Travel time estimates of flowing ecosystems are essential for hydraulic modeling. However, they are challenging to estimate due to labor-intensive field protocols and the dangers of surveying during high flows. Using USGS stream gage data from across the Ichawaynochaway Creek watershed, a tributary of the Lower Flint River Basin in southwestern Georgia, we aimed to predict travel times across a 15-kilometer stream reach using continuous data from 1995–2025. Using a paired gage approach, we identified peaks in discharge above a threshold at upstream and downstream sites to calculate travel time. We use a LOESS smoothing model to describe travel time duration across storm flows, resulting in predictions for flows ranging from 0–400 m3/s. Our model revealed increased travel times at higher discharges—a counterintuitive pattern likely driven by overbank flow storage, influenced by the creek’s geomorphology and floodplain connectivity. Travel times ranged from 4–9 hours below 85 m3/s and 10–17 hours at higher flows. Further, we used flow duration curves to identify periods of overbank flooding and isolate its effects. Flow duration curves identified breakpoints suggesting stream flow reached bankfull conditions around 2250 m3/s at both sites. Our approach reduces the need for field surveys during high-flow events, relies on available data, and can be applied between any adjacent pair of stream gages. Understanding the factors affecting travel times across flow conditions will support future research by providing critical insight for interpreting stream productivity, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem function.