with healthy food choices you can expect to lose about 2 pounds a week.
Walking this far every day will make you hungry and it’s important to fill up on nutritious food to top up your energy levels. Aim to eat whole grains, lean protein, lots of vegetables, some fruit, and a small amount of healthy fats.
It’s also important to keep hydrated and make sure you’re getting enough rest. Day after day of physical activity without adequate nutrition and rest won’t give you the results that you want.
If you have an existing health condition, you’re carrying a lot of excess weight or it’s a long time since you last exercised, it’s a good idea to speak to your doctor before embarking on a walking plan.
Thoughts From Love Life Be Fit
Walking is simple, accessible, and one of the best ways to transform your health and well-being. Walking 9 miles a day or taking on a 9-mile challenge hike can be a big step, especially if you haven’t exercised for a while.
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. Build up your distance gradually instead of getting discouraged by walking too far too soon.