U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Vehicle Technologies Office
Fact #615: March 22, 2010
Average Vehicle Trip Length
According to the latest National Household Travel Survey, the average trip length grew to over 10 miles in 2009, just slightly over the 9.9 mile average in 2001. Trips to work in 2009 increased to an average of 12.6 miles. The average trip length has been growing each survey year since the lowest average in 1983.
Average Vehicle Trip Length, 1969-2009
Note: A vehicle trip is defined as a trip from one address to another by a single privately-operated vehicle regardless of the number of persons in the vehicle.
Supporting Information
Average Vehicle Trip Length, 1969-2009
| Survey Year |
Average Vehicle Trip Length for All Trips (miles) |
Average Journey-to-Work Trip Length (miles) |
| 1969 |
8.9 |
9.4 |
| 1977 |
8.4 |
9.0 |
| 1983 |
7.9 |
8.5 |
| 1990 |
8.9 |
11.0 |
| 1995 |
9.1 |
11.8 |
| 2001 |
9.9 |
12.2 |
| 2009 |
10.1 |
12.6 |
|
Sources: Nationwide Household Travel Survey website.
|
Return to 2010 Facts of the Week
|