Distance a swarm will travel?

[Mosherd1]

I have heard that a swarm will travel a 1/4 mile from its parent hive. I have also heard they will travel a mile or more. Does anyone have any idea? I have swarm traps up but wonder what my chances are if all the managed hives are over a mile, besides mine of course.

[Michael Bush]

1/4 mile is typical. Six miles is not unheard of.

[dixiebooks]

I asked this same question last year. The consensus was that they will generally form the cluster within 25 yards of the mother hive. However, when they find a new home it may be anywhere within a few miles. -james

[jrbbees]

I think it depends on the land and what they find they can use. When I was in africa. There was a treeless plain more than 12 miles wide but several times I drove through bee swarms flying straight across the plain with no tree in sight in either direction.
The correct answer may be 'how ever far they have to go to survive.'