Halfway Point Between Two Cities
Enter two cities or addresses, or tap Use my location for the first one. You'll see the halfway point between two cities as the crow flies and along the drive, each with the nearest place name.
Tap the map to set the two places. Drag the pins to adjust.
Two kinds of halfway
The midpoint as the crow flies sits on the great-circle line, exactly halfway between the two places. It's the fair choice when you'll fly or when no road connects them directly. On the map, it's the dot on the dashed line.
The halfway point by road sits halfway along the driving route, measured by distance. It's the ½ pin on the solid route line, and it's usually where you'd actually meet.
Each result shows the distance from either end, the coordinates and the nearest place name. Copy puts the coordinates on your clipboard, and Open in maps shows the spot on a full map.
To find the route and the nearest place names, the points are sent to a route and address service. They aren't stored by us.
Why the two midpoints can be far apart
The two answers match only when the road runs fairly straight. These cases pull them apart:
| Situation | What happens |
|---|---|
| Lakes, bays or mountains in the way | The drive can be about double the straight line, so the road midpoint may sit well off to one side. |
| Water or wilderness in the middle | The crow-flies midpoint can land in a lake or a forest with no road. Use the halfway point by road instead. |
| Highway on one half, small roads on the other | Halfway by distance isn't halfway by time. One driver needs longer to reach the middle. |
| Islands, ferries or closed borders | If no driving route is found, you'll see only the midpoint as the crow flies. |
| A city instead of an address | A city search returns one point, usually the center. Moving one end shifts the crow-flies midpoint about half as far. |
On a flat map, the great-circle midpoint between distant cities often looks closer to the pole than you'd expect. Web maps stretch areas toward the poles, so the line curves on the screen but is straight on the globe. For nearby cities, the curve is too small to notice.
Choosing where to meet in the middle
- If you're both driving, start from the halfway point by road, not the crow-flies midpoint.
- Use full street addresses, or drag each pin to the real starting point. A city center can be miles from where someone lives.
- Check the total drive time. If one half runs through slow city streets, move the meeting point toward that driver. For the full trip, the distance calculator shows the straight-line and road distance.
- Tap Open in maps under the halfway point by road and look for a town, a café or a rest stop nearby. Small shifts make little difference to either drive.
- For three or more people, there's no single fair point. Start from the halfway point of the two farthest apart, then compare everyone's drive times.
Frequently asked questions
What is the halfway point between two cities?
Type both cities. You'll see the geographic midpoint and the point halfway along the driving route, each with coordinates and the nearest place.
How do I find a place to meet in the middle?
Use the halfway point by road, then tap Open in maps to look for towns, cafés or rest stops near it. Small shifts make little difference to each person's drive.
Is the midpoint by distance or by time?
Both midpoints are by distance. Driving time can differ for each half because of road types, so check the total drive time.
Why is the midpoint in the middle of a lake?
The midpoint as the crow flies ignores roads and water. The halfway point by road always sits on the driving route, so use that one to meet.
Can I use addresses instead of cities?
Yes. Any address, place or pair of coordinates works. Tap Use my location to start from where you are, or tap the map to set each point.