It’s not because you were driving faster — it’s because your brain treats the two journeys differently.
On the way there, everything is unfamiliar. New roads, new landmarks, and uncertainty make your brain work harder. You subconsciously check progress more often, which stretches your perception of time.
On the way back, the route is familiar. Your brain switches to autopilot, stores fewer memories, and stops actively tracking the journey. With less attention on the road, time feels like it passes faster.
Same distance. Same journey.
Different perception of time.