Have you ever noticed that the return trip usually seems shorter?

I’ve wondered about that, but I assumed that on the way out one is probably more occupied familiarizing with the trip and more conscious effort is involved. On the return, this is probably much less the case and your bod is more or less on automatic and your mind on other things. Sleepwalking.

Sometimes it is shorter, such as flying back from a destination and catching tail winds. haha
I think there is a psychological factor, sure. usually we are excited about our departures and it seems to take longer to reach our destinations and the return trip seems shorter because we are not in a state of anticipation. When I used to walk/jog 3 miles it seemed the opposite, that going back took longer because I was ready to be done with my workout.

Going somewhere I might not know my way well and I might be watching the clock more to get there on time. These things slow down time.

In your example regarding a walk during a work break, none of what I said probably applies, because you know your way, and my guess is you are watching the clock during the entire walk.

The anticipation is over.

Much like the military salute

Those of us living on the West Coast that travel to the East Coast a lot will tell you the return can be much more painful.

I often get flights from SF to NY that are 4½ hrs, but the return is almost 6, because of the prevailing winds. 5 hours plus on a flight and you’re still only to Colorado can be maddening.

It has always seemed that way to me also. I just figured I’m kind of in the zone on the way home, not really paying attention, just daydreaming and time tends to fly in that state.

But it is certainly true of horses. On the way out they tend to take it slow, paying attention to the signals from the reins or rider’s knees and ankles. The ride home is quite different. If given free rein, most of them will run all the way back to the barn by the shortest possible route. Horsey wants to go ho-o-o-o-o-o-o-ome! I enjoy a leisurely ride back home and have to gently give the rein a touch every once in a while. Then slowly, almost imperceptibly, she’ll start to speed up again. I don’t think she’s even aware of it.

@zenvelo you do realize that that’s because you live on the wrong coast, don’t you?

I imagine it has something to do with perspective.

I first noticed this as a little girl. We would travel from a suburb south of Boston to a destination in southern Canada. The trip out seemed to take forever, and the homeward journey was over almost before I knew it.

Probably not so to my father, though, who was behind the wheel for a grueling 11-hour drive in both directions, with a crowded front seat, a heavily packed vehicle, and several restless kids in the car.

When anything looms large on the horizon—a cityscape, a mountain, the moon—it seems much closer than it really is. Home looms large. We start seeing familiar signs of approach long before we get there. We know the vicinity and the neighborhood typically much better than that of the away-end of the trip. Our minds run ahead of us, and we start being “nearly there” before we are. So it seems like a shorter journey.

@Espiritus_Corvus haha, so true. My old horse was lazy going out, we would climb a mountain at about a 45 degree incline for about 45 minutes to get to some nice logging trails in the middle of nowhere, but..the return trip, all downhill and my arms would be sore from holding him back the whole time. He was very powerful and it was a constant fight to rein him in.

@janbb I won’t speak to wrong or correct coast. I will admit to preferring Left Wing coast to Right Wing coast….

I only find that if I’m not familiar with the trip/route away. If I’ve been to the same place a lot, then the coming home seems to take forever, probably because I’m tired and cranky and I want to just BE HOME,

Yes, the perception is usually that the journey is shorter. I think it is because we know where we are going.

@zenvelo In your example the trip actually does take longer.

I asked my dad this question when I was little. He said on the trip back everything is familiar so you don’t pay attention to it.

However, even on ~30 mile trips to the same location that we take frequently, 2+ times a month, the return trip still seems shorter.

Damn yesssss, and I thought it was just me!

I believe it’s true recreationally. However, my trip to work is always too short and my trip home seems to take forever.

Welcome (back?) to fluther, @BellaB!

Thank you @Dutchess_III . Just found fluther yesterday. Still feeling my way around. Seems like a good site with a lot of variety.

@BellaB , That a agrees with my theory that the time perception is related to how eager you are to get to where you are going.

@LostInParadise , your theory makes sense to me.