Distance Calculator
Enter two places or tap two points on the map. The distance calculator shows the straight-line distance in miles and kilometers, plus the driving distance and time by road.
Tap the map to set A and then B. Drag the pins to adjust.
Straight-line vs. driving distance
The straight-line distance, as the crow flies, is the shortest path over the Earth's surface. We calculate it on the WGS84 ellipsoid, the Earth model GPS uses, so the math is precise to well under 3 ft (1 m). The result is only as good as the two points you choose.
The road distance follows real roads from open map data, so it's longer. In cities it's often 20–40% more than the straight line; around mountains, lakes or bays it can be about double.
| Unit | Equals | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Mile (mi) | 5,280 ft or 1.609 km | Roads in the US and the UK |
| Kilometer (km) | 0.621 mi or 1,000 m | Most of the world |
| Nautical mile (nmi) | About 1.15 mi or 1.852 km | Sea and air navigation |
How to measure
- Type a place, address or coordinates into From and To, or tap two points on the map. Use my location fills in where you are.
- Drag either pin to adjust. The straight-line distance updates instantly. Tap the map again to move point B.
- The road route is looked up once both points are set. It appears as a solid line, with the time by car. To find it, the two points are sent to a route service and aren't stored by us.
The dashed line is the great-circle path. Over long distances it curves on a flat map, yet it's the shortest way and close to the routes planes fly. Under the result, you also see the direction from A to B in degrees from north.
Planning to meet somewhere in between? Find the halfway point between two cities.
Why the numbers might not match other maps
- Different points. A city is an area. We measure from the point the search returns, usually near the center, so enter full street addresses when the start and end matter.
- The wrong place. Many names repeat, such as Portland in Oregon and in Maine. Check that both pins are where you expect, and add the state or country if not.
- Different routes. Navigation services may choose faster roads over shorter ones, or account for traffic. We show a typical driving route without live traffic.
- Ferries and borders. Some trips need a ferry or cross a closed border. If no road route exists, you'll see only the straight-line distance.
- Trails and hills. The straight line ignores terrain. A steep trail with switchbacks is longer on foot than the number shown.
Frequently asked questions
How far is it between two cities?
Type both cities into From and To. You'll see the straight-line distance in miles and kilometers and the driving distance by road.
How do I measure the distance between two points on a map?
Tap the first point, then the second. Drag the pins to fine-tune; the distance updates as you move them.
What does as the crow flies mean?
It's the straight-line distance over the Earth's surface, ignoring roads: the shortest possible distance between two places.
Why is the driving distance much longer?
Roads follow terrain, rivers and property lines, so they're rarely straight. In cities they're often 20–40% longer than the straight line, and mountains, lakes and bays add the most.
Does the driving time include traffic?
No. It's a typical time for the route without live traffic, so allow extra time at rush hour.