Calories Burned Driving Calculator

Nowadays, people spend a lot of time in their cars, whether they are commuting to and from work or operating as a delivery professional, delivering mail, retail packages, or even groceries.

If you are trying to lose weight, you may wonder about how all the time spent sitting behind the wheel affects the number of calories burned in a day.

Of course, you would burn more calories engaging in a more physically intensive activity. However, the average person can burn approximately 30 calories per 10 minutes of driving.

Are you curious how many calories you can burn while driving and if it is possible to lose weight while spending time behind the wheel? If so, then check out this article for the answers you have been craving.

How many calories do you burn driving?

It is no secret that driving is not a calorie-torching activity. You are sitting for an extended period of time after all. However, our bodies naturally burn calories throughout the day, even during the times when we are least physically active, such as when we are driving.

In fact, the average person can burn anywhere from 150 calories to 250 calories per hour of driving. Of course, the number of calories burned will depend upon several factors, including your weight and whether you are the driver or a passenger of the vehicle. For example, a person weighing 200 pounds may burn around 240 calories per hour as the driver of the vehicle but only 125 calories as the passenger of the vehicle.

How many calories do you burn driving for 30 minutes?

How many calories you can burn driving for 30 minutes, again, depends on your weight and other factors. However, a 150-pound person will burn around 50 calories per 30 minutes of driving. A person weighing more will burn more calories in the same timeframe. For instance, a 180-pound person will burn around 60 calories per 30 minutes of driving.  

What burns more calories, driving or walking?

Walking is an excellent form of exercise. Not only does it increase your cardiovascular fitness, but walking for only 30 minutes a day can strengthen your bones, reduce body fat, and build muscles. For these reasons and more, walking will burn more calories than driving.

Walking at a casual speed has the average person burning around 360 calories per hour. Compare that to 150 to 250 calories per hour of driving. When you are walking you also have the ability to speed up to burn more calories, whereas driving in the car limits your physical capabilities.

How can I lose weight while driving? Is it possible?

While driving is not exactly a good way to lose weight, there are simple tactics you can implement while driving to keep weight gain at bay.

• Hydrate: The time you spend driving is a good time to drink that bottle of water or two that you have been forgetting to drink all day. Water is not only good for you, but it is also zero calories.
• Skip the drive-through: Eating and driving is not the best idea, especially when you are eating unhealthy food. Avoid the drive-through. If you know you have a long drive ahead of you, plan accordingly by preparing healthy snacks for the road.
• Move however you can: Simply moving your body will burn more calories. Turn on some music and wave your arms or bounce your shoulders. Turn on cruise control when on long highway stretches and move your legs up and down. Whatever you do, just make sure you are focusing on the road.