Thank you for the question, “How far did the Israelites travel from Egypt to the Red Sea?”
As one reads Exodus 12–14, the distance is difficult to calculate from Egypt to the Red or Reed Sea. The Scriptures states the places of encampment.
Enclosed are the stopping point:
A. Rameses to Succoth (Exodus 12:27)
B. Succoth to Ethan at the edge of the desert (Exodus 13:20)
C. Ethan to Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, directly opposite of Baal Zaphon (Exodus 14:2,9)
Archaeologists debate the locations of the encampment or areas mentioned in Exodus. It appears that at the time of the writing of Exodus, those places were known to both Egyptians and those living in the Sinai Peninsula ara. The conditions then and now are different as the sea level, the drying of the Reed Sea, and the starting point of their departure.
As one thinks about the amount of people of over 1.5–3 million people with their animals and possessions. one would think that the travel would have been very slow. A day’s journey for a caravan would be about 20–30 miles. However with that massive amount of people and livestock, one would think traveling 12–15 miles depending on terrain in a day would be reasonable. One must keep in mind that it was the LORD who was leading them, not Moses with the Cloud by day and the Pillar of Fire by night.
Succoth is mentioned as the first encampment where there were water and supplies for the Israelites. Succoth was a mining community for the Egyptians. Some scholars think that Succoth is called Tjeku (New Evidence from Egypt on Location of Exodus Sea Crossing). The debate continues. It is at Succoth that the LORD consecrated the Firstborn of Israel and gave the Passover Restrictions. It appears this is their first major stop. Some scholars suggests that other Hebrew slaves joined the freed slaves as they headed toward the Ethan at the edge of the desert. Here the Israelites were directed back to Pi Hahiroth by the Sea. The distance to Succoth varies with scholars from 75 miles to over 100 miles.
Exodus 16:1–2 states that the Israelites reached the Desert of Sin on the 15th day of the second month after they came out of Egypt. Thus 29/30 days were the intervening days. As one takes into account the Sabbath Rest and the three days from the Reed Sea where the Israelites grumble for water and God’s provision for them, then they finally reached and came to the Desert of Sin. At most the Israelites could travel is six days a week. This would have left them 25 days of traveling. If they were to travel 25 days without rest at 10–15 miles a day, the approximate maximum mileage would have been 375 miles. It is likely that they camped at Succoth, at the Reed Sea to celebrate their miraculous crossing of the Reed Sea, at Marah, at Elim with 12 springs, by the Reed Sea, and then to the Desert of Sin. If the encampment was one full day, this would minus 6 days of traveling which would leave 19 days of traveling. It is likely that they needed more than one day to replenish their water supplies for the next phase of their journey. The most their water could last is three days before they would loudly grumble (Num. 33:8). Taking the days of encampment to refill their water supply and for the animals to graze, the furthest distance is likely to be 285 miles from Rameses to the Desert of Sin.
Did God intended the Israelites to stop at Succoth to worship him as Moses told Pharaoh? That would be a three day journey of likely 60 miles. This would have taken them 4 days at 15 miles a day. From Succoth to Etham and turned back to Pi Hahiroth is an unknown distance. For estimation, it would be another 40–60 miles since they had to rest for the Sabbath. Etham would be the logical place, that’s just my opinion. From there to Pi Hahiroth would have been a short distance. Thus in my opinion the distance travel was between 100 and 120 miles.
It is interesting to note that Pharaoh with his chariots and foot soldiers were able to meet the Israelites at Pi Hahiroth in relative short period of time. It is likely that the Egyptians mourn the death of their firstborn sons for 1–3 days. Scouts told Pharaoh that the Israelites were wandering in the desert. He gathered his chariots, horsemen, and soldiers to pursue the Israelites.
A typical foot soldier can march 18–20 miles a day. With Pharaoh’s command, they marched at a faster speed and longer distance. They were on a force march. I would imagine that it would take them 3–4 days to catch up with the Israelites. If they marched 30 miles a day, it would have taken them 90 miles. Perhaps on the fourth day, the Israelites saw the Egyptian dust in the distance and started to scramble. The battle was to be by the Sea at Pi Hahiroth with the Israelites in an indefensible position of the desert.
That is just an opinion on my part. I may be incorrect as archaeology may reveal in greater details the locations mentioned in Exodus. At this point, this seems to be a reasonable estimate of distance and time. It’s for one’s consideration.
For more perspectives:
https://www.quora.com/How-far-did-the-Israelites-travel-from-Egypt-to-the-Red-Sea