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When the school bell rings, the real race begins — not for grades, but for the car keys. A recent survey commissioned by Bob Evans Farms and conducted by Talker Research quantifies what many parents already feel: the daily grind of shuttling children to and from school and activities eats up a staggering amount of time. According to the data, the average parent spends 38 minutes each school day behind the wheel for school-related trips. Over a typical 180-day school year, that translates to 6,858 minutes — or nearly 15 full eight-hour workdays.
“This is a hidden cost of parenting that rarely gets discussed,” says Dr. Emily Carter, a family time-use researcher at the University of Michigan who reviewed the survey findings. “While the monetary cost of gas and car maintenance is obvious, the lost time is often invisible until you add it up.” The survey, released March 30, 2025, polled over 1,000 U.S. parents with children in K–12 and highlights a major source of daily stress.
For many families, the school drop-off is just the beginning. The 38-minute daily average includes both morning drop-offs and afternoon pickups, but the real burden often extends beyond the school gates. The survey found that 62% of parents make at least one additional trip per day for extracurricular activities — sports, music lessons, tutoring, or club meetings. On busy days, that can mean three or four separate driving sessions.
“The 38-minute average is a conservative estimate because it doesn’t account for traffic jams, waiting in the carpool line, or unplanned stops,” notes survey lead analyst Mark Rivera. “In suburban areas where schools are farther from home, the time can easily double.” The U.S. Department of Transportation’s 2024 National Household Travel Survey shows that school-related trips account for nearly 15% of all household vehicle miles traveled during the school year, supporting the finding that this is a widespread issue.
Beyond the sheer minutes, the constant driving creates a fragmented schedule that leaves little room for downtime. Parents in the survey reported feeling “rushed” or “exhausted” on an average of 3.7 days per week during the school year. The repeated stop-and-go pattern also cuts into productivity: 48% of working parents said they adjust their work hours or take unpaid leave to accommodate school drop-offs and pickups.
“This is particularly challenging for single parents and dual-income households without flexible schedules,” says Dr. Carter. “The time spent driving is time not spent on work, self-care, or even quality time with children in a non-harried setting.” The survey also found that 29% of parents have considered switching to a different school or activity schedule to reduce driving time.
While the problem is structural, experts suggest several concrete steps to reclaim some of that lost time:
The U.S. Department of Education’s “Safe Routes to School” program also encourages walking or biking for families living within a mile of school, which can eliminate the need for a car trip entirely. For older children, public transit passes or school bus usage can be a viable alternative.
The survey’s release has sparked conversations among parenting groups and school administrators. Some districts are now piloting “staggered start” schedules to reduce carpool congestion, while others are investing in digital tools to help parents coordinate rides more efficiently.
“This isn’t just about convenience — it’s about mental health and family time,” says Rivera. “When parents spend 15 workdays a year in the car, that’s 15 days they could have spent with their kids, exercising, or simply resting.” The data serves as a wake-up call for policymakers and school leaders to rethink the logistics of the school day.
For parents, the message is clear: you are not alone in feeling the squeeze, and small changes can make a big difference. Even shaving 10 minutes off the daily commute can free up more than 30 hours over the school year — time that can be reinvested in what truly matters.
