How Long Does it Take to Walk Three Miles to Work?

Walking to work is a great way to start the day and if you live close enough to your workplace, walking can be a really good option to get your daily exercise. The early burst of fresh air is great to wake you up and increase your alertness for the day!! If your distance is within 3-4 miles, then a walking commute is well within your grasp!!

Walking three miles to work will take approximately 45-60 minutes if you can maintain an average speed of 3-4 miles per hour. Most people can sustain this average speed over a distance of 3 miles and so make a walking commute completely manageable.

How Fast Can You Walk to Work

According to Health line the average walking speed of a human is 3 to 4 miles per hour, or 1 mile every 15 to 20 minutes. How fast you walk can be used as an indicator of overall health. Several variables contribute to individual walking speed differences, including age, sex, and height. The table below shows the comparisons between the bottom and top end of this average pace range for a variety of walking distances.

According to a study in 2011, two key factors affect the speed you can walk on average and are a persons age and, quite surprisingly, their sex with men walking, on average, at a quicker pace than their female counterparts. Walking speed was also shown to decline as we get older, which is perhaps less surprising.

Muscle strength, especially in the legs and hip flexors, is another key contributor to walking speed.

Normal walking speed for most is closer to 3 mph than 4 mph so it is likely that by walking normally (at a comfortable pace) you will take closer to an hour to complete your 3-mile commute. If you walk ‘briskly’, however, you can get closer to the 4 mph average speed, which equates to about 100 steps per minute for those of you who love step tracking.

Increasing speed to a ‘brisk’ walk can bring a number of increased health benefits as this counts as moderate-intensity exercise and is a great way to increase your physical activity. This type of exercise gets your heart rate going, makes you breathe harder and faster, and supports healthy blood flow.

Latest NHS guidelines state that we should all look to get at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. Walking can be an often overlooked form of exercise but will easily enable you to achieve this daily target and can bring a whole host of benefits from building stamina and burning calories to making a significant contribution to a healthier heart.

A brisk walk will not only knock some time of your walking commute, it will also increase your heart rate and yield the health and fitness benefits so it is worth looking to increase the pace. Routinely walking briskly on a daily basis, as part of your commute, can start to make real long term, and sustainable improvements to your health.

To best way to walk briskly is to just be more purposeful and mindful of your speed. Try tracking your speed and aiming to hit a higher average. The simple act of intentionally measuring your walk speed will have the effect of you subconsciously walking quicker and with more purpose. Intentionally taking longer strides can be another way to increase the walking pace over the distance.

Walking a little faster isn’t that difficult, we just don’t do it. With the right mindset and motivation, we can all add a little improvement to our average walking pace.

It is Not All About Speed Walking

We all want to get to where we are going as quickly as possible in this day and age, but by rushing around we fail to see and appreciate what is around us. By choosing an alternative commute, such as walking, you are choosing to leave the hustle and bustle of the busy morning commute to some degree.

Therefore, there is no problem with taking your walk a little slower and appreciating the world around you. Slow down a little and look around, you will be amazed at what you notice when you are not in the car, even when you use the exact same route.

What I fist stared alternative commutes, I spotted streams I never knew were there. I found little routes through nice wooded areas and parks and fish ponds that I had driven past for years and not noticed. Walking is a great way to improve physical health but also mental health, so don’t worry too much if your 3-mile commute takes the hour, rather than 45 minutes. Use the extra time to your advantage and let a little more of the world in.

The Limits of Walking to Work

Walking to work simply will not work for everyone. The distance plays a huge part in whether walking to work is viable for you. At 3 miles, you are probably not far off the limit if you want to consistently walk to work. If you are combining alternative commute methods on other days, then a long walk a few times a week may be sustainable.

You have to make a significant time commitment if you want to walk distances further than 3 miles. In a 2015 study it was reported that for inner-city commuting in London, the average commuting distance was 6-miles which is a distance outside of a reasonable walking distance simply due to the time it would take.

The trend for average commuter distance in the UK seems to be increasing too with generally more people commuting further which means walking for a total commute will become less and less of an option.

This is where multi-modal commuting can be really powerful. Combining other alternative commuting methods can help to reduce the reliance on the car whilst still getting a decent level of walking as part of the commute. In London, the underground is used as a multi-modal commute method by many people. The key here is to get off a little earlier and increase the walking distance slightly to increase the health and wellbeing benefits of a walking commute.

How to Get Started Walking to Work

The great news here is that if you live close enough to your work place, you can start walking to work straight away. Nothing is stopping you!! All you really need is suitable footwear and clothes appropriate for the weather. That’s it! You don’t need expensive gear, you can carry your things in a shopping bag and you can start to pound the streets.

The great news here is that almost anyone can walk 3 miles to work, irrespective of your current fitness levels. As long as you are able, you are capable of putting one foot in front of the other and covering 3 miles. You may take a little longer but it is achievable. Over a long period of making the choice to walk to work, your fitness will noticeably improve.

Therefore all you will need to get going is;

• A waterproof coat – which will keep out the wind and rain
• Waterproof trousers – to protect the lower half, often neglected
• Waterproof trainers or walking shoes – to ensure you have a comfortable walk and prevent slips
• A bag to carry your things – waterproof and comfortable

In very cold conditions you may need a hat and gloves but this type of thing will already be owned by potential walkers in these cold climates. Make sure you don’t cheap out on this. There is minimal need for gear with a walking commute and you should spend a little more to ensure you arrive warm and dry.

This list obviously will depend on the type of route you take, the time of the year and many other factors but you get the idea. 

For more walking to work tips you can check out out article here.

Our Top Picks – Walking to Work Gear

• Mountain Warehouse Men’s Waterproof Jacket
• Regatta Women’s Lexia Waterproof Jacket
• Silent Care Waterproof Walking Shoes
• Fandare Unisex Messanger Bag
• No Label Roll Top Backpack

Summary

The truth is, when you commit to walking to work as part of your commute, you will need to commit to extra time. Walking is slow, there is no doubt, but the added benefits of walking make this commuting method worthwhile and a real option for you.

You are using your walk not only to commute, but to improve health and fitness, connect with nature and start to morning at a more relaxed pace. All massive, often overlooked benefits that mean you can relax at each end of the work day to arrive in a better frame of mind.

Why not give it a go!!!