Compare: Seattle→Los Angeles (1,545 km) vs Seattle→San Francisco (1,093 km). Seattle → San Francisco wins by 452 km (29%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 7, 2026
1,545 km
960 miles · Flight: ~2h 26min · Drive: ~25h 6min
1,093 km
679 miles · Flight: ~1h 52min · Drive: ~17h 46min
✓ Shorter route
Difference: 452 km (29%) · Flight time difference: ~34 min
Verdict
Seattle → San Francisco is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 452 km (29%) shorter, saves about 34 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 115 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Seattle → Los Angeles only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Seattle → San Francisco is the shorter route at 1,093 km, which is 452 km (29%) shorter than Seattle → Los Angeles. You would save approximately 34 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Seattle → Los Angeles | Seattle → San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 1,545 | 1,093 |
| Distance (miles) | 960 | 679 |
| Flight time | ~2h 26min | ~1h 52min |
| Driving time | ~25h 6min | ~17h 46min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~2,009 km | ~1,421 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 166° (SSE) | 180° (S) |
| Time-zone shift | None | None |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~394 kg | ~279 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~344 kg | ~243 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$201 USD | ~$142 USD |
Flying from Seattle to Los Angeles produces roughly 394 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Seattle → San Francisco flight emits about 279 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 115 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 5 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 344 kg and 243 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Seattle to Los Angeles route covers 1,545 km (960 miles), staying within North America. Seattle (population: 737,015) is located in Pacific Northwest, United States, while Los Angeles (population: 3,979,576) is in West Coast, United States.
The Seattle to San Francisco route covers 1,093 km (679 miles), remaining within North America. Seattle (population: 737,015) is in Pacific Northwest, United States, and San Francisco (population: 873,965) is in West Coast, United States.
Flying from Seattle to Los Angeles takes approximately 2h 26min, while Seattle to San Francisco takes 1h 52min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 25h 6min for the first route and 17h 46min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Seattle, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Los Angeles and San Francisco as a destination.
The 452 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 2,009 km and 1,421 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 588 km of driving.
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.
San Francisco (United States) has a population of 873,965 and is situated in West Coast, North America. This destination offers a more intimate travel experience with unique local culture.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Los Angeles (United States) — a city of 3,979,576 in the West Coast region of North America. Despite being the longer of the two at 1,545 km, it makes sense when Los Angeles itself is the destination, the schedule fits better, or ticket prices are noticeably lower. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 2,009 km of road and a fuel cost band around $201 USD. The initial bearing is 166° (SSE), so a great-circle flight leaves Seattle heading roughly SSE.
This route is the right call if you are heading to San Francisco (United States) — a city of 873,965 in the West Coast region of North America. It is also the shorter of the two at 1,093 km, saving about 34 min of flying and around 115 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 1,421 km of road and a fuel cost in the $142 USD range. Departing Seattle, the great-circle bearing toward San Francisco is 180° (S).
Seattle (47.61°, -122.33°) and Los Angeles (34.05°, -118.24°) sit in the same approximate time zone. Seattle (47.61°, -122.33°) and San Francisco (37.77°, -122.42°) share an approximate time zone. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
San Francisco is closer at 1,093 km, which is 452 km (29%) shorter.
1,545 km (960 miles). Flight: ~2h 26min.
1,093 km (679 miles). Flight: ~1h 52min.
Flying to San Francisco is faster at ~1h 52min, saving about 34 min compared to Los Angeles.
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.