Compare: Denver→Las Vegas (974 km) vs Denver→Seattle (1,641 km). Denver → Las Vegas wins by 667 km (41%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 7, 2026
974 km
605 miles · Flight: ~1h 43min · Drive: ~15h 50min
✓ Shorter route
1,641 km
1,020 miles · Flight: ~2h 33min · Drive: ~26h 40min
Difference: 667 km (41%) · Flight time difference: ~50 min
Verdict
Denver → Las Vegas is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 667 km (41%) shorter, saves about 50 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 170 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Denver → Seattle only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Denver → Las Vegas is the shorter route at 974 km, which is 667 km (41%) shorter than Denver → Seattle. You would save approximately 50 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Denver → Las Vegas | Denver → Seattle |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 974 | 1,641 |
| Distance (miles) | 605 | 1,020 |
| Flight time | ~1h 43min | ~2h 33min |
| Driving time | ~15h 50min | ~26h 40min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~1,266 km | ~2,133 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 249° (WSW) | 308° (NW) |
| Time-zone shift | -1h | -1h |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~248 kg | ~418 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~216 kg | ~365 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$127 USD | ~$213 USD |
Flying from Denver to Las Vegas produces roughly 248 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Denver → Seattle flight emits about 418 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 170 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 8 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 216 kg and 365 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Denver to Las Vegas route covers 974 km (605 miles), staying within North America. Denver (population: 727,211) is located in Mountain, United States, while Las Vegas (population: 641,903) is in Southwest, United States.
The Denver to Seattle route covers 1,641 km (1,020 miles), remaining within North America. Denver (population: 727,211) is in Mountain, United States, and Seattle (population: 737,015) is in Pacific Northwest, United States.
Flying from Denver to Las Vegas takes approximately 1h 43min, while Denver to Seattle takes 2h 33min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 15h 50min for the first route and 26h 40min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Denver, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Las Vegas and Seattle as a destination.
The 667 km difference between these routes is substantial and will significantly impact travel time and cost.
Both routes are drivable, with road distances of approximately 1,266 km and 2,133 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 867 km of driving.
Las Vegas (United States) has a population of 641,903 and is located in the Southwest region of North America. It's a charming destination known for its regional character.
Seattle (United States) has a population of 737,015 and is situated in Pacific Northwest, North America. This destination offers a more intimate travel experience with unique local culture.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Las Vegas (United States) — a city of 641,903 in the Southwest region of North America. It is also the shorter option at 974 km, which translates to a 50 min flight-time saving and roughly 170 kg less CO₂ per passenger versus the alternative. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 1,266 km of road and a fuel cost band around $127 USD. The initial bearing is 249° (WSW), so a great-circle flight leaves Denver heading roughly WSW.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Seattle (United States) — a city of 737,015 in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Even though it is the longer route at 1,641 km, it remains the obvious pick when Seattle is the actual destination, when departure schedules from Denver are more convenient, or when fares undercut the alternative. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 2,133 km of road and a fuel cost in the $213 USD range. Departing Denver, the great-circle bearing toward Seattle is 308° (NW).
Denver (39.74°, -104.99°) and Las Vegas (36.17°, -115.14°) sit with a time-zone shift of -1 hour. Denver (39.74°, -104.99°) and Seattle (47.61°, -122.33°) have a -1-hour offset. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Las Vegas is closer at 974 km, which is 667 km (41%) shorter.
974 km (605 miles). Flight: ~1h 43min.
1,641 km (1,020 miles). Flight: ~2h 33min.
Flying to Las Vegas is faster at ~1h 43min, saving about 50 min compared to Seattle.
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: April 7, 2026.