Kayak Trip Distance Calculator
Plan your kayaking trip.
Calculate distance you can paddle in a given time at your cruising speed, accounting for breaks and tides.
Trip planning is one of the most important safety skills in sea kayaking and touring. Underestimating how far you need to paddle — especially against a headwind or tide — can turn a pleasant day trip into an emergency.
The basic formula is: Distance = Speed × Time
But effective trip planning requires accounting for:
Paddling speed by kayaker level:
- Beginner (recreational kayak): 4–6 km/h
- Intermediate (touring kayak, fit paddler): 6–8 km/h
- Advanced / sea kayaker: 8–10 km/h
- Racing / surf ski: 10–14 km/h
Rest breaks: Plan 10 minutes of breaks per hour of paddling. A 6-hour trip includes approximately 1 hour of breaks — only 5 hours of actual paddling time.
Wind and current:
- Headwind of 15 km/h: reduces speed by ~2 km/h
- Tailwind: adds 0.5–1.5 km/h (less effect than headwind due to drag)
- 1-knot current with you: adds 1.85 km/h
- 1-knot current against you: subtracts 1.85 km/h
The rule of thirds: In sea kayaking, plan to use one-third of your energy getting out, one-third returning, and keep one-third in reserve for emergencies (unexpected weather, rescue assistance, route changes). This means your effective one-way range is only one-third of your total paddling capacity.
Tidal windows: Many coastal routes are only passable during certain tidal states. Always check tidal stream atlases and plan your trip around the favourable tide window.