Compare: Los Angeles→Seattle (1,545 km) vs Los Angeles→Vancouver (1,740 km). Los Angeles → Seattle wins by 195 km (11%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 7, 2026
1,545 km
960 miles · Flight: ~2h 26min · Drive: ~25h 6min
✓ Shorter route
1,740 km
1,081 miles · Flight: ~2h 41min · Drive: ~28h 17min
Difference: 195 km (11%) · Flight time difference: ~15 min
Verdict
Los Angeles → Seattle is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 195 km (11%) shorter, saves about 15 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 50 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Los Angeles → Vancouver only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Los Angeles → Seattle is the shorter route at 1,545 km, which is 195 km (11%) shorter than Los Angeles → Vancouver. You would save approximately 15 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Los Angeles → Seattle | Los Angeles → Vancouver |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 1,545 | 1,740 |
| Distance (miles) | 960 | 1,081 |
| Flight time | ~2h 26min | ~2h 41min |
| Driving time | ~25h 6min | ~28h 17min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~2,009 km | ~2,262 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 348° (NNW) | 348° (NNW) |
| Time-zone shift | None | None |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~394 kg | ~444 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~344 kg | ~387 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$201 USD | ~$226 USD |
Flying from Los Angeles to Seattle produces roughly 394 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Los Angeles → Vancouver flight emits about 444 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 50 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 2 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 344 kg and 387 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Los Angeles to Seattle route covers 1,545 km (960 miles), staying within North America. Los Angeles (population: 3,979,576) is located in West Coast, United States, while Seattle (population: 737,015) is in Pacific Northwest, United States.
The Los Angeles to Vancouver route covers 1,740 km (1,081 miles), remaining within North America. Los Angeles (population: 3,979,576) is in West Coast, United States, and Vancouver (population: 631,486) is in British Columbia, Canada.
Flying from Los Angeles to Seattle takes approximately 2h 26min, while Los Angeles to Vancouver takes 2h 41min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 25h 6min for the first route and 28h 17min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Los Angeles, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Seattle and Vancouver as a destination.
The 195 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 2,009 km and 2,262 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 253 km of driving.
Seattle (United States) has a population of 737,015 and is located in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. It's a charming destination known for its regional character.
Vancouver (Canada) has a population of 631,486 and is situated in British Columbia, North America. This destination offers a more intimate travel experience with unique local culture.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Seattle (United States) — a city of 737,015 in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. It is also the shorter option at 1,545 km, which translates to a 15 min flight-time saving and roughly 50 kg less CO₂ per passenger versus the alternative. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 2,009 km of road and a fuel cost band around $201 USD. The initial bearing is 348° (NNW), so a great-circle flight leaves Los Angeles heading roughly NNW.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Vancouver (Canada) — a city of 631,486 in the British Columbia region of North America. Even though it is the longer route at 1,740 km, it remains the obvious pick when Vancouver is the actual destination, when departure schedules from Los Angeles are more convenient, or when fares undercut the alternative. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 2,262 km of road and a fuel cost in the $226 USD range. Departing Los Angeles, the great-circle bearing toward Vancouver is 348° (NNW).
Los Angeles (34.05°, -118.24°) and Seattle (47.61°, -122.33°) sit in the same approximate time zone. Los Angeles (34.05°, -118.24°) and Vancouver (49.28°, -123.12°) share an approximate time zone. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Seattle is closer at 1,545 km, which is 195 km (11%) shorter.
1,545 km (960 miles). Flight: ~2h 26min.
1,740 km (1,081 miles). Flight: ~2h 41min.
Flying to Seattle is faster at ~2h 26min, saving about 15 min compared to Vancouver.
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.