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To convert miles to kilometers, multiply by 1.60934. So 5 miles = 8.047 km, 26.2 miles (marathon) = 42.165 km, and 60 miles = 96.56 km. A quick approximation: add 60% to the mile value (e.g. 10 miles → 10 + 6 = 16 km, actual answer: 16.09 km).
The US interstate highway system uses miles — speed limits, exit distances, and odometers all display in miles. European GPS systems default to kilometers. A driver renting a car in the US from Europe, or vice versa, must convert speed limits and distances to drive safely and legally.
Did you know? "Mile" comes from the Latin "mille passuum" (a thousand paces). A Roman pace was two steps, so a mile was about 1,480 m. The modern statute mile of 1,609.344 m was standardized in 1593 under Queen Elizabeth I.
US road signs list distances in miles, but international travel requires kilometer equivalents. Fitness apps like Strava let users record in miles, while race registrations in Europe list distances in kilometers. Car fuel economy is rated in miles per gallon in the US and liters per 100 km in Europe — both require unit conversion for comparison.