How long does it take to drive 18 kilometers?

[StArthur]

An 18-kilometer drive takes approximately 0.46 hours. The time and cost required for an 18-kilometer journey are influenced by road conditions and the proportion of road types (highways and ordinary roads). Preparations are as follows: Check the route and weather: Before driving, it is essential to check the weather and the planned route in advance to better prepare. Car tools: Before the trip, place some pliers, tow ropes, jacks, wrenches, screwdrivers, and other spare tools in the car to prevent vehicle breakdowns during self-driving trips. Tires: During self-driving trips, if the journey is long and may pass through waterways, mountain roads, muddy roads, etc., the quality requirements for tires are very strict. If a tire bursts or leaks during the trip, carrying a spare tire can be used for replacement.

[LaJoanna]

My daily commute is about this distance, 18 kilometers in the city is really unpredictable. During peak hours in the morning and evening, it can take 40 minutes to an hour, especially when passing through school or commercial areas—it's basically a parking lot. If I take the urban expressway on weekends with fewer traffic lights, it only takes half an hour. Once during a heavy rainstorm, it took me 70 minutes to cover those 18 kilometers, even with the wipers on full speed, visibility was terrible. I recommend checking real-time traffic conditions with navigation before setting off—it's much more reliable than just calculating the distance.

[OKimberly]

Last month, I drove my friend to the high-speed rail station, covering exactly 18 kilometers, which was quite representative. The urban section had 12 traffic lights, and if each red light lasted 90 seconds, waiting alone would take up 18 minutes. The suburban roads had about 10 kilometers where you could drive at 60 km/h, and these sections could be completed in just 10 minutes. Overall, the trip took roughly 25 to 35 minutes. However, the most frustrating part was the school drop-off and pick-up times. Last time, I encountered parents double-parking, and it took 20 minutes to cover two kilometers. On weekends, the trip is at least 15 minutes faster than on weekdays.

[OLucas]

Highways and city streets are like two different worlds! For a pure 18-kilometer highway run at the speed limit, including on and off ramps, it only takes about 11-13 minutes. But in the city, it's much slower, averaging 2 minutes per kilometer. Based on my Didi driving experience: 18 kilometers mainly on elevated roads takes about 18 minutes; pure surface roads with few green lights can take up to 30 minutes. Nowadays navigation apps provide quite accurate time estimates—it's recommended to turn on real-time traffic updates. Especially watch out for tunnel entrances where queues often form; sometimes it's better to detour a few hundred meters.