The Basic Answer: 5 to 8 Months of Continuous Driving

Driving around the world takes between 5 and 8 months of nonstop driving, depending on which route you choose and how many borders you cross. The most commonly cited figure is roughly 160 to 180 days of actual driving time, which assumes you drive 12 to 16 hours per day without stopping for tourism, rest days, or border delays.

In practice, people who have completed this journey report taking 1 to 3 years total, because the driving time itself is only one part of the equation. You also spend time waiting at borders, dealing with visa requirements, arranging vehicle permits, finding fuel in remote areas, and handling mechanical repairs. The actual calendar time depends far more on where you go and how you handle the logistics than on the miles themselves.

Key Takeaways

  • Pure driving time around the world is 160 to 180 days at 12 to 16 hours per day, but real-world trips take 1 to 3 years because of border crossings, visa processing, and vehicle logistics.
  • The shortest routes (roughly 20,000 miles) go through North America and Europe; longer routes through Africa, Asia, or South America add 5,000 to 10,000 miles and weeks of additional driving.
  • Border crossings, especially in Africa and Central Asia, can add 2 to 8 weeks to your timeline because of visa delays, vehicle import paperwork, and customs inspections.
  • Vehicle breakdowns in remote areas—particularly in Africa and the Middle East—commonly add 2 to 4 weeks to a journey, so mechanical reliability matters more than speed.
  • Fuel availability and road conditions in Central Asia, parts of Africa, and South America can force you to drive shorter daily distances than you would in North America or Europe.

The Shortest Route: North America to Europe and Back

The fastest way around the world stays on paved highways and avoids the most difficult border crossings. Most people who have done this start in North America, drive south through Central America, cross into South America, then ship their vehicle across the Atlantic to Europe. From Europe, they drive east through Russia or south through the Middle East and Asia, then ship back to North America.

This route covers roughly 20,000 to 22,000 miles of actual driving. At an average of 500 miles per day (accounting for fuel stops, meals, and overnight rest), that is 40 to 44 days of driving. However, the shipping between continents takes 2 to 4 weeks each way, and border crossings in Central America, the Middle East, and Asia add another 4 to 8 weeks of waiting time. Most people on this route report a total timeline of 12 to 18 months.

Longer Routes Through Africa and Asia

If you drive through Africa instead of shipping across the Atlantic, you add roughly 8,000 to 12,000 miles and 16 to 24 days of driving time. The Sahara crossing alone takes 3 to 5 days of continuous driving, and the roads south of the Sahara are often unpaved, which cuts your average speed to 200 to 300 miles per day instead of 500. Border crossings in West Africa and East Africa are slower than in Europe or North America—expect 2 to 5 days per border instead of a few hours.

Routes through Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan) add similar distance and time but present different obstacles. Visa requirements for these countries can take 4 to 8 weeks to process, and some nationalities face restrictions that require hiring a guide or joining a convoy. Road conditions vary from excellent highways near major cities to rough gravel in remote areas. Most people driving through Africa or Central Asia report total timelines of 18 to 30 months.

What Slows You Down Most: Borders, Visas, and Permits

The single largest time cost is not driving—it is waiting at borders and processing visas. A border crossing in Europe or North America typically takes 30 minutes to 2 hours. A border crossing in Africa, Central Asia, or parts of South America can take 4 to 8 hours because of vehicle inspections, carnet processing, and paperwork verification. If you cross 50 borders (a reasonable number for a full circumnavigation), and each one costs you an average of 3 hours, that is 150 hours or 6 days of your timeline.

Visa processing is slower. Many countries require you to obtain a visa before you arrive, which means stopping in a capital city or waiting for mail. Visas for Russia, China, India, and most African countries take 2 to 6 weeks to process. If you need visas for 15 countries and each one costs you 3 weeks on average (because you have to stop, explore, and wait), that is 45 weeks or nearly a year added to your journey. This is why most people who drive around the world spend more time in visa queues and at borders than they spend actually driving.

Vehicle Logistics: Shipping, Permits, and Breakdowns

You need a carnet de passage (a customs document that proves you own your vehicle and will take it out of each country) to drive through most countries outside North America and Europe. Obtaining a carnet takes 2 to 4 weeks and costs $300 to $1,000 depending on your vehicle's value and your country of origin. Some countries also require an international driving permit, which takes 1 to 2 weeks to obtain.

Shipping your vehicle between continents costs $2,000 to $5,000 per shipment and takes 2 to 4 weeks. If you ship twice (across the Atlantic and across the Pacific, for example), you add 4 to 8 weeks and $4,000 to $10,000 to your timeline and budget. Some people avoid shipping by driving through Russia or taking a land route through the Middle East, but these routes add their own delays through visa processing and border crossings.

Mechanical breakdowns are common on long-distance drives, especially in Africa, Central Asia, and parts of South America where parts availability is limited. A straightforward repair (brake pads, battery, alternator) might take 2 to 5 days because you have to find a mechanic, order parts, and wait. A major repair (engine, transmission, suspension) can take 2 to 4 weeks. Most people who have completed this journey report at least one major breakdown that cost them 1 to 3 weeks.

Daily Driving Distance and Road Conditions

Your average daily driving distance varies dramatically by region. In North America and Europe, you can sustain 500 to 600 miles per day on highways. In Central America and South America, paved roads are common but narrower and slower, so 300 to 400 miles per day is more realistic. In Africa, Central Asia, and parts of the Middle East, unpaved roads, poor signage, and fuel scarcity force you down to 150 to 300 miles per day.

This means a 20,000-mile route through North America and Europe takes roughly 35 to 40 days of driving. The same 20,000 miles through Africa or Central Asia takes 50 to 80 days of driving. If you add a longer route (25,000 to 30,000 miles) through multiple continents, you are looking at 60 to 100 days of pure driving time, plus all the border, visa, and mechanical delays on top.

Real-World Examples: What People Actually Report

People who have documented their circumnavigation journeys report widely varying timelines. A team that drove from the United States through Central America, shipped to Europe, drove through Europe and the Middle East, and shipped back took 14 months total, with roughly 120 days of actual driving. A family that drove the same route but took time to explore each region took 2 years. A solo driver who took the Africa route reported 28 months total, with 150 days of driving and the rest spent on borders, visas, and breakdowns.

The pattern is consistent: the driving itself is the smallest part of the timeline. Most people spend 30 to 50 percent of their total time actually driving, and 50 to 70 percent waiting at borders, processing visas, handling repairs, or exploring. If you are planning this journey and want to know your personal timeline, the best approach is to research the specific countries on your route, add up the visa processing times, and estimate 3 to 5 days per border crossing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you drive around the world without shipping your car?

Yes, if you take a land route. You can drive from North America through Central America and South America, then take a ferry or drive through the Middle East and Asia back to North America. This avoids shipping costs but adds 4 to 8 weeks of driving time and requires visas for more countries, so the total timeline is usually similar or longer.

What is the shortest possible time to drive around the world?

The absolute minimum is roughly 5 months of continuous driving at 16 hours per day with no stops for tourism, rest days, or border delays. In practice, the fastest documented circumnavigation took about 12 months, and that required shipping the vehicle twice and having visas processed in advance. Most people take 18 to 30 months.

Do you need special insurance to drive around the world?

Your standard auto insurance will not cover you outside your home country. You need an international driving permit, a carnet de passage for most countries, and either an international insurance policy or country-by-country coverage. Some countries require you to buy local insurance at the border. Budget 4 to 8 weeks to arrange these documents before you leave.

Which route is fastest: through Africa or through Asia?

The Asia route through the Middle East and Central Asia is usually faster because highways are better maintained and fuel is more available. The Africa route has more unpaved sections and slower border crossings. However, the Asia route requires more visas (Russia, China, India) which can add 8 to 12 weeks of processing time. The fastest route overall is shipping across the Atlantic and driving through Europe.

What happens if your car breaks down in a remote area?

You will likely be stranded for several days to several weeks while you find a mechanic, order parts, and wait for repairs. In Africa and Central Asia, major repairs can take 2 to 4 weeks because parts must be shipped from cities. This is why vehicle reliability and carrying spare parts are critical. Most people who have done this journey recommend a vehicle with a strong track record in the regions you plan to visit.