How Long Would It Actually Take to Walk Around the Entire World?

The Short Answer

Walking around the world would take you roughly 2 to 3 years if you walked 20 miles per day, 8 hours a day, every single day. That's about 1,000 to 1,500 days of walking.

But that's a math problem, not reality. The actual answer is much more complicated because you cannot walk across oceans. Your route is limited to land. And land routes have gaps, mountains, deserts, and political borders that don't cooperate.

Let's break down what you'd actually be dealing with.

The Math Nobody Talks About

Earth's circumference at the equator is about 24,901 miles (40,075 km). That's the distance if you could walk in a perfect circle around the planet.

Here's how the numbers shake out depending on your pace:

Those numbers assume you walk every single day with no rest days, no injuries, no weather delays, and no route detours. Realistically, you'd need to factor in at least 1-2 rest days per week, which pushes the timeline to 4-5 years minimum.

Why You Can't Walk the Equator

The equator crosses ocean. A lot of it. The Pacific alone is over 12,000 miles wide. You can't walk on water, no matter how determined you are.

So you're not walking the equator. You're walking the landmass route — and that's a different beast entirely.

The Route Problem

There is no continuous walking path around the world. Here's why:

• The Darien Gap — A 60-mile stretch of jungle between Panama and Colombia. No road exists. People have died trying to cross it.
• Oceans — You need to boat or fly between continents
• Russia-China Border — Restricted areas, permits nearly impossible to get
• Middle East Conflicts — Border crossings that change without warning
• Amazon Jungle — No roads, dense terrain, dangerous wildlife

You'd be piecing together a route that doesn't exist as one continuous trail.

What Has Actually Been Done?

Several people have walked massive portions of the globe. Here's what the record shows:

• Steve Newman — First American to walk solo around the world (1970-1977). Covered about 15,000 miles over 7 years.
• Tom Hiddleston — Walked 21,000 miles across 4 continents over 4 years (2016-2020).
• Steve Fry — Walked 14,500 miles across the US, Europe, and parts of Asia over 3 years.

None of them walked the full circumference. They all had to skip sections, take boats, or fly over impassable terrain.

The Realistic Estimate

Walking every continent via the longest practical land route — avoiding oceans as much as possible — would cover roughly 20,000 to 25,000 miles.

At 20 miles per day with rest days factored in, that's 4 to 5 years of walking. If you're faster and more disciplined, you might squeeze it into 3 years. But that's being optimistic.

Here's the breakdown of what you'd actually face:

Physical Reality

• You'll lose 10-15 pounds in the first month. Then your body adapts.
• Blisters will be your constant companion for the first 2 months.
• You'll need to replace shoes every 400-500 miles. That's roughly 40-50 pairs of shoes.
• Joint pain starts around month 3 and never fully goes away.

Logistics Reality

• Visa costs alone could run $5,000-$10,000 depending on your passport.
• You'll need to carry or ship gear. Shipping costs add up fast.
• Accommodation in remote areas? You're camping most nights.
• Food costs vary wildly — budget $15-$30 per day minimum.

How to Actually Start Planning This

If you're serious about attempting this (and you shouldn't be, but if you are), here's what you need to do:

Year 1: Build Your Base

• Start walking 10 miles per day immediately. Track everything — time, distance, pain points, gear failures.
• Test every piece of gear for 6 months. If it fails in your backyard, it will fail on the trail.
• Train with a weighted pack. You'll be carrying 30-40 lbs minimum.
• Save money. You'll need at least $30,000 for 3 years of walking (more if you want any safety margin).

Year 2: Route Research

• Map out your route country by country. Identify every border crossing you'll need.
• Apply for visas 6+ months in advance. Some countries take forever.
• Identify resupply points. Where can you ship food and gear?
• Join communities like long-distance walking forums and talk to people who've done long trails.

Year 3: Go or No-Go

Most people who seriously plan this realize it's not worth it. That's fine. The planning process teaches you more about endurance than the walk itself would.

If you still want to go after all that research, you've earned the right to try.

The Honest Take

Walking around the world is a terrible idea that sounds romantic. The reality is:

• You'll be lonely for years
• You'll get injured
• You'll want to quit constantly
• The "transformation" people talk about? Most of them are selling books

But if you do it anyway? You'll have walked further than almost any human in history. That's not nothing.

Start small. Walk 1,000 miles first. If you still want more after that, come back and revisit this plan.