Compare: Rome→Venice (394 km) vs Rome→Milan (477 km). Rome → Venice wins by 83 km (17%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 21, 2026
394 km
245 miles · Flight: ~1h · Drive: ~6h 24min
✓ Shorter route
477 km
296 miles · Flight: ~1h 6min · Drive: ~7h 45min
Difference: 83 km (17%) · Flight time difference: ~6 min
Verdict
Rome → Venice is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 83 km (17%) shorter, saves about 6 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 22 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Rome → Milan only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Rome → Venice is the shorter route at 394 km, which is 83 km (17%) shorter than Rome → Milan. You would save approximately 6 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Rome → Venice | Rome → Milan |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 394 | 477 |
| Distance (miles) | 245 | 296 |
| Flight time | ~1h | ~1h 6min |
| Driving time | ~6h 24min | ~7h 45min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~512 km | ~620 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 358° (N) | 327° (NNW) |
| Time-zone shift | None | None |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~100 kg | ~122 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~88 kg | ~106 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$51 USD | ~$62 USD |
Flying from Rome to Venice produces roughly 100 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Rome → Milan flight emits about 122 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 22 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 1 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 88 kg and 106 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Rome to Venice route covers 394 km (245 miles), staying within Europe. Rome (population: 2,873,000) is located in Lazio, Italy, while Venice (population: 261,905) is in Veneto, Italy.
The Rome to Milan route covers 477 km (296 miles), remaining within Europe. Rome (population: 2,873,000) is in Lazio, Italy, and Milan (population: 1,352,000) is in Lombardy, Italy.
Flying from Rome to Venice takes approximately 1h, while Rome to Milan takes 1h 6min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 6h 24min for the first route and 7h 45min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Rome, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Venice and Milan as a destination.
The 83 km difference between these routes is noticeable in both travel time and fuel or ticket costs.
Both routes are drivable, with road distances of approximately 512 km and 620 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 108 km of driving.
Venice (Italy) has a population of 261,905 and is located in the Veneto region of Europe. It's a charming destination known for its regional character.
Milan (Italy) has a population of 1,352,000 and is situated in Lombardy, Europe. This city serves as an important regional hub with solid connectivity.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Venice (Italy) — a city of 261,905 in the Veneto region of Europe. It is also the shorter option at 394 km, which translates to a 6 min flight-time saving and roughly 22 kg less CO₂ per passenger versus the alternative. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 512 km of road and a fuel cost band around $51 USD. The initial bearing is 358° (N), so a great-circle flight leaves Rome heading roughly N.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Milan (Italy) — a city of 1,352,000 in the Lombardy region of Europe. Even though it is the longer route at 477 km, it remains the obvious pick when Milan is the actual destination, when departure schedules from Rome are more convenient, or when fares undercut the alternative. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 620 km of road and a fuel cost in the $62 USD range. Departing Rome, the great-circle bearing toward Milan is 327° (NNW).
Rome (41.90°, 12.50°) and Venice (45.44°, 12.32°) sit in the same approximate time zone. Rome (41.90°, 12.50°) and Milan (45.46°, 9.19°) share an approximate time zone. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Venice is closer at 394 km, which is 83 km (17%) shorter.
394 km (245 miles). Flight: ~1h.
477 km (296 miles). Flight: ~1h 6min.
Flying to Venice is faster at ~1h, saving about 6 min compared to Milan.
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.