How many kilometres per day should I plan for bikepacking?

Most bikepackers average 60 to 100 km per day on mixed terrain with moderate loading. Road touring can comfortably cover 100 to 150 km per day. Technical singletrack or heavy loading reduces this to 40 to 60 km. A conservative daily target with rest days built in is always safer than over-ambitious planning, especially for multi-week trips.

How does elevation affect bikepacking time estimates?

Climbing significantly increases travel time. Using Naismith's Rule as a base, expect to add approximately 10 minutes for every 100 metres of ascent. On a day with 1,500 m of climbing, this adds 2.5 hours to your moving time. Terrain type further slows pace on singletrack and gravel surfaces compared to tarmac.

How many calories do I need per day bikepacking?

Typical calorie expenditure for loaded bikepacking is 3,000 to 6,000 calories per day depending on effort, terrain, hours in the saddle and rider weight — a six-hour day commonly lands around 4,500 to 6,000. The calculator uses MET (metabolic equivalent) values for the terrain applied to your body weight, with a modest uplift for the carried load. Always carry more food than calculated — calorie estimation for outdoor exercise is not exact.

How much water do I need per day on a bikepacking trip?

A baseline of 2 litres per day plus approximately 500 ml per hour of riding is a sensible starting point in moderate conditions. Hot weather, high effort or high elevation increases this considerably. On remote routes, plan water sources carefully — a 3 to 5 litre carrying capacity is practical for most routes with re-supply every 50 to 100 km.

Should I build rest days into my bikepacking plan?

For trips over 5 days, most bikepackers include at least one rest or slower day per week. A rest day also provides buffer for mechanical issues, bad weather or unexpectedly challenging terrain. The calculator gives riding days for continuous progress — add 10 to 20 percent buffer for a realistic itinerary.

Bikepacking Route Planner Calculator — Days, Calories & Water

Plan your bikepacking route with realistic day estimates, calorie needs and water requirements based on distance, elevation and terrain.

Total Distance

Total route distance in kilometres

Daily Target

Planned daily riding distance (60–100 km is typical for loaded bikepacking)

Total Elevation

Total climbing metres for the whole route

Terrain TypePredominant surface type affects average speed and calorie estimates

How We Calculate This

Riding Days

Riding days are calculated from the adjusted effective daily kilometres, which accounts for the climbing penalty based on elevation per day and terrain type. Total distance is divided by this effective daily distance.

Time per Day

Estimated hours per day starts from distance ÷ terrain-adjusted average speed (which already bakes in slow climbing across the whole route) and adds a partial climbing allowance using a modified Naismith's Rule: 10 minutes per 100 m of ascent, scaled for terrain, of which half is added so concentrated climbs are not double-counted.

Calories per Day

Calories use the MET formula: calories/min = MET × body weight (kg) × 3.5 ÷ 200, multiplied by daily riding minutes. The 3.5 mL O₂/kg/min constant is defined per kilogram of body mass, so only your body weight goes in the per-kg term. The carried load is reflected by a modest uplift to the MET value (half the load-to-rider weight ratio) rather than by adding load mass into the formula. Base MET values range from 8 (road) to 10 (singletrack), with mixed terrain at 8.5 (Compendium of Physical Activities, "bicycling, mountain, general").

Water per Day

Water is estimated as a base 2 litres plus 0.5 litres per riding hour plus 0.3 litres per 500 m of climbing. Adjust upward for hot or high-altitude conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: March 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always verify results and consult a professional bike fitter where appropriate.