Distance Between Two Points
Click two points on the map to measure the distance between them — straight line and by road.
How to Measure Distance on the Map
Click First Point
Click map or enter address
Click Second Point
Set your destination
View Distances
See straight-line & road
Add More Points
Create multi-stop route
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Straight-Line vs. Road Distance
This tool shows two measurements between your selected points:
Straight-line distance
Also called “as the crow flies,” great-circle distance, or aerial distance — this is the shortest possible distance between two points on Earth's surface. It's calculated using the Haversine formula and ignores roads, terrain, and obstacles.
Road distance
The actual distance you'd travel by car following roads. This is always longer than straight-line distance — typically 20–40% longer, though it can be much more in mountainous areas or where roads take indirect routes.
Typical Road-to-Straight-Line Distance Ratios
Road distance is typically 20-60% longer than straight-line distance, depending on terrain and road network:
* Ratios are typical averages. Actual distances vary based on specific routes and conditions.
5 Real-World Distance Measurement Examples
1. Road Trip Planning (US Route 66)
A family planning a road trip from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA uses the distance calculator to understand the journey scope.
Use case: Calculate fuel budget (~100 gallons at 20 mpg), estimate 4-day driving time, and plan overnight stops at approximately 500-mile intervals.
2. Flight Distance & Frequent Flyer Miles (NYC to London)
A business traveler calculates New York (JFK) to London (LHR) to understand how many miles they'll earn on their frequent flyer account.
Use case: Airlines calculate award miles using great-circle distance. This flight earns ~3,459 base miles. With elite bonus, could be 5,200+ qualifying miles toward status.
3. Home Buying: Commute Analysis (San Francisco Bay Area)
A couple house-hunting compares commute distance from two different suburbs to their office in San Francisco (Financial District).
| From Location | Straight-Line | Road Distance | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walnut Creek, CA | 18 mi | 25 mi | 1.39x |
| San Mateo, CA | 19 mi | 22 mi | 1.16x |
Insight: Despite similar straight-line distances, San Mateo has a shorter commute because of direct highway access (US-101), while Walnut Creek requires crossing the Bay Bridge.
4. Trucking Exemption: 150 Air-Mile Radius (FMCSA)
A trucking company determines if drivers qualify for the DOT short-haul exemption (150 air-mile radius from dispatch location in Dallas, TX).
Regulatory note: The 150 air-mile radius uses straight-line distance, not road miles. Drivers within this radius don't need electronic logging devices (ELDs) for short-haul operations.
5. Marathon Training Route Verification (Boston Marathon)
A runner training for the Boston Marathon creates a point-to-point training route from Hopkinton to Boston and verifies the distance.
Training insight: The road distance is 23% longer than straight-line due to the course's winding path. Runners use this to plan pickup locations for support crews at specific mileage points.
When Each Measurement Matters
Straight-Line Distance Is Used For:
- Aviation and flight distance calculations
- Shipping regulations (FMCSA 150 air-mile exemption)
- Insurance zone calculations and rates
- Military and defense planning
- Quick approximate distance estimates
- Radio/wireless coverage radius planning
Road Distance Is Used For:
- Driving directions and navigation
- Delivery and logistics route planning
- Fuel cost and consumption calculations
- IRS mileage reimbursement (2024: $0.67/mi)
- Vehicle lease mileage limits
- Travel time and ETA estimation
Common Distance Reference Tables
Major US City Distances
| Route | Straight-Line | Road Distance | Drive Time | Flight Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York to Los Angeles | 2,451 mi | 2,790 mi | 40-42 hrs | 5h 30m |
| New York to Chicago | 713 mi | 790 mi | 11-12 hrs | 2h 15m |
| Los Angeles to San Francisco | 347 mi | 382 mi | 5-6 hrs | 1h 20m |
| Miami to New York | 1,090 mi | 1,280 mi | 18-19 hrs | 3h 00m |
| Dallas to Houston | 225 mi | 239 mi | 3-4 hrs | 1h 05m |
| Seattle to Portland | 145 mi | 174 mi | 2.5-3 hrs | 0h 50m |
| Boston to Washington DC | 394 mi | 440 mi | 7-8 hrs | 1h 30m |
| Denver to Phoenix | 586 mi | 602 mi | 9-10 hrs | 1h 50m |
International Flight Distances
| Route | Distance | Flight Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York (JFK) to London (LHR) | 3,459 mi | 7h 15m | Most popular transatlantic route |
| Los Angeles (LAX) to Tokyo (NRT) | 5,451 mi | 11h 30m | Trans-Pacific hub |
| New York (JFK) to Paris (CDG) | 3,628 mi | 7h 30m | Popular Europe gateway |
| Miami (MIA) to São Paulo (GRU) | 4,170 mi | 8h 15m | South America connection |
| San Francisco (SFO) to Sydney (SYD) | 7,417 mi | 15h 00m | One of longest routes |
| London (LHR) to Dubai (DXB) | 3,414 mi | 6h 45m | Middle East hub |
Distance Conversion Quick Reference
How We Calculate: The Haversine Formula
Straight-line distances on Earth's curved surface are calculated using the Haversine formula, which accounts for the Earth's spherical shape:
a = sin²(Δlat/2) + cos(lat₁) × cos(lat₂) × sin²(Δlon/2) c = 2 × atan2(√a, √(1-a)) d = R × c Where: R = Earth's radius (3,959 miles / 6,371 km) lat₁, lat₂ = Latitude of points 1 and 2 (in radians) Δlat = Difference in latitude Δlon = Difference in longitude d = Great-circle distance
This formula gives accuracy within 0.5% for most practical purposes. For extremely precise geodetic calculations (surveying, GPS), more complex formulas like Vincenty's are used.
Why "Great Circle"?
A great circle is the largest circle that can be drawn on a sphere's surface. The shortest path between any two points on Earth follows a great circle arc. This is why flight paths on a flat map appear curved — they're actually following the shortest route on a sphere.