Compare: Sydney→London (16,994 km) vs Sydney→Los Angeles (12,074 km). Sydney → Los Angeles wins by 4,920 km (29%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 7, 2026
16,994 km
10,560 miles · Flight: ~21h 45min · Drive: ~276h 9min
12,074 km
7,502 miles · Flight: ~15h 36min · Drive: ~196h 12min
✓ Shorter route
Difference: 4,920 km (29%) · Flight time difference: ~6h 9min
Verdict
Sydney → Los Angeles is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 4,920 km (29%) shorter, saves about 6h 9min of flight time, and cuts roughly 1,254 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Sydney → London only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Sydney → Los Angeles is the shorter route at 12,074 km, which is 4,920 km (29%) shorter than Sydney → London. You would save approximately 6h 9min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Sydney → London | Sydney → Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 16,994 | 12,074 |
| Distance (miles) | 10,560 | 7,502 |
| Flight time | ~21h 45min | ~15h 36min |
| Driving time | ~276h 9min | ~196h 12min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~22,092 km | ~15,696 km |
| Drivable? | No | No |
| Cross-continental | Yes | Yes |
| Initial bearing | 319° (NW) | 61° (ENE) |
| Time-zone shift | -10h | -18h |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~4,333 kg | ~3,079 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | — | — |
| Fuel cost (est.) | — | — |
Flying from Sydney to London produces roughly 4,333 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Sydney → Los Angeles flight emits about 3,079 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 1,254 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 60 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration.
The Sydney to London route covers 16,994 km (10,560 miles), crossing from Oceania to Europe. Sydney (population: 5,312,163) is located in New South Wales, Australia, while London (population: 8,982,000) is in England, United Kingdom.
The Sydney to Los Angeles route covers 12,074 km (7,502 miles), spanning from Oceania to North America. Sydney (population: 5,312,163) is in New South Wales, Australia, and Los Angeles (population: 3,979,576) is in West Coast, United States.
Flying from Sydney to London takes approximately 21h 45min, while Sydney to Los Angeles takes 15h 36min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 276h 9min for the first route and 196h 12min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Sydney, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between London and Los Angeles as a destination.
The 4,920 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.
Los Angeles (United States) has a population of 3,979,576 and is situated in West Coast, North America. 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. Despite being the longer of the two at 16,994 km, it makes sense when London itself is the destination, the schedule fits better, or ticket prices are noticeably lower. This is a fly-only route in practice — overland travel is not realistic at 16,994 km. The initial bearing is 319° (NW), so a great-circle flight leaves Sydney heading roughly NW.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Los Angeles (United States) — a city of 3,979,576 in the West Coast region of North America. It is also the shorter of the two at 12,074 km, saving about 6h 9min of flying and around 1,254 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Overland travel is not practical for 12,074 km; flying is the realistic mode. Departing Sydney, the great-circle bearing toward Los Angeles is 61° (ENE).
Sydney (-33.87°, 151.21°) and London (51.51°, -0.13°) sit with a time-zone shift of -10 hours. Sydney (-33.87°, 151.21°) and Los Angeles (34.05°, -118.24°) have a -18-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.
Los Angeles is closer at 12,074 km, which is 4,920 km (29%) shorter.
16,994 km (10,560 miles). Flight: ~21h 45min.
12,074 km (7,502 miles). Flight: ~15h 36min.
Flying to Los Angeles is faster at ~15h 36min, saving about 6h 9min 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.