How Long Does It Take To Get To Mars? Trips To The Red Planet, Explained

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Mars stands out as one of the most fascinating planets in the entire Solar System — and a planet many people dream of visiting one day. Unfortunately, actually making a trip to get to the Red Planet can take quite a bit of time. Mars has long been a point of interest for astronomers all over the world. Thanks to its solid surface, rich history, and the belief that life once existed there, humans are constantly trying to learn more about our Martian neighbor.

This desire to explore Mars has only increased in recent years. NASA landed its Perseverance rover on Mars in February 2021, tasking it with collecting rock samples that'll eventually be returned to Earth. NASA also used its InSight probe in July 2021 to create an interior map of Mars — the first of its kind for a planet beyond Earth. Combine these robotic adventures with the building desire to send the first humans to Mars, and it's safe to say Martian interest has never been greater.

Related: Is There Carbon On Mars? What The Element Could Tell Us About Mars' Past

All of this discussion of Mars raises an important question, however: How long does it take to get to the planet? It's not something that's given much thought when NASA sends a rover or orbiter to Mars, but if the organization's eventually going to send people there, how long of a trip can they expect? The average distance between Mars and Earth is around 140 million miles. Let's say someone was traveling at 60 mph — a typical driving speed for a car here on Earth. At that rate, it could take a little under 2,330,333 hours to get to Mars (or around 266 years). Thankfully, ships designed for space travel can go much faster. NASA's New Horizons spacecraft — one of the fastest ever created — could reach Mars