Compare: New York→London (5,570 km) vs New York→Rome (6,890 km). New York → London wins by 1,320 km (19%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated May 30, 2026
5,570 km
3,461 miles · Flight: ~7h 28min · Drive: ~90h 31min
✓ Shorter route
6,890 km
4,281 miles · Flight: ~9h 7min · Drive: ~111h 58min
Difference: 1,320 km (19%) · Flight time difference: ~1h 39min
Verdict
New York → London is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 1,320 km (19%) shorter, saves about 1h 39min of flight time, and cuts roughly 337 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose New York → Rome only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
New York → London is the shorter route at 5,570 km, which is 1,320 km (19%) shorter than New York → Rome. You would save approximately 1h 39min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | New York → London | New York → Rome |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 5,570 | 6,890 |
| Distance (miles) | 3,461 | 4,281 |
| Flight time | ~7h 28min | ~9h 7min |
| Driving time | ~90h 31min | ~111h 58min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~7,241 km | ~8,957 km |
| Drivable? | No | No |
| Cross-continental | Yes | Yes |
| Initial bearing | 51° (NE) | 57° (ENE) |
| Time-zone shift | +5h | +6h |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~1,420 kg | ~1,757 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 → Rome flight emits about 1,757 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 337 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 16 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 Rome route covers 6,890 km (4,281 miles), spanning from North America to Europe. New York (population: 8,336,817) is in Northeast, United States, and Rome (population: 2,873,000) is in Lazio, Italy.
Flying from New York to London takes approximately 7h 28min, while New York to Rome takes 9h 7min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 90h 31min for the first route and 111h 58min for the second.
Since both routes depart from New York, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between London and Rome as a destination.
The 1,320 km difference between these routes is noticeable in both travel time and fuel or ticket costs.
Neither route is practical by car. Flying is the recommended transport for both.
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.
Rome (Italy) has a population of 2,873,000 and is situated in Lazio, 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 1h 39min flight-time saving and roughly 337 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 Rome (Italy) — a city of 2,873,000 in the Lazio region of Europe. Even though it is the longer route at 6,890 km, it remains the obvious pick when Rome 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 6,890 km; flying is the realistic mode. Departing New York, the great-circle bearing toward Rome is 57° (ENE).
New York (40.71°, -74.01°) and London (51.51°, -0.13°) sit with a time-zone shift of +5 hours. New York (40.71°, -74.01°) and Rome (41.90°, 12.50°) have a +6-hour offset. Routes with time-zone 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 1,320 km (19%) shorter.
5,570 km (3,461 miles). Flight: ~7h 28min.
6,890 km (4,281 miles). Flight: ~9h 7min.
Flying to London is faster at ~7h 28min, saving about 1h 39min compared to Rome.
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: May 30, 2026.