Compare: Los Angeles→San Francisco (559 km) vs Los Angeles→Las Vegas (368 km). Los Angeles → Las Vegas wins by 191 km (34%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 7, 2026
559 km
347 miles · Flight: ~1h 12min · Drive: ~9h 5min
368 km
229 miles · Flight: ~58 min · Drive: ~5h 59min
✓ Shorter route
Difference: 191 km (34%) · Flight time difference: ~14 min
Verdict
Los Angeles → Las Vegas is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 191 km (34%) shorter, saves about 14 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 49 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Los Angeles → San Francisco only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Los Angeles → Las Vegas is the shorter route at 368 km, which is 191 km (34%) shorter than Los Angeles → San Francisco. You would save approximately 14 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Los Angeles → San Francisco | Los Angeles → Las Vegas |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 559 | 368 |
| Distance (miles) | 347 | 229 |
| Flight time | ~1h 12min | ~58 min |
| Driving time | ~9h 5min | ~5h 59min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~727 km | ~478 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 319° (NW) | 49° (NE) |
| Time-zone shift | None | None |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~143 kg | ~94 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~124 kg | ~82 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$73 USD | ~$48 USD |
Flying from Los Angeles to San Francisco produces roughly 143 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Los Angeles → Las Vegas flight emits about 94 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 49 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 2 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 124 kg and 82 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Los Angeles to San Francisco route covers 559 km (347 miles), staying within North America. Los Angeles (population: 3,979,576) is located in West Coast, United States, while San Francisco (population: 873,965) is in West Coast, United States.
The Los Angeles to Las Vegas route covers 368 km (229 miles), remaining within North America. Los Angeles (population: 3,979,576) is in West Coast, United States, and Las Vegas (population: 641,903) is in Southwest, United States.
Flying from Los Angeles to San Francisco takes approximately 1h 12min, while Los Angeles to Las Vegas takes 58 min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 9h 5min for the first route and 5h 59min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Los Angeles, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between San Francisco and Las Vegas as a destination.
The 191 km difference between these routes is substantial and will significantly impact travel time and cost.
Both routes are drivable, with road distances of approximately 727 km and 478 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 249 km of driving.
San Francisco (United States) has a population of 873,965 and is located in the West Coast region of North America. It's a charming destination known for its regional character.
Las Vegas (United States) has a population of 641,903 and is situated in Southwest, North America. This destination offers a more intimate travel experience with unique local culture.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching San Francisco (United States) — a city of 873,965 in the West Coast region of North America. Despite being the longer of the two at 559 km, it makes sense when San Francisco itself is the destination, the schedule fits better, or ticket prices are noticeably lower. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 727 km of road and a fuel cost band around $73 USD. The initial bearing is 319° (NW), so a great-circle flight leaves Los Angeles heading roughly NW.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Las Vegas (United States) — a city of 641,903 in the Southwest region of North America. It is also the shorter of the two at 368 km, saving about 14 min of flying and around 49 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 478 km of road and a fuel cost in the $48 USD range. Departing Los Angeles, the great-circle bearing toward Las Vegas is 49° (NE).
Los Angeles (34.05°, -118.24°) and San Francisco (37.77°, -122.42°) sit in the same approximate time zone. Los Angeles (34.05°, -118.24°) and Las Vegas (36.17°, -115.14°) share an approximate time zone. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Las Vegas is closer at 368 km, which is 191 km (34%) shorter.
559 km (347 miles). Flight: ~1h 12min.
368 km (229 miles). Flight: ~58 min.
Flying to Las Vegas is faster at ~58 min, saving about 14 min compared to San Francisco.
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.