Travel　burden　on　rural　residents　is　an　important　theme　in　transport　geography.　However,　the　empirical　evidence　for　this　remains　scarce.　This　paper　aims　to　shed　light　on　rural　travel　burden　by　examining　the　relationship　between　the　rural　built　environment　and　villagers＇　travel　burden,　as　measured　by　the　time　and　money　spent　on　essential　and　regional　trips.　A　national　survey　of　rural　residents　in　287　villages　across　China　is　analysed.　The　results　show　that　residents　living　in　rural　areas　are　more　likely　to　be　faced　with　travel　burden　than　are　urban　residents　when　accessing　livelihood　opportunities　in　local　rural　settlements　and　regional　urban　centres.　The　built　environment　attributes　are　significantly　correlated　with　residents＇　travel　burden.　Specifically,　the　distance　from　the　village　to　the　destination　has　the　strongest　relationship　with　essential　trips　compared　with　other　built　environment　variables.　Villagers　tend　to　incur　higher　time　costs　for　an　essential　or　regional　trip　when　paved　roads,　bus　stations　and　high-quality　roads　are　less　accessible.　Bus　transfer　times　from　the　village　to　the　town　centre,　the　population　density,　and　the　accessibility　of　local　facilities　also　show　significantly　correlation　with　villagers＇　travel　cost.　Moreover,　those　residents　who　are　elderly,　low-income,　or　have　a　physical　disability　are　more　likely　to　suffer　from　high　travel　burden.　The　findings　will　enhance　our　understanding　of　the　role　of　land　use　and　transport　policies　in　releasing　villagers＇　travel　burden　to　achieve　sustainable　transport　development　in　rural　contexts.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd