How Far Is It BetweenTwo Cities?

SnapDistance uses the Haversine formula — a proven mathematical equation that calculates the great-circle distance between two points on Earth's surface. The great-circle distance is the shortest possible path between any two locations, following the natural curvature of the planet. This is the same method trusted by aviation, maritime navigation, and global logistics systems.

Simply enter your starting city and destination. Our intelligent autocomplete — powered by OpenStreetMap geocoding — suggests matching cities, towns, and landmarks as you type. The distance is computed instantly in your browser, with results in kilometers, miles, and nautical miles, plus estimated driving and flight times. You can also pick locations directly on our interactive map.

Understanding the difference between straight-line distance and driving distance is essential for accurate travel planning. SnapDistance calculates the great-circle (air) distance — the shortest path over Earth's surface. Real driving routes follow roads, highways, and bridges, making them typically 20–40% longer. Our detailed guide on driving distance vs straight-line distance explains when each measurement matters most.

Flight distance closely matches the great-circle distance, since aircraft generally follow the shortest aerial path (adjusted for wind and air traffic). Our flight time estimates assume an average cruising speed of 800 km/h with 30 minutes added for takeoff and landing. Where an ordinary road route exists, we also show a rough driving-time estimate (straight-line × 1.3 at about 80 km/h). Compare routes side by side using our compare tool.

SnapDistance is a free distance calculator that instantly computes the straight-line distance between any two locations on Earth. Using the proven Haversine formula — the same mathematical method trusted by aviation and maritime industries — our tool delivers accurate great-circle distances in kilometers, miles, and nautical miles. No sign-up required.

Whether you're planning a trip, comparing travel options, or simply curious about how far apart two places are, SnapDistance provides instant results with estimated flight times and, where an ordinary road route exists, rough driving-time estimates. Explore distances from one location to major cities worldwide, or compare multiple routes side by side to find the shortest path.

Calculating the distance between two cities is simple with SnapDistance. Enter your starting location in the "From" field and your destination in the "To" field. Our intelligent autocomplete — powered by OpenStreetMap geocoding — suggests matching cities, towns, and landmarks as you type. Select the correct result and the distance is calculated instantly.

Behind the scenes, SnapDistance uses the Haversine formula to compute the great-circle distance — the shortest path between two points on Earth's curved surface. This is the same method used in aviation navigation and maritime charting. The result is displayed in kilometers, miles, and nautical miles, along with an estimated flight time and, where an ordinary road route exists, a rough driving-time estimate. You can also pick locations directly on the interactive map by clicking any point on the globe.

It's important to understand the difference between straight-line (air) distance and actual driving distance. SnapDistance calculates the great-circle distance — the shortest possible path over Earth's surface. Real driving routes follow roads, highways, and bridges, making them typically 20–40% longer than the straight-line measurement. Read our detailed guide on driving distance vs straight-line distance to understand when each measurement matters.

Where an ordinary road route exists, our rough driving-time estimate accounts for this difference by applying a 1.3× multiplier to the straight-line distance and assuming an average speed of 80 km/h; where no ordinary road route exists, no road estimate is shown. While this provides a useful approximation, actual travel times vary based on road conditions, traffic, speed limits, and terrain. For precise driving directions, we recommend combining SnapDistance results with a dedicated navigation service. For a visual comparison, use our compare tool to evaluate multiple routes side by side.

SnapDistance displays every result in three units simultaneously: kilometers (km), miles (mi), and nautical miles (nmi). Kilometers are the global standard used by most countries, while miles are primarily used in the United States, the United Kingdom, and a few other nations. Nautical miles are the standard in aviation and maritime navigation, where one nautical mile equals one minute of latitude.

The conversion is straightforward: 1 kilometer equals approximately 0.621 miles, and 1 nautical mile equals approximately 1.852 kilometers. Rather than converting manually, SnapDistance shows all three units automatically so you always have the measurement you need — whether for school projects, travel planning, or professional logistics.

SnapDistance uses the Haversine formula, which models Earth as a perfect sphere with a radius of 6,371 km. This provides accuracy within 0.5% for most calculations. For extremely precise geodesic measurements — such as surveying — Vincenty's formula on an ellipsoidal model would yield slightly more accurate results, but for travel planning, route comparison, and general distance queries, the Haversine method is more than sufficient.

Our flight time estimates assume an average cruising speed of 800 km/h with 30 minutes added for takeoff and landing. Where an ordinary road route exists, rough driving-time estimates use an average speed of 80 km/h with a 1.3× road-routing factor. These are approximations — actual travel times depend on airline routing, wind conditions, road quality, and traffic. Learn how to estimate travel time accurately in our travel time guide, or explore our popular distance pages for detailed breakdowns.

Our tool is perfect for travelers, students learning geography, and logistics professionals. Search millions of locations using our intuitive autocomplete powered by OpenStreetMap data. View routes on the interactive map for a visual understanding of distances. Every calculation generates a shareable URL that you can bookmark or send to friends — making it easy to reference distances later.

SnapDistance runs entirely in your browser. No personal data is ever collected, stored, or shared with third parties. We believe distance calculation should be fast, free, and private. Read our full privacy policy or visit the FAQ for more details about methodology and accuracy.