Distance Between Cities Calculator
Estimate the straight line and driving distance between two cities, plus estimated travel time.
Driving distance and travel time are general estimates based on straight-line distance between city centers, not an actual routed path. Real road distance and drive time will vary by route, traffic, and border crossings.
How This Calculator Works
This calculator uses each city's coordinates to calculate the straight line (great-circle) distance between your origin and destination — the shortest possible distance between the two points. Since real roads rarely travel in a straight line, an estimated driving distance is derived by applying a typical road-to-straight-line ratio, and an estimated travel time is calculated from that driving distance using an assumed average speed.
Using Distance To Plan A Trip
Distance is usually the first number you need when deciding how to get somewhere. A short distance between two cities often makes driving the more practical choice once you factor in airport time, while a long distance may tip the balance toward flying. Knowing both the straight line and estimated driving distance also helps you sanity-check other estimates, like fuel cost or flight duration, against a consistent baseline figure.
Distance Between Cities vs. Driving Distance Calculator
This calculator shows straight-line and estimated driving distance together, so you can compare both figures at once. If you only care about the driving figure — for example, to plug straight into a fuel or trip-time estimate — the Driving Distance Calculator reports it on its own, without the straight-line comparison.
FAQ
What's the difference between straight line distance and driving distance?
Straight line distance, also called great-circle distance, is the shortest possible path between two points, as if you could travel there directly with nothing in the way. Driving distance follows actual roads, which curve around geography, cities, and highway networks, so it's almost always longer than the straight line figure.
How accurate is the estimated driving distance?
It's a general estimate based on straight line distance and a typical road-to-straight-line ratio, not an actual routed path. Real driving distance depends on the specific roads and route taken, so treat this as a planning estimate rather than a precise figure for a specific route.
How is the estimated travel time calculated?
Estimated travel time divides the estimated driving distance by an assumed average speed of 60 mph, which approximates a typical mix of highway and other roads. It doesn't account for traffic, rest stops, or road conditions on a specific route.
What if a place I want isn't in the search results?
This calculator searches a dataset of tens of thousands of cities and places worldwide. If your exact city doesn't appear, try searching for the nearest larger city instead — it will give a reasonably close estimate.
Can I use this to decide whether to fly or drive?
It's a useful starting point — a short driving distance often favors driving, while a long one may favor flying. For a fuller comparison, pair this with a flight time estimate and a driving cost estimate to compare both options side by side.