Despite their hefty appearance, hippos are surprisingly agile in the water, but they are not known for their speed on land. How fast can a hippo run? On land, hippos can reach a top speed of approximately 19 to 30 miles per hour (30 to 48 kilometres per hour) for short distances, especially when they feel threatened. These bursts of speed are typically used to escape danger or defend their territory. However, hippos are primarily adapted for an aquatic lifestyle, where they are remarkably graceful, fast swimmers. In the water, they can maintain speeds of up to 5 to 8 miles per hour (8 to 13 kilometres per hour) over longer distances.