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Driving Path

Driving Path

Scheduling Terms Reviewed by forProject Technology - updated Sep 2026
Quick definition: The Driving Path is the sequence of linked tasks that determines the completion date of a specific milestone or task, calculated the same way as the Critical Path but traced back from that milestone rather than from the project finish.

A Driving Path is calculated like the Critical Path, but traced back from an interim milestone or task instead of from the project finish. It is the longest chain of linked tasks leading to that milestone, so its tasks are the ones keeping the milestone from finishing any sooner. It answers the question, "What is actually holding this date?" A project can have many Driving Paths, one for every milestone worth managing.

What this means for you

A Driving Path shows what is setting the date of a milestone the team or customer cares about, such as a delivery, a test event, or a phase gate. Critical Path Analysis won't show this unless that milestone happens to sit on the Critical Path. Because an interim milestone can slip while the finish date holds, the Driving Path is often the earliest warning that a commitment is at risk.

Also known as
N/A
Used in
Critical and Driving Path Analysis; interim milestone and key event forecasting; Integrated Master Schedule narrative reporting

FAQ

What's the difference between the Driving Path and the Critical Path?
Both use the same calculation: the longest chain of linked tasks driving a date. The Critical Path drives the project end date, while a Driving Path drives the date of an interim milestone or task.
Does a slip on the Driving Path always cause the project to slip?
No. The milestone it drives may have Float relative to the project finish, so its date can move without the end date moving. That's the value of Driving Path analysis: it shows at-risk commitments that Critical Path Analysis alone would miss.
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