Compare: Mumbai→Delhi (1,153 km) vs Mumbai→Chennai (1,033 km). Mumbai → Chennai wins by 120 km (10%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 21, 2026
1,153 km
716 miles · Flight: ~1h 56min · Drive: ~18h 44min
1,033 km
642 miles · Flight: ~1h 47min · Drive: ~16h 47min
✓ Shorter route
Difference: 120 km (10%) · Flight time difference: ~9 min
Verdict
Mumbai → Chennai is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 120 km (10%) shorter, saves about 9 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 31 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Mumbai → Delhi only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Mumbai → Chennai is the shorter route at 1,033 km, which is 120 km (10%) shorter than Mumbai → Delhi. You would save approximately 9 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Mumbai → Delhi | Mumbai → Chennai |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 1,153 | 1,033 |
| Distance (miles) | 716 | 642 |
| Flight time | ~1h 56min | ~1h 47min |
| Driving time | ~18h 44min | ~16h 47min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~1,499 km | ~1,343 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 21° (NNE) | 129° (SE) |
| Time-zone shift | None | None |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~294 kg | ~263 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~256 kg | ~230 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$150 USD | ~$134 USD |
Flying from Mumbai to Delhi produces roughly 294 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Mumbai → Chennai flight emits about 263 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 31 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 1 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 256 kg and 230 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Mumbai to Delhi route covers 1,153 km (716 miles), staying within Asia. Mumbai (population: 12,442,373) is located in West India, India, while Delhi (population: 16,787,941) is in North India, India.
The Mumbai to Chennai route covers 1,033 km (642 miles), remaining within Asia. Mumbai (population: 12,442,373) is in West India, India, and Chennai (population: 7,088,000) is in South India, India.
Flying from Mumbai to Delhi takes approximately 1h 56min, while Mumbai to Chennai takes 1h 47min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 18h 44min for the first route and 16h 47min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Mumbai, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Delhi and Chennai as a destination.
The 120 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 1,499 km and 1,343 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 156 km of driving.
Delhi (India) has a population of 16,787,941 and is located in the North India region of Asia. As a major metropolis, it offers extensive international connections and diverse attractions.
Chennai (India) has a population of 7,088,000 and is situated in South India, Asia. This major global city has multiple airports and world-class infrastructure.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Delhi (India) — a city of 16,787,941 in the North India region of Asia. Despite being the longer of the two at 1,153 km, it makes sense when Delhi itself is the destination, the schedule fits better, or ticket prices are noticeably lower. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 1,499 km of road and a fuel cost band around $150 USD. The initial bearing is 21° (NNE), so a great-circle flight leaves Mumbai heading roughly NNE.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Chennai (India) — a city of 7,088,000 in the South India region of Asia. It is also the shorter of the two at 1,033 km, saving about 9 min of flying and around 31 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 1,343 km of road and a fuel cost in the $134 USD range. Departing Mumbai, the great-circle bearing toward Chennai is 129° (SE).
Mumbai (19.08°, 72.88°) and Delhi (28.70°, 77.10°) sit in the same approximate time zone. Mumbai (19.08°, 72.88°) and Chennai (13.08°, 80.27°) share an approximate time zone. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Chennai is closer at 1,033 km, which is 120 km (10%) shorter.
1,153 km (716 miles). Flight: ~1h 56min.
1,033 km (642 miles). Flight: ~1h 47min.
Flying to Chennai is faster at ~1h 47min, saving about 9 min compared to Delhi.
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 21, 2026.