How long is the Appalachian Trail? The official 2026 length is 2,197.9 miles [3,537.2 km], running from Springer Mountain, Georgia, to Katahdin in Baxter State Park, Maine. It crosses 14 states, takes most thru-hikers roughly six months, and changes slightly from year to year as the footpath is rerouted or remeasured.
How long is the Appalachian Trail in 2026?
The Appalachian Trail is 2,197.9 miles [3,537.2 km] long in 2026.
That number comes from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy’s current A.T. Basics page, which lists the official mileage from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Katahdin in Maine. The A.T. is not a museum piece. It moves. Trail clubs relocate eroded tread, storms knock out sections, land managers approve better routes, and mapping gets more precise. That is why the official mileage can tick up or down each year.
For trip planning, use 2,197.9 miles [3,537.2 km] as the number. For conversation around a campfire, “nearly 2,200 miles” is fine. For resupply, permits, transportation, and training, use the current data book, maps, or app mileage for the year you hike.
How many miles is the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine?
It is 2,197.9 miles [3,537.2 km] from Georgia to Maine on the official 2026 route.
The southern terminus sits on Springer Mountain in the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest. The northern terminus is Katahdin in Baxter State Park. Between them, the A.T. rolls through Southern Appalachia, the long Virginia corridor, the rocky Mid-Atlantic ridges, and the steep, rough country of New England.
Do not picture a smooth line north. The trail bends, climbs, drops, and doubles back along ridges. A road trip between Georgia and Maine is much shorter. The A.T. earns every mile by staying in the mountains.
What states does the Appalachian Trail go through?
The Appalachian Trail goes through 14 states.
From south to north, those states are Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. The National Park Service Appalachian National Scenic Trail page describes it as a 2,190-plus-mile public footpath managed by the NPS, U.S. Forest Service, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, state agencies, and volunteers.
| State | 2026 A.T. miles | Trail character |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 78.3 mi [126.0 km] | Steep southern start, Springer Mountain, Blood Mountain |
| North Carolina | 96.5 mi [155.3 km] plus 217.8 shared NC/TN border miles [350.5 km] | High peaks, Nantahala, Smokies, big climbs |
| Tennessee | 74.7 mi [120.2 km] plus 217.8 shared NC/TN border miles [350.5 km] | Roan Highlands, balds, forested ridges |
| Virginia | 557.5 mi [897.2 km] | Longest state, Shenandoah, Grayson Highlands |
| West Virginia | 2.4 mi [3.9 km] | Shortest state, Harpers Ferry |
| Maryland | 40.9 mi [65.8 km] | Gentle ridges, Civil War history |
| Pennsylvania | 230.0 mi [370.1 km] | Long ridges, farm valleys, famous rocks |
| New Jersey | 72.4 mi [116.5 km] | Wetlands, ridges, black bear country |
| New York | 91.3 mi [146.9 km] | Rocky ups and downs near major cities |
| Connecticut | 52.2 mi [84.0 km] | Hardwood forest, Housatonic River, short but punchy climbs |
| Massachusetts | 90.2 mi [145.2 km] | Berkshires, Mount Greylock, ponds and ridges |
| Vermont | 150.8 mi [242.7 km] | Green Mountains, mud, shared tread with the Long Trail |
| New Hampshire | 160.9 mi [258.9 km] | White Mountains, above-treeline exposure, hard miles |
| Maine | 282.0 mi [453.8 km] | Wild terrain, Mahoosuc Notch, 100-Mile Wilderness, Katahdin |
One catch: North Carolina and Tennessee share 217.8 miles [350.5 km] along the state line, so state-by-state mileage can look odd if you try to add it straight down the table. A hiker walks those shared miles once.
How long does it take to hike the Appalachian Trail?
A full thru-hike usually takes around six months.
The Appalachian Trail Conservancy says most northbound thru-hikers start in Georgia between late February and early April and aim to reach Katahdin before Baxter State Park closes the mountain for the season. That does not mean every hiker moves at the same pace. Early miles can be slow. Then legs harden. Then New Hampshire and Maine punch back.
Here is the basic timing math:
- 12 miles per day average: 183 hiking days, not counting zeros.
- 15 miles per day average: 147 hiking days, not counting zeros.
- 18 miles per day average: 122 hiking days, not counting zeros.
Real trips include town stops, weather delays, injuries, family events, gear failures, and days when the trail simply says no. A six-month hike leaves room for that. A five-month hike demands consistency. A four-month hike is fast and unforgiving.
How many miles should you hike per day on the Appalachian Trail?
Most new thru-hikers should start slower than they think.
Early on, 8 to 12 miles [12.9 to 19.3 km] per day is enough for many hikers, especially in Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Your pack is heavy, your feet are adjusting, and the climbs are real. After several weeks, many hikers settle into 15 to 20 miles [24.1 to 32.2 km] per day when terrain, weather, and fitness line up.
Do not build your plan around your best day. Build it around your repeatable day. The A.T. rewards durable pacing more than hero mileage.
- Day hiking pace: Plan by terrain, daylight, and water, not just distance.
- Section hiking pace: Leave margin for shuttles, road crossings, and wet weather.
- Thru-hiking pace: Start easy, increase gradually, and expect New England to slow you down.
Which Appalachian Trail sections are the longest and shortest?
Virginia is the longest A.T. state, and West Virginia is the shortest.
Virginia has 557.5 miles [897.2 km] of trail, nearly a quarter of the full route. You get big scenery, long green tunnels, national park walking in Shenandoah, and some classic A.T. landmarks like McAfee Knob and the Grayson Highlands. It is long enough to change your mood twice.
West Virginia has 2.4 miles [3.9 km] of official A.T. tread, but it punches above its mileage because Harpers Ferry is the psychological halfway point for many hikers and home to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy headquarters. Maryland is also short at 40.9 miles [65.8 km], making it a popular target for a long weekend or first state-completion goal.
Why does the Appalachian Trail mileage change?
The mileage changes because the trail itself changes.
Relocations are common on a living footpath. A steep fall-line section may be replaced with a more sustainable grade. A bridge, storm-damaged area, erosion issue, or land-management need can shift the route. Better measurement can also refine the official number.
The A.T. is maintained by a huge cooperative system, including 30 local maintaining clubs. That work keeps the trail walkable, but it also means the “official” distance is a snapshot for that year. If you are planning a hike in 2027 or beyond, check the latest official mileage before locking in a spreadsheet.
How hard is it to hike 2,197.9 miles?
It is hard enough that distance is only one part of the problem.
The A.T. is not the longest trail in the United States, but it is rugged, humid, steep, rocky, rooty, muddy, and relentless. The challenge is stacking ordinary days. Wet socks. Bad sleep. Another climb. Another descent. Another food carry. Another day of staying calm when the map says the shelter is “only” 6 miles [9.7 km] away and those miles are all teeth.
The southern mountains teach you to climb. Virginia teaches patience. Pennsylvania tests your feet. New York and New Jersey throw in short, sharp rock. Vermont brings mud. New Hampshire and Maine make you work for every view.
That is the beauty of it. The trail is not just long. It has texture.
Do you need permits to hike the Appalachian Trail?
You do not need one trail-wide permit, but some sections require permits or reservations.
As of November 2026, there is no single A.T. permit that covers the entire route. But certain land managers require paperwork for overnight stays or specific areas. Check current rules before your trip because permit systems can change faster than printed guidebooks.
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Backcountry camping requires a permit and advance reservations; the park uses Recreation.gov for new permits as of 2026. Check the official Smokies backcountry camping page.
- Shenandoah National Park: Backcountry camping requires a permit year-round, obtained through Recreation.gov’s Shenandoah backcountry permit page.
- Baxter State Park: A.T. long-distance hikers must secure a long-distance hiker permit in person before summiting Katahdin; Baxter describes the process on its official A.T. information page.
That is the short version. The better version: check every park, forest, and state section you plan to camp in, especially if you are section hiking and leaving a car.
How do you plan mileage for a thru-hike?
Plan backward from your season, then adjust for terrain.
A mileage plan is not a promise. It is a starting point. The trail will edit it.
- Pick your direction. Northbound is the classic Georgia-to-Maine route. Southbound starts harder because Maine and New Hampshire come early.
- Choose your start window. Northbound hikers often start in late winter or early spring; southbound hikers usually wait for Maine conditions to settle.
- Set a conservative first two weeks. Keep early days short enough that your knees, feet, and hips can adapt.
- Add zeros and nearos. Town days, storms, illness, laundry, resupply, and morale all need space.
- Recheck your pace before New England. The White Mountains and Maine are slower for many hikers, even strong ones.
What should you carry for a long Appalachian Trail hike?
Carry gear that keeps you safe, dry, fed, and moving.
You do not need luxury. You need a system that works in rain, heat, cold snaps, bugs, and long food carries. Weight matters, but so does reliability.
- Backpack that fits under load
- Shelter, stakes, and ground protection
- Sleep system rated for expected temperatures
- Rain jacket and pack protection
- Insulating layer
- Water filter or chemical treatment
- Food storage system appropriate for the section
- Headlamp with backup power
- Navigation: map, guide, app, or all three
- First-aid kit and blister care
- Repair kit for small gear failures
- Sun protection and insect protection
When to see a doctor
See a doctor when symptoms are severe, worsening, or not improving with rest.
Long hikes can turn small problems into trip-ending problems. Get medical help for chest pain, trouble breathing, fainting, confusion, signs of severe dehydration, infected wounds, suspected fractures, or a tick bite followed by fever, rash, severe headache, joint pain, or flu-like symptoms. The CDC’s tick-bite guidance is a smart reference for hikers in A.T. states.
Do not try to diagnose yourself from a trail rumor. If something feels wrong and keeps getting worse, get off trail and get care.
Related reading
- Where Does the Appalachian Trail Start and End?
- How Long Does It Take to Hike the Appalachian Trail?
- What States Does the Appalachian Trail Go Through?
- How to Hike the Appalachian Trail: Planning a Thru-Hike
FAQ
How long is the Appalachian Trail exactly?
The official 2026 length is 2,197.9 miles [3,537.2 km]. That number changes slightly over time because of relocations, detours, and improved measurements.
Where does the Appalachian Trail start and end?
The trail runs between Springer Mountain, Georgia, and Katahdin in Baxter State Park, Maine. Northbound hikers start in Georgia; southbound hikers start in Maine.
Can a beginner hike the whole Appalachian Trail?
Yes, a beginner can hike the whole trail with preparation, patience, and realistic pacing. Many successful hikers start with limited backpacking experience, but they learn quickly and keep their early mileage conservative.
What is the hardest part of the Appalachian Trail?
New Hampshire and Maine are widely considered the hardest sections. The terrain is steep, rocky, exposed in places, and slower than the mileage suggests.
What is the easiest state on the Appalachian Trail?
Maryland is often treated as one of the easiest states because it is short and has relatively moderate terrain. That still does not make it effortless; heat, rain, rocks, and pack weight can make any A.T. mile count.
How many states does the Appalachian Trail cross?
The Appalachian Trail crosses 14 states. They are Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.