Transport speeds
| Mode | Speed | Daily range | Sustainable duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Man on foot | 3–4 mph | 15–25 mi / 24–40 km | Weeks to months |
| Horseback | 4–30 mph | 30–70 mi / 48–112 km | Days to weeks |
| Wagon | ~2 mph | 10–20 mi / 16–32 km | Weeks |
| Sailing ship | 3–8 knots | 60–150 nm / 110–275 km | Weeks to months |
Man on Foot
Speed: ~3–4 mph (5–6.5 km/h) Daily Distance: 15–25 miles (24–40 km) Sustainable Duration: Weeks to months, assuming rest days Notes: Trained messengers (like royal couriers or pilgrims) might manage 30+ miles on good roads. Terrain, load, and weather greatly affect speed.
Man on Horseback
Speed: Walk: 4–5 mph (6–8 km/h) Trot/Gallop (short bursts): Up to 25–30 mph (40–48 km/h) Daily Distance: Normal travel: 30–40 miles (48–64 km) Hard push (military courier or urgent dispatch): 50–70 miles (80–112 km), with horse changes Sustainable Duration: With horse changes (relay): Several days Same horse: 2–3 days at hard push, longer at 30–40 miles/day Notes: Elite couriers (like Genghis Khan’s Yam system or Roman Cursus Publicus) used relay stations to cover 100+ miles/day.
Wagon (Ox- or Horse-Drawn)
Speed: ~2 mph (3 km/h) Daily Distance: 10–20 miles (16–32 km) Sustainable Duration: Weeks, but requires frequent maintenance and rest for animals Notes: Terrain greatly affects wagons; rough roads or mountains slow them significantly. Horse-drawn wagons are faster but tire more easily than oxen.
Sailing Ship
Speed: 3–8 knots (3.5–9 mph / 5.5–14.5 km/h), depending on wind and ship type Daily Distance: Average medieval ship: 60–100 nautical miles/day (110–185 km) With favourable wind: Up to 150+ nm/day (275+ km) Sustainable Duration: Weeks to months, depending on supplies Notes: Coastal navigation was common. Open-sea travel depended on weather, currents, and sailing skill. Cogs and caravels were typical ships later in the medieval period.
Fishing boat (Fabra’s)
Rowing Pace / Effort Speed (Knots) Speed (mph / km/h) Notes Sustained/Cruising 2 - 3 knots 2.3 - 3.5 mph (3.7 - 5.6 km/h) This is the speed the fishermen could maintain for several hours on calm water without exhausting themselves. This is the best average to use for travel time Max Effort/Sprint 3.5 - 4 knots 4.0 - 4.6 mph (6.5 - 7.4 km/h) Possible for short bursts (5-10 minutes) when escaping danger, racing to a known fishing spot, or desperately manoeuvring in an emergency. They would be exhausted afterward. Against Wind/Chop 1 knot or less 1.1 mph or less (2 km/h or less) Any significant headwind or strong current would drop the rowing speed dramatically. Sometimes, simply holding position is the best they can do.
Sailing Condition Boat Speed (Knots) Boat Speed (mph / km/h) Notes Ideal Conditions (Reaching) 4 - 6 knots 4.6 - 6.9 mph (7.4 - 11 km/h) A moderate breeze (Force 3-4 on the Beaufort Scale) coming from the side (reaching). This is the fastest, most comfortable, and most efficient point of sail for a boat of this type. Favourable (Downwind) 3 - 5 knots 3.5 - 5.8 mph (5.5 - 9.2 km/h) A wind pushing the boat directly from behind. The boat is heavy and can't outrun the waves, limiting the top speed. Light Wind 1 - 2 knots 1.1 - 2.3 mph (2 - 3.7 km/h) When the wind is light, the sail can still make slow, steady progress, but the crew will likely start rowing to supplement the speed. Upwind (Tacking) 1 - 3 knots (Speed Made Good) 1.1 - 3.5 mph (2 - 5.6 km/h) A lug-rigged boat is not great at sailing directly against the wind. It must tack (sail zig-zag) to make slow progress into a headwind. A top speed of 3 knots is its actual forward progress toward the destination, even if the boat is moving 4-5 knots through the water. Maximum Burst 7 - 8 knots 8 - 9.2 mph (13 - 15 km/h) Possible for brief periods when surfing down a large wave in a strong gale, but the boat would be hard to control and the crew would be highly stressed.