Compare: Denver→Dallas (1,066 km) vs Denver→Phoenix (942 km). Denver → Phoenix wins by 124 km (12%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated May 30, 2026
1,066 km
662 miles · Flight: ~1h 50min · Drive: ~17h 19min
942 km
585 miles · Flight: ~1h 41min · Drive: ~15h 18min
✓ Shorter route
Difference: 124 km (12%) · Flight time difference: ~9 min
Verdict
Denver → Phoenix is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 124 km (12%) shorter, saves about 9 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 32 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Denver → Dallas only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Denver → Phoenix is the shorter route at 942 km, which is 124 km (12%) shorter than Denver → Dallas. You would save approximately 9 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Denver → Dallas | Denver → Phoenix |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 1,066 | 942 |
| Distance (miles) | 662 | 585 |
| Flight time | ~1h 50min | ~1h 41min |
| Driving time | ~17h 19min | ~15h 18min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~1,386 km | ~1,225 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 134° (SE) | 224° (SW) |
| Time-zone shift | +1h | None |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~272 kg | ~240 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~237 kg | ~209 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$139 USD | ~$123 USD |
Flying from Denver to Dallas produces roughly 272 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Denver → Phoenix flight emits about 240 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 32 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 2 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 237 kg and 209 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Denver to Dallas route covers 1,066 km (662 miles), staying within North America. Denver (population: 727,211) is located in Mountain, United States, while Dallas (population: 1,343,573) is in South, United States.
The Denver to Phoenix route covers 942 km (585 miles), remaining within North America. Denver (population: 727,211) is in Mountain, United States, and Phoenix (population: 1,680,992) is in Southwest, United States.
Flying from Denver to Dallas takes approximately 1h 50min, while Denver to Phoenix takes 1h 41min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 17h 19min for the first route and 15h 18min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Denver, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Dallas and Phoenix as a destination.
The 124 km difference between these routes is relatively modest, so other factors like ticket prices and schedules may matter more.
Both routes are drivable, with road distances of approximately 1,386 km and 1,225 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 161 km of driving.
Dallas (United States) has a population of 1,343,573 and is located in the South region of North America. It's a significant city with good transport links and cultural offerings.
Phoenix (United States) has a population of 1,680,992 and is situated in Southwest, North America. This city serves as an important regional hub with solid connectivity.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Dallas (United States) — a city of 1,343,573 in the South region of North America. Despite being the longer of the two at 1,066 km, it makes sense when Dallas itself is the destination, the schedule fits better, or ticket prices are noticeably lower. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 1,386 km of road and a fuel cost band around $139 USD. The initial bearing is 134° (SE), so a great-circle flight leaves Denver heading roughly SE.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Phoenix (United States) — a city of 1,680,992 in the Southwest region of North America. It is also the shorter of the two at 942 km, saving about 9 min of flying and around 32 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 1,225 km of road and a fuel cost in the $123 USD range. Departing Denver, the great-circle bearing toward Phoenix is 224° (SW).
Denver (39.74°, -104.99°) and Dallas (32.78°, -96.80°) sit with a time-zone shift of +1 hour. Denver (39.74°, -104.99°) and Phoenix (33.45°, -112.07°) share an approximate time zone. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Phoenix is closer at 942 km, which is 124 km (12%) shorter.
1,066 km (662 miles). Flight: ~1h 50min.
942 km (585 miles). Flight: ~1h 41min.
Flying to Phoenix is faster at ~1h 41min, saving about 9 min compared to Dallas.
All distances on SnapDistance are calculated using the Haversine formula, which determines the great-circle distance between two points on Earth's surface. This gives the shortest possible distance over the globe, which is the measurement used for aviation and navigation. Actual travel distances by road or rail are typically 20-40% longer due to terrain, borders, and infrastructure routing. Flight times assume 800 km/h cruising speed with 30 minutes for takeoff and landing. Driving estimates use 80 km/h average speed with a 30% road distance factor.
📍 Data: Coordinates from OpenStreetMap contributors. Distances calculated using the Haversine formula. Travel times are estimates only. Last verified: May 30, 2026.