Moving Los Santos on Grand Theft Auto V can be as easy as drive and shoot. Blast through the windows of your enemies or just use your vehicles' charm to mow 'em down. It's all fun and games until a 5 star wanted level has you on the run from bu gnats who literally fly at you with explosive powers. Surely enough, it's nothing but predictable carnage, which makes the rather comedic Rockstar Games most memed title out to be a stunt that honors living out american dreams.

Thanks to all the pre and post launch DLC and endlessly exciting content in GTA Online, GTA 5 was and still is colorful as ever. The vibrant world writhing full of brand new players every day since initial launch is one of a kind. But it does leave players iskiling fork hands and yelling, ‘What's next?’ Seems to have one question inked in mind, how long does it take to complete this masterpiece?

How long does it take to complete the main story of Grand Theft Auto 5

Should you elect to primarily engage with the main story missions encapsulating the rise (and frequent chaos) of Michael, Franklin, and Trevor, plan on spending approximately 30 to 35 hours. These missions alone ensure a robust single-player experience and already include intricate heists, character arcs, and a film-like narrative.

Regardless of whether they leisurely indulge in secondary activities or tackle the primary objectives, the average player finishes the story in approximately 32 hours. Conversely, if you are willing to skip cutscenes, distractions, and take a more straightforward approach to the missions, this time can be reduced to 25–28 hours.

How much time do side missions and activities take in Grand Theft Auto 5

Rockstar has always excelled at creating engaging optional content, and GTA 5 is no exception. In addition to the main missions, the game is filled with side activities such as helping Strangers and Freaks, completing random events, participating in street races, buying properties, and playing golf or tennis.

Engaging with these side missions and additional content can easily add 15–20 hours to your playthrough. If you’re someone who likes to explore every side path, prepare to spend closer to 50 hours on a playthrough that includes both main and optional content.

How long does it take to explore the world and enjoy Los Santos fully

From the busy districts of Los Santos and the calm hills of Blaine County, the diverse and massive geographical region in GTA 5 is astonishing. Depending on the depth to which a player dives into the game, he can spend an additional 10-30 hours exploring every corner of the map, experimenting with various in-game systems, and identifying random easter eggs.

If going to new places and exploring is your forte, or if using physics engines and wreaking havoc is your cup of tea, then you will most definitely find yourself spending a large of time attempting to complete every objective of the game.

How long does it take to complete Grand Theft Auto 5 100%

Going for 100% completion in GTA 5 is a serious undertaking. This includes completing all 69 main story missions, all Strangers and Freaks side missions, random events, collectible hunts (like spaceship parts and letter scraps), stunt jumps, and much more.

Players aiming for full completion should be ready to spend 85 to 95 hours on average. Some players even report needing over 100 hours to get everything, especially if they don’t use guides and prefer to explore at their own pace.

How long does GTA Online take?

GTA Online is a separate and ongoing component of the GTA 5 experience. It’s not required for the main story, but for many players, it becomes the true endgame. With heists, businesses, races, missions, and constant updates, the time you can spend in GTA Online is virtually endless.

Still, based on averages, here’s what you can expect:

• Main content: ~72 hours
• Main + extra: ~144 hours
• Completionist: 200–700+ hours depending on goals

If you plan to build an empire, buy properties, max out your skills, or participate in high-level missions and events, GTA Online can become a long-term hobby.

How playstyle impacts your total GTA 5 completion time

Just like any open-world Rockstar game, your experience with GTA 5 will depend heavily on your approach. Some players race through the story and end the game in under 30 hours, while others get lost in the streets of Los Santos for over 100 hours before finishing the final mission.

If you’re someone who likes to take in the scenery, get involved in every side activity, and mess around with the sandbox systems, then your total time spent in GTA 5 can easily double the average estimates.

On the other hand, players who stick strictly to story missions and don’t stray too far off the path can finish the game much faster.

In conclusion: How long is GTA 5?

• Main Story: ~32 hours
• Main Story + Side Content: ~50–55 hours
• 100% Completion: ~85–100+ hours
• GTA Online (optional): 100–700+ hours

Whether you're a newcomer to Los Santos or revisiting for the fifth time, GTA 5 offers an incredible amount of content. Just don’t expect to finish it over a single weekend.