Trying to figure out how long a kayak float is going to take is tricky. Often times, I have found myself underestimating the length of my float and taking over an hour or longer than I intended. When you’re relying on someone to pick you up at the end of your float, like a shuttle service, timing is extremely important.
How fast a kayak can go
The average recreational kayaker travels about 3 mph (2.5 Knots). The speed at which a kayaker can travel depends on water conditions, the type of kayak used, the experience of the paddler, and how often the paddler takes a break from paddling and floats.
There are a lot of factors to take into account while calculating a trip in your kayak but there are a few baselines you can use to make this process as simple as possible.
How long it takes to kayak a mile
The amount of time it takes to cover a mile will vary depending on several factors all the way down to what style of kayak you’re in and how much gear you have on it. If you’re looking to meet a deadline then it’s better to be early than late.
It takes, on average, 20 minutes to travel a mile in a kayak at a pace around 3 miles per hour.
Know your float, if you’re traveling down faster-moving water than normal, then you can subtract 5 minutes. Likewise, you can add 10 minutes if the water is still or slow-moving.
It can be hard to calculate precisely how long it will take to complete a float, especially if you have never done that exact trip before. Always give yourself a 15-30 minute leeway so that you have plenty of time to enjoy the sights and snap a few pictures.
For example: Say your first float ever is 3 miles long and you have no idea of knowing how fast the river is moving. The best thing to do is assume that the float will take you an hour then add 15 minutes. That’s 3 miles per hour on average, plus a 15-minute window. 1 hour and 15 minutes of total float time for a 3-mile trip.
Here is a helpful chart to help you determine how long a float will take you. Remember that longer floats will need more leeway time to allow for more stops or slowdowns.
| Distance (mile) | Time | +Leeway | Total Time |
| 1 | 0:20 | :15 | :35 |
| 2 | 0:40 | :15 | :55 |
| 3 | 1 hour | :15 | 1:15 |
| 4 | 1:20 | :20 | 1:40 |
| 5 | 1:40 | :20 | 2 hours |
| 6 | 2 hours | :20 | 2:20 |
| 7 | 2:20 | :25 | 2:45 |
| 8 | 2:40 | :25 | 3:05 |
| 9 | 3 hours | :25 | 3:25 |
| 10 | 3:20 | :30 | 3:50 |
| 11 | 3:40 | :30 | 4:10 |
| 12 | 4 hours | :40 | 4:40 |
| 13 | 4:20 | :40 | 5 hours |
| 14 | 4:40 | :40 | 5:20 |
| 15 | 5 hours | :45 | 5:45 |
If you plan on making any stops along the way, adjust accordingly.
How far you can kayak in a day
Float trips that span several days and involve camping out on the side of the river are becoming increasingly popular. Couples or groups of people get together and go on a super fun camping trip improved by the magic of kayaking, I love it.
The average kayaker can travel about 12 miles per day. It is possible to travel farther, however that doesn’t leave any time for landings and breaks.
Sitting for long periods of time becomes very uncomfortable. Kayaking is about like riding in a car and I find myself wanting to stop and stretch my legs about ever 2 and a half hours. With that being said, I am a taller person (6’4”) so I have less legroom than others.
Group floats will also be a little slower just because there is more room for slowdowns and more stops to stretch and use the restroom.
Don’t underestimate how much water you will need during an all-day or several day float. Make sure you consume about a gallon per day minimum.
Multi-day float vs single day float
If you’re planning on floating for several days and camping along the river during the night, then allow yourself about 3 hours in the morning and 5 hours in the afternoon to tend to the camp and fix food.
If you’re only floating for one day from point A to B, then you should be able to kayak farther since you don’t have to worry about pitching tents at the end of the night.
Another thing to remember is that you have less daylight in the winter than you do summer time. If you’re planning a winter float, you will have less daylight to cover distance.
Helpful tools to calculate kayak trip distance with technology
I’ve gathered a couple of useful resources together that I use to plan my floats below.
The MyFitnessPal App
If you’re looking for a more detailed look at how fast you can make a float, you can download a running app like My Fitness Pal and use it during your trip. In the end, you can see your average speed and how long it took you to complete your journey. As far as apps go, pretty much any running app will do. Just use it like you would if you were running and it works just the same.
Google Maps Engine
To map your float before you go, you can use Google Maps Engine. Everyone knows about Google Maps, but this lets you plot as many custom points as you want while also allowing you to draw your own paths to them. You can draw the distance of a float on the map and it will show you the exact distance of your path. This tool is extremely helpful for planning.
USGS National Water Info System: Mapper
The USGS National Water Info System is a huge database full of valuable information if you’re wanting to accurately plan a float. You can search for the waterway you’re looking for and see all kinds of valuable information like depth, discharge rate, water temperature and so much more. The information is presented in an easy to read chart on daily, monthly, and annual intervals.
Factors that may affect your kayak float time
There are couple factors that can severely impact your trip time, some of which are easier to predict than others.
Weather and Water Level
The weather and water level are the two easiest factors to predict and plan before before your float. Checking the weather several times leading up to the trip is recommended and you can expect the water level to reflect the amount of rainfall over the last few days.
In the spring, water levels tend to be higher than summer and fall and will flow much faster.
Be sure to find out if there is a dam upstream that may open or close gates at any time. dams can affect the water level fairly quickly and can either speed your trip up with increased water flow or make some areas of your float impassable because of low water in some situations.
Obstacles
Just like the water level, the obstacles that you encounter may be directly related to the weather. Downed trees, increased rapids, or impassible shallow water will slow down your time significantly depending on how easy it is to pass. Groups will take even longer because it requires more paddlers to navigate the obstacle while the others wait before continuing.
Unfamiliar Waters
If you’re doing a float for the first time, make sure to plan to take extra time to soak up the scenery, take pictures, or fish.
Navigating unknown waters requires patience and a little more concentration because you should constantly scanning ahead for obstacles, hazards, or rapids.
Particularly long floats may require you to use a map or watch for particular spots along the bank to stop and break.