Compare: New York→London (5,570 km) vs New York→Paris (5,837 km). New York → London wins by 267 km (5%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team
5,570 km
3,461 miles · Flight: ~7h 28min
✓ Shorter route
5,837 km
3,627 miles · Flight: ~7h 48min
Difference: 267 km (5%) · Flight time difference: ~20 min
Verdict
New York → London is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 267 km (5%) shorter, saves about 20 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 68 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose New York → Paris only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
New York → London is the shorter route at 5,570 km, which is 267 km (5%) shorter than New York → Paris. You would save approximately 20 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | New York → London | New York → Paris |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 5,570 | 5,837 |
| Distance (miles) | 3,461 | 3,627 |
| Flight time | ~7h 28min | ~7h 48min |
| Driving time | No road estimate | No road estimate |
| Road distance (rough estimate) | Not published | Not published |
| Continuous road link? | No | No |
| Cross-continental | Yes | Yes |
| Initial bearing | 51° (NE) | 54° (NE) |
| Time-zone shift | +5h | +6h |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~1,420 kg | ~1,488 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | — | — |
| Fuel cost (est.) | — | — |
Flying from New York to London produces roughly 1,420 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The New York → Paris flight emits about 1,488 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 68 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 3 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration.
The New York to London route covers 5,570 km (3,461 miles), crossing from North America to Europe. New York (population: 8,336,817) is located in Northeast, United States, while London (population: 8,982,000) is in England, United Kingdom.
The New York to Paris route covers 5,837 km (3,627 miles), spanning from North America to Europe. New York (population: 8,336,817) is in Northeast, United States, and Paris (population: 2,161,000) is in Île-de-France, France.
Flying from New York to London takes approximately 7h 28min, while New York to Paris takes 7h 48min.
Since both routes depart from New York, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between London and Paris as a destination.
The 267 km difference between these routes is relatively modest, so other factors like ticket prices and schedules may matter more.
Neither route has a road figure we can defend. There is no continuous road connection between New York and London — the two cities sit on separate landmasses, so the journey requires air or sea transport. There is no continuous road connection between New York and Paris — the two cities sit on separate landmasses, so the journey requires air or sea transport.
London (United Kingdom) has a population of 8,982,000 and is located in the England region of Europe. As a major metropolis, it offers extensive international connections and diverse attractions.
Paris (France) has a population of 2,161,000 and is situated in Île-de-France, Europe. This city serves as an important regional hub with solid connectivity.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching London (United Kingdom) — a city of 8,982,000 in the England region of Europe. It is also the shorter option at 5,570 km, which translates to a 20 min flight-time saving and roughly 68 kg less CO₂ per passenger versus the alternative. This is a fly-only route in practice — overland travel is not realistic at 5,570 km. The initial bearing is 51° (NE), so a great-circle flight leaves New York heading roughly NE.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Paris (France) — a city of 2,161,000 in the Île-de-France region of Europe. Even though it is the longer route at 5,837 km, it remains the obvious pick when Paris is the actual destination, when departure schedules from New York are more convenient, or when fares undercut the alternative. Overland travel is not practical for 5,837 km; flying is the realistic mode. Departing New York, the great-circle bearing toward Paris is 54° (NE).
New York (40.71°, -74.01°) → London (51.51°, -0.13°): New York keeps America/New_York time and London keeps Europe/London time — a gap of about 5 hours, with London ahead. The exact gap moves when either zone switches to or from daylight saving, so use the live figure in the calculator for your travel dates. New York (40.71°, -74.01°) → Paris (48.86°, 2.35°): New York keeps America/New_York time and Paris keeps Europe/Paris time — a gap of about 6 hours, with Paris ahead. The exact gap moves when either zone switches to or from daylight saving, so use the live figure in the calculator for your travel dates. Both gaps come from the cities' real IANA zones and move with daylight saving. Shifts of 5 hours or more typically produce noticeable jet lag — plan one recovery day per three time zones crossed.
London is closer at 5,570 km, which is 267 km (5%) shorter.
5,570 km (3,461 miles). Flight: ~7h 28min.
5,837 km (3,627 miles). Flight: ~7h 48min.
Flying to London is faster at ~7h 28min, saving about 20 min compared to Paris.
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.