JTR Travel Days Calculation: How It Works

JTR travel days are the number of days the military allows you to travel between your old and new duty station when you have a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) order. You calculate them by dividing the official distance between the two locations by 350 miles per day for driving, or by using the flat 1-day rate for flights. The result is your authorized travel time, which you enter on your travel voucher to get paid for those days.

Formula

The JTR (Joint Travel Regulations) travel day calculation is straightforward:

• Driving: Travel days = (Distance in miles) ÷ 350, rounded up to the nearest whole day.
• Flying: Travel days = 1 day, regardless of distance (unless you have a layover or delay beyond your control).

Variables:

• Distance – the official mileage from your old duty station to your new one, from the Defense Table of Official Distances (DTOD).
• 350 – the standard miles-per-day rate the JTR uses for PCS travel by car.
• Travel days – the number of full days you are authorized to take for the move, not including the day you depart or arrive (those are counted as travel days too, but only if you actually travel on them).

Worked Example

Suppose your PCS distance is 1,050 miles (the default in the calculator above, shown as 10 km for illustration – but we’ll use the real example). Using the JTR rule:

1. Divide 1,050 by 350: 1,050 ÷ 350 = 3.0
2. Since 3.0 is already a whole number, you get exactly 3 travel days.

If the distance were 1,100 miles, then 1,100 ÷ 350 = 3.14, which rounds up to 4 travel days. That extra day matters because you are paid per diem for each travel day, so rounding up gives you more money and more time.

For a flight, you would get 1 travel day no matter if the flight is 300 miles or 3,000 miles. The day you fly counts as your travel day, and you get per diem for that day (plus the day of departure and arrival if you actually travel on them, but the JTR caps it at 1 day for flying).

How the JTR Defines Travel Days

The Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) is the Department of Defense document that governs all military travel entitlements. For PCS moves, it defines a travel day as a 24-hour period during which you are authorized to travel. The key rules:

• You get one travel day for each 350 miles of driving distance, rounded up.
• You get one travel day for a flight, regardless of distance.
• If you travel by a combination of car and plane, you calculate the driving portion separately and add the flight day.
• Travel days are not the same as leave days – you can take leave in conjunction with travel, but that is separate.

The 350-mile rule is a planning figure, not a speed limit. You can drive more than 350 miles in a day if you want, but you only get paid for the authorized number of days. Conversely, if you take longer than the authorized days, you must use leave for the extra time.

How to Find Your Official Distance

The distance is not simply what Google Maps says. The military uses the Defense Table of Official Distances (DTOD), which is the official mileage between military installations and major cities. You can usually find it on the DTOD website (requires a CAC) or ask your transportation office. The DTOD distance is often slightly different from a GPS route because it uses a standard set of roads and may not include shortcuts.

For example, a move from Fort Bragg, NC to Fort Lewis, WA might show 2,900 miles on Google Maps, but the DTOD might say 2,850 or 2,950. Always use the DTOD number on your travel voucher, not the GPS number, because the finance office will verify against DTOD.

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions

Here are the most frequent errors people make when calculating JTR travel days:

• Using GPS mileage instead of DTOD – this can change your travel day count by 1 or 2 days.
• Rounding down – the JTR says round up to the next whole day, even if it’s 0.1 miles over a multiple of 350.
• Counting the departure day as a travel day when you don’t travel – if you leave your old house at 5 PM and drive 10 miles to a hotel, that is not a travel day; you only get a travel day if you actually travel at least 350 miles or fly.
• Forgetting that flying is always 1 day – even if you have a 12-hour flight with a layover, it’s still 1 travel day, unless the delay is beyond your control and you get an extra day approved.
• Assuming you get travel days for the return trip – if you drive a second car or trailer, you still only get the same number of travel days, not double.

How Travel Days Affect Your Pay

Each travel day entitles you to per diem, which covers lodging, meals, and incidental expenses. The per diem rate varies by location, but for a PCS move, you get the rate for the location where you end each travel day. For example, if you drive from Texas to California and stop in New Mexico on day 1, you get the New Mexico per diem rate for that day.

You also get a flat rate for the actual travel days (not the days you are in transit but not traveling). The JTR sets a standard rate (currently around $151 per day for CONUS, but it changes) – you can look up the current rate in the JTR or ask your finance office. This is paid in addition to your regular salary, and it is not taxable as income (it’s a reimbursement, not income).

If you take more days than authorized, you do not get per diem for those extra days, and you must charge them as leave. If you take fewer days, you still get paid for the full authorized number, so there is no incentive to rush.

Special Cases: OCONUS, POV Shipment, and Delays

Some moves have extra rules:

• OCONUS (overseas) moves – you get 1 travel day for the flight, plus possibly additional days for travel from the airport to your new base. The JTR has specific rules for each location.
• Shipment of a POV (personally owned vehicle) – if you ship your car, you do not get travel days for the shipping time; you only get travel days for your own travel (usually 1 day for the flight).
• Delays beyond your control – if your flight is canceled and you are stuck for 2 days, you may be authorized extra travel days, but you must document it and get approval from your transportation office before you claim it.
• Travel with dependents – the travel day calculation is the same, but you get a higher per diem rate if you travel with family members, and you may be allowed an extra day for rest if you have young children (check JTR for the exact rule).

Frequently Asked Questions

How many travel days do I get for a 1,200-mile PCS move?

Divide 1,200 by 350 = 3.43, which rounds up to 4 travel days. You can drive that distance in 2 days if you want, but you are authorized and paid for 4 days.

Do I get travel days for the day I leave and the day I arrive?

Yes, if you actually travel on those days. For example, if you leave on Monday and arrive on Wednesday, you get 3 travel days (Mon, Tue, Wed) as long as you travel each day. If you leave Monday but only drive 100 miles and stop, that day does not count as a travel day – you would need to use leave for it.

What if I fly instead of drive – do I get more travel days?

No, flying gives you only 1 travel day regardless of distance. The JTR assumes a flight takes one day. If you have a layover that forces an overnight stay, you might get an extra day, but you need to request it in advance.

Can I use the 350-mile rule for a rental truck or towing a trailer?

Yes, the 350-mile rule applies regardless of vehicle type. You still get one travel day per 350 miles, even if you are driving a U-Haul or towing a car. The only difference is that you may be allowed an extra day for loading/unloading if you request it (this is a separate entitlement, not a travel day).

Where do I find the DTOD distance for my move?

You can ask your local transportation office (TMO) or look it up on the DTOD website if you have a CAC. Some military finance websites also have a lookup tool. Do not use Google Maps – it will almost always differ from DTOD.

What happens if I take more travel days than authorized?

You must charge the extra days as leave (annual leave or permissive TDY if approved). You will not get per diem for those days, and you must annotate them on your leave form. Taking unauthorized extra days could result in your travel voucher being reduced or denied.

Limits of the 350-Mile Rule

The 350-mile rule is a planning standard, not a physical limit. It does not account for weather, road conditions, or your personal driving endurance. It also assumes you drive alone – if you are driving with a co-driver, you might be able to cover more miles per day, but the JTR does not give you extra days for that. The rule is designed to be simple and uniform, so it intentionally ignores individual circumstances. If you have a medical condition that limits driving, you can request a waiver, but that is rare and requires documentation.

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in t | Finish time | min | 50 | 0
in d | Distance | km | 10 | 0
out pace | Average pace | min/km | t / d | 2
out speed | Average speed | km/h | d / (t / 60) | 2