Compare: New York→Nassau (1,769 km) vs New York→San Juan (2,586 km). New York → Nassau wins by 817 km (32%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team
1,769 km
1,099 miles · Flight: ~2h 43min
✓ Shorter route
2,586 km
1,607 miles · Flight: ~3h 44min
Difference: 817 km (32%) · Flight time difference: ~1h 1min
Verdict
New York → Nassau is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 817 km (32%) shorter, saves about 1h 1min of flight time, and cuts roughly 208 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose New York → San Juan only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
New York → Nassau is the shorter route at 1,769 km, which is 817 km (32%) shorter than New York → San Juan. You would save approximately 1h 1min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | New York → Nassau | New York → San Juan |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 1,769 | 2,586 |
| Distance (miles) | 1,099 | 1,607 |
| Flight time | ~2h 43min | ~3h 44min |
| Driving time | No road estimate | No road estimate |
| Road distance (rough estimate) | Not published | Not published |
| Continuous road link? | No | No |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 191° (S) | 161° (SSE) |
| Time-zone shift | None | None |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~451 kg | ~659 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | — | — |
| Fuel cost (est.) | — | — |
Flying from New York to Nassau produces roughly 451 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The New York → San Juan flight emits about 659 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 208 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 10 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration.
The New York to Nassau route covers 1,769 km (1,099 miles), staying within North America. New York (population: 8,336,817) is located in Northeast, United States, while Nassau (population: 274,400) is in New Providence, Bahamas.
The New York to San Juan route covers 2,586 km (1,607 miles), remaining within North America. New York (population: 8,336,817) is in Northeast, United States, and San Juan (population: 318,441) is in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Flying from New York to Nassau takes approximately 2h 43min, while New York to San Juan takes 3h 44min.
Since both routes depart from New York, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Nassau and San Juan as a destination.
The 817 km difference between these routes is substantial and will significantly impact travel time and cost.
Neither route has a road figure we can defend. There is no continuous road connection between New York and Nassau — 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 San Juan — the two cities sit on separate landmasses, so the journey requires air or sea transport.
Nassau (Bahamas) has a population of 274,400 and is located in the New Providence region of North America. It's a charming destination known for its regional character.
San Juan (Puerto Rico) has a population of 318,441 and is situated in San Juan, North America. This destination offers a more intimate travel experience with unique local culture.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Nassau (Bahamas) — a city of 274,400 in the New Providence region of North America. It is also the shorter option at 1,769 km, which translates to a 1h 1min flight-time saving and roughly 208 kg less CO₂ per passenger versus the alternative. This is a fly-only route in practice — overland travel is not realistic at 1,769 km. The initial bearing is 191° (S), so a great-circle flight leaves New York heading roughly S.
This route is the right call if you are heading to San Juan (Puerto Rico) — a city of 318,441 in the San Juan region of North America. Even though it is the longer route at 2,586 km, it remains the obvious pick when San Juan 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 2,586 km; flying is the realistic mode. Departing New York, the great-circle bearing toward San Juan is 161° (SSE).
New York (40.71°, -74.01°) → Nassau (25.05°, -77.36°): New York keeps America/New_York time and Nassau keeps America/Nassau time, and the two zones hold the same clock time for most of the year. Because each zone changes to and from daylight saving on its own schedule, check the live difference in the calculator for your travel dates. New York (40.71°, -74.01°) → San Juan (18.47°, -66.11°): New York keeps America/New_York time and San Juan keeps America/Puerto_Rico time, and the two zones hold the same clock time for most of the year. Because each zone changes to and from daylight saving on its own schedule, check the live difference in the calculator for your travel dates. Both gaps come from the cities' real IANA zones and move with daylight saving. Both routes have manageable shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Nassau is closer at 1,769 km, which is 817 km (32%) shorter.
1,769 km (1,099 miles). Flight: ~2h 43min.
2,586 km (1,607 miles). Flight: ~3h 44min.
Flying to Nassau is faster at ~2h 43min, saving about 1h 1min compared to San Juan.
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.