Compare: New York→Los Angeles (3,936 km) vs New York→London (5,570 km). New York → Los Angeles wins by 1,634 km (29%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 7, 2026
3,936 km
2,446 miles · Flight: ~5h 25min · Drive: ~63h 58min
✓ Shorter route
5,570 km
3,461 miles · Flight: ~7h 28min · Drive: ~90h 31min
Difference: 1,634 km (29%) · Flight time difference: ~2h 3min
New York → Los Angeles is the shorter route at 3,936 km, which is 1,634 km (29%) shorter than New York → London. You would save approximately 2h 3min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | New York → Los Angeles | New York → London |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 3,936 | 5,570 |
| Distance (miles) | 2,446 | 3,461 |
| Flight time | ~5h 25min | ~7h 28min |
| Driving time | ~63h 58min | ~90h 31min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~5,117 km | ~7,241 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | No |
| Cross-continental | No | Yes |
The New York to Los Angeles route covers 3,936 km (2,446 miles), staying within North America. New York (population: 8,336,817) is located in Northeast, United States, while Los Angeles (population: 3,979,576) is in West Coast, United States.
The New York to London route covers 5,570 km (3,461 miles), spanning from North America to Europe. New York (population: 8,336,817) is in Northeast, United States, and London (population: 8,982,000) is in England, United Kingdom.
Flying from New York to Los Angeles takes approximately 5h 25min, while New York to London takes 7h 28min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 63h 58min for the first route and 90h 31min for the second.
Since both routes depart from New York, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Los Angeles and London as a destination.
The 1,634 km difference between these routes is noticeable in both travel time and fuel or ticket costs.
Only the New York→Los Angeles route is practical by car (5,117 km by road). The other route requires flying.
Los Angeles (United States) has a population of 3,979,576 and is located in the West Coast region of North America. It's a significant city with good transport links and cultural offerings.
London (United Kingdom) has a population of 8,982,000 and is situated in England, Europe. This major global city has multiple airports and world-class infrastructure.
Choose New York → Los Angeles if minimizing travel distance and flight time is your priority. The 1,634 km difference means a significant saving in fuel, time, and potentially cost. Choose New York → London if the destination itself is more important than the journey length.
Los Angeles is closer at 3,936 km, which is 1,634 km (29%) shorter.
3,936 km (2,446 miles). Flight: ~5h 25min.
5,570 km (3,461 miles). Flight: ~7h 28min.
Flying to Los Angeles is faster at ~5h 25min, saving about 2h 3min compared to London.
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.