Drive Time Map
How to Use This Drive Time Map
Enter Location
Type an address or click on the map
Select Mode
Choose Drive, Walk, or Cycle
Set Time
Select 5 to 120 minutes
Generate
Click to calculate the area
Export
Save as PNG or share link
What Is a Drive Time Map?
A drive time map — also called an isochrone map — shows the area you can reach from a location within a specific time by car, foot, or bicycle. Unlike a radius circle which draws a perfect circle based on straight-line distance, a drive time map follows actual roads and paths to create a realistic boundary.
The word “isochrone” comes from Greek: iso (equal) + chronos (time). Every point on the boundary of an isochrone represents the same travel time from the center.
A 30-minute drive time area from a city center is not a circle. It extends further along highways and shorter in areas with few roads, hills, or one-way streets. The resulting shape reveals the real-world accessibility of a location — something a simple radius cannot show.
Drive Time vs. Straight-Line Radius
Drive Time (Isochrone)
- ✓Follows actual roads and paths
- ✓Accounts for road speed limits
- ✓Considers one-way streets
- ✓Shows realistic travel coverage
- ~Irregular shape (accurate)
Radius Circle
- ✓Perfect geometric circle
- ✓Easy to understand and measure
- ✓Great for compliance/regulations
- ~Ignores terrain and roads
- ~May include unreachable areas
When to Use Drive Time vs. Radius
| Scenario | Drive Time | Radius |
|---|---|---|
| “How far can I drive in 30 minutes?” | ✓ Best | |
| “What's within 10 miles of this address?” | ✓ Best | |
| “Is this apartment close enough to work?” | ✓ Best | |
| “Define a rough service coverage zone” | ✓ Best | |
| “Plan a delivery area based on drive time” | ✓ Best | |
| “Estimate area for insurance or compliance” | ✓ Best | |
| “Find customers reachable in under an hour” | ✓ Best | |
| “Emergency response coverage planning” | ✓ Best |
Rule of thumb: If your question involves time (“how long to get there?”), use drive time. If it involves distance (“how far is it?”), use a radius circle.
How to Read an Isochrone Map
The colored area on the map represents everywhere you can reach within your specified time. The boundary edge is the furthest you can travel in that time.
- 1Highway corridors extend the shape. The isochrone stretches along major highways because you can cover more distance at highway speeds.
- 2Dense urban areas shrink the shape. Traffic lights, one-way streets, and lower speed limits mean less distance per minute.
- 3Natural barriers cut off access. Rivers, mountains, and bodies of water create sharp boundaries.
- 4Sparse road networks limit reach. Rural areas with few roads may show smaller isochrones despite highway access.
Drive Time Distance Reference
Average Speeds by Road Type
Speeds based on typical US road conditions. Actual speeds vary by location, traffic, and time of day.
Distance by Time and Travel Mode
| Time | Highway Drive | Mixed Drive | Urban Drive | Cycling | Walking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 min | 5.4 mi | 3.3 mi | 1.3 mi | 1.0 mi | 0.25 mi |
| 10 min | 10.8 mi | 6.7 mi | 2.5 mi | 2.0 mi | 0.5 mi |
| 15 min | 16.3 mi | 10.0 mi | 3.8 mi | 3.0 mi | 0.75 mi |
| 20 min | 21.7 mi | 13.3 mi | 5.0 mi | 4.0 mi | 1.0 mi |
| 30 min | 32.5 mi | 20.0 mi | 7.5 mi | 6.0 mi | 1.5 mi |
| 45 min | 48.8 mi | 30.0 mi | 11.3 mi | 9.0 mi | 2.25 mi |
| 60 min | 65.0 mi | 40.0 mi | 15.0 mi | 12.0 mi | 3.0 mi |
| 90 min | 97.5 mi | 60.0 mi | 22.5 mi | 18.0 mi | 4.5 mi |
| 120 min | 130.0 mi | 80.0 mi | 30.0 mi | 24.0 mi | 6.0 mi |
Highway: 65 mph average. Mixed: 40 mph average. Urban: 15 mph with stops. Cycling: 12 mph. Walking: 3 mph.
How traffic typically affects drive time
Rough rules of thumb — actual reduction depends on city, route, and day. Treat the percentages and hour bands as illustrative.
How urban density typically affects 30-minute drive coverage
Illustrative ranges showing how city layout shapes how much you can drive in 30 minutes — these aren't measured data, and your specific city and route will differ.
| City Type | Typical 30-min Area | Max Distance | Key Factors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rural / Small Town | 100-200 sq mi | 25-30 mi | Open highways, minimal traffic |
| Suburban | 50-100 sq mi | 15-25 mi | Highway access, some lights |
| Mid-Size City | 25-50 sq mi | 10-18 mi | Mixed roads, moderate traffic |
| Major Metro | 10-25 sq mi | 8-15 mi | Congestion, complex routing |
| Dense Urban Core | 3-10 sq mi | 3-8 mi | Traffic, one-ways, parking |
Illustrative relative area coverage (30 minutes)
How This Tool Works
The drive time map is powered by open-source routing technology using OpenStreetMap road data. When you set a location and time:
- The tool sends your coordinates and time limit to a routing engine.
- The engine calculates how far you can travel along every road from that point.
- It returns a polygon boundary connecting the furthest reachable points.
- The polygon is rendered on the Leaflet map as a colored area.
The routing considers road type (highway, residential, path), one-way restrictions, and turn restrictions. It does not currently factor in real-time traffic or road closures.