PCS travel pay is one of those things that sounds straightforward until you actually try to calculate it.
You know you’re entitled to something. You’re pretty sure it’s based on distance. But the exact numbers, what counts as a travel day, what per diem looks like for your specific household, and how it all adds up before you file your voucher? That part tends to get murky fast.
This post breaks it down clearly. By the end you’ll know how authorized travel days are calculated, what your per diem should look like day by day, and what the first and last day rules mean for your actual reimbursement.
What Are Authorized PCS Travel Days?
Authorized travel days are the number of days the government recognizes as necessary to complete your PCS drive. They determine how many days of per diem you’re entitled to claim on your travel voucher.
The Joint Travel Regulations set the standard at 350 miles per day for a privately owned vehicle move. That means the government divides your total driving distance by 350 to determine how many travel days you’re authorized. Fractions round up, so a 351-mile trip is two authorized days, not one.
How to Calculate Your Authorized PCS Travel Days
- Check your total distance. Use the Defense Table of Official Distances (DTOD) if you have access. DTOD is the official distance the government uses to calculate your entitlements. If you don’t, Google Maps will be close, just know it’s not exact.
- If your move is 400 miles or under, you get 1 authorized travel day.
- If your move is over 400 miles, divide the total miles by 350. If the remainder is 51 miles or more, round up to the next full day.
- Example: 608 miles ÷ 350 = 1 remainder 258 miles. 258 is over 51, so you get 2 authorized travel days.
- Per diem is paid for each day you actually travel, up to your authorized number of days. If you arrive early and check in before your authorized days are up, you’re only reimbursed for the days you traveled — not the full authorized amount.
Do weekends count as PCS travel days?
Yes. PCS travel days are calendar days, not business days. Weekends and federal holidays count the same as any other day. If your authorized travel period falls over a weekend, those days are included in your per diem calculation just like Monday through Friday.
This also means your RNLTD (Report No Later Than Date) factors into when you need to start travel, regardless of day of the week. Don’t assume a weekend gives you extra buffer.
Are PCS travel days chargeable leave?
No. Authorized PCS travel days are not chargeable as leave. They’re considered proceed time, which is distinct from leave. You’re in a travel status during authorized travel days, which means your leave balance doesn’t take a hit for the days you’re on the road.
If you take more days than authorized to complete the drive and don’t have a documented reason, the extra days may be chargeable as leave depending on your branch and command. Check with your losing unit on the specifics before you extend your trip.
Are travel days different for Air Force than they are for Navy?
No. The Department of Defense oversees all PCS moves, so travel days are the same regardless of military branch.
How PCS Per Diem Works
Per diem covers meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) during your authorized travel days — not lodging. The current M&IE rate is $68/day for the service member (SM). Dependents are calculated as a percentage of that rate:
- Spouse or dependent 12 and older: 75% of the SM rate
- Dependent under 12: 50% of the SM rate
First and last travel days are paid at 75% of the applicable rate.
On a 4-day authorized drive with a spouse and two kids under 12, your total per diem works out like this (based on the 2026 rate of $68/day):
- Service member: $68/day
- Spouse: $51/day (75%)
- Two kids: $34/day each (50%)
- Full travel day total: $187/day
- First and last days: $140.25 each (75% of $187)
- 4-day total: approximately $654
Per diem is only authorized for your authorized travel days — not the entire duration of your move. Per diem is non-taxable and won’t appear on your W-2.
Per diem is the daily reimbursement rate for meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) during your PCS travel. It’s separate from lodging reimbursement and mileage, though all three show up on your travel voucher.
The current standard CONUS per diem rate for M&IE is $59 per day for the service member. That rate increases based on your household:
- Service member traveling alone: $59/day
- Spouse or dependent over 12: additional 75% of the $59 rate per person
- Children 12 and under: 50% of the $59 rate per child
So a family with a service member, a spouse, and two kids under 12 would look like this per day: $59 (SM) + $44.25 (spouse at 75%) + $29.50 (child 1 at 50%) + $29.50 (child 2 at 50%) = $162.25 per authorized travel day.
Multiply that by your authorized travel days and you have your total M&IE entitlement. On a 4-day authorized trip, that same family would be looking at $649 in per diem before lodging and mileage are factored in.
The First and Last Day Rule (And Why It Matters)
This is the rule that catches people off guard most often. Under the JTR, you receive 75% of the M&IE rate on your first and last days of travel. The reasoning is that you’re not traveling for the full 24 hours on either end.
Using the same family example above:
- Full travel day: $162.25
- First and last day: $162.25 x 75% = $121.69 each
On a 4-day authorized trip, that family would receive: $121.69 (day 1) + $162.25 (day 2) + $162.25 (day 3) + $121.69 (day 4) = $567.88 in M&IE, not $649.
It’s not a dramatic difference, but it’s worth knowing before you budget for the trip. The number you see on a per diem calculator that shows a flat daily rate is the full-day rate, not accounting for the first and last day reduction. Plan accordingly.
Mileage Reimbursement: MALT
In addition to per diem, you’re reimbursed for mileage driven during your PCS move. The military calls this the Monetary Allowance in Lieu of Transportation, or MALT. It’s paid per mile, per authorized POV.
The MALT rate is set by the DoD and updated periodically. As of 1 Jan 2026, the rate is $0.205 per mile. That’s lower than the IRS standard mileage rate you might be used to seeing, because MALT is specifically for POV reimbursement during PCS travel and is calculated separately from per diem.
A few things to know:
- MALT is paid for the official distance between your origin and destination, not necessarily the exact route you drove. The government uses a standard distance calculator to determine authorized mileage.
- If you have two authorized POVs, you can claim MALT for both. The second vehicle needs to be driven by a dependent.
- Tolls are reimbursable separately. Keep your receipts.
Lodging Reimbursement During PCS Travel
Lodging is reimbursed at actual cost, up to the per diem lodging rate for the area where you stop. Unlike M&IE, lodging reimbursement is location-specific, which means it varies depending on where you are on the road.
The GSA sets lodging per diem rates by location. Most CONUS locations have a standard rate of $110 per night, but higher-cost areas run significantly more. If you’re driving through San Diego, Washington D.C., or New York metro areas, the lodging rate will be higher.
Unlike M&IE, lodging allowance is reimbursable up to a certain amount. If you stay somewhere cheaper than the authorized rate, you don’t keep the difference. If you go over, you pay the difference out of pocket.
This is where route planning gets practical. Knowing your authorized lodging rate for each stop before you book hotels means you can make informed decisions about where to stay.
Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE)
TLE is a separate entitlement from travel per diem. It covers temporary lodging costs at your losing or gaining installation when you’re waiting for permanent housing to become available. It’s not part of your travel days calculation, but it’s worth knowing exists because it’s separate money.
CONUS TLE is authorized for up to 21 days total, split however makes sense between your losing and gaining installations. The rate is a percentage of the local lodging per diem plus M&IE. It’s not a full reimbursement, but it offsets the cost of being in limbo between housing situations.
Common Mistakes on PCS Travel Vouchers
A few things that cause delays in getting paid when filing a PCS voucher:
- Not keeping lodging receipts. Lodging reimbursement requires documentation, and should be broken down into individual line items (room rate, taxes, fees, etc). Screenshot or photograph every receipt you get, or keep a paper copy in your PCS binder.
- Forgetting toll receipts. Tolls are reimbursable. While they may be small, if you end up with a lot over a long drive, they can add up.
- Using the wrong mileage. Use the distance your orders were cut on, not Google Maps. They don’t always match.
- Waiting too long to file. The sooner you submit your travel voucher after arriving, the sooner you get paid.
Know Your Numbers Before You Leave
The families who get the most out of their PCS travel entitlements are the ones who run the numbers before the move, not after.
Knowing how many authorized days you have, what your per diem looks like with your household size, and what your lodging rates will be means you can plan stops strategically and avoid surprises when you file.
That’s exactly what our free PCS road trip planner is built to do. Plug in your origin, destination, household size, and travel details and it calculates your authorized travel days, estimates your per diem, and maps your route with lodging stops built in.
Frequently Asked Questions About PCS Travel Days
The JTR standard is 350 miles per day by POV. Divide your total official distance by 350 and round up any fraction. A 900-mile move authorizes 3 travel days (900 ÷ 350 = 2.57, rounds up to 3).
Yes. PCS travel days are calendar days, not business days. Weekends and federal holidays count the same as any other day in your authorized travel period.
No. Authorized PCS travel days are proceed time, not leave. Your leave balance isn’t affected for the days you’re on the road within your authorized travel period.
The service member receives the full M&IE rate ($59/day for CONUS). A spouse or dependent over 12 receives 75% of that rate. Children 12 and under receive 50%. The first and last days of travel are paid at 75% of each person’s rate regardless of household size.
M&IE, or meals and incidentals, is a flat rate that you and your family members get for every authorized day of your PCS move. If you don’t spend it all, you keep the extra.
Lodging allowance is a set rate based on location. Most cities will be $110 per night (as of FY2026), but the rate may be higher in larger or more expensive locations. If you don’t spend it all, you don’t keep the extra. If you go over, you have to pay the extra out of pocket.
Our trip planner automatically cross-checks the official lodging rates for you, so you don’t have to guess or read the reg yourself.
Per diem covers meals and incidental expenses during your travel days on the road. TLE (Temporary Lodging Expense) is a separate entitlement that covers temporary housing costs at your losing or gaining installation while you’re waiting for permanent housing. They’re different money for different phases of the move.
