Compare: Toronto→Montreal (504 km) vs Toronto→Boston (692 km). Toronto → Montreal wins by 188 km (27%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 7, 2026
504 km
313 miles · Flight: ~1h 8min · Drive: ~8h 11min
✓ Shorter route
692 km
430 miles · Flight: ~1h 22min · Drive: ~11h 15min
Difference: 188 km (27%) · Flight time difference: ~14 min
Verdict
Toronto → Montreal is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 188 km (27%) shorter, saves about 14 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 47 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Toronto → Boston only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Toronto → Montreal is the shorter route at 504 km, which is 188 km (27%) shorter than Toronto → Boston. You would save approximately 14 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Toronto → Montreal | Toronto → Boston |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 504 | 692 |
| Distance (miles) | 313 | 430 |
| Flight time | ~1h 8min | ~1h 22min |
| Driving time | ~8h 11min | ~11h 15min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~655 km | ~900 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 64° (ENE) | 99° (E) |
| Time-zone shift | None | None |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~129 kg | ~176 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~112 kg | ~154 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$66 USD | ~$90 USD |
Flying from Toronto to Montreal produces roughly 129 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Toronto → Boston flight emits about 176 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 47 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 2 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 112 kg and 154 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Toronto to Montreal route covers 504 km (313 miles), staying within North America. Toronto (population: 2,731,571) is located in Ontario, Canada, while Montreal (population: 1,704,694) is in Quebec, Canada.
The Toronto to Boston route covers 692 km (430 miles), remaining within North America. Toronto (population: 2,731,571) is in Ontario, Canada, and Boston (population: 675,647) is in Northeast, United States.
Flying from Toronto to Montreal takes approximately 1h 8min, while Toronto to Boston takes 1h 22min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 8h 11min for the first route and 11h 15min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Toronto, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Montreal and Boston as a destination.
The 188 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 655 km and 900 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 245 km of driving.
Montreal (Canada) has a population of 1,704,694 and is located in the Quebec region of North America. It's a significant city with good transport links and cultural offerings.
Boston (United States) has a population of 675,647 and is situated in Northeast, North America. This destination offers a more intimate travel experience with unique local culture.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Montreal (Canada) — a city of 1,704,694 in the Quebec region of North America. It is also the shorter option at 504 km, which translates to a 14 min flight-time saving and roughly 47 kg less CO₂ per passenger versus the alternative. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 655 km of road and a fuel cost band around $66 USD. The initial bearing is 64° (ENE), so a great-circle flight leaves Toronto heading roughly ENE.
This route is the right call if you are heading to Boston (United States) — a city of 675,647 in the Northeast region of North America. Even though it is the longer route at 692 km, it remains the obvious pick when Boston is the actual destination, when departure schedules from Toronto are more convenient, or when fares undercut the alternative. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 900 km of road and a fuel cost in the $90 USD range. Departing Toronto, the great-circle bearing toward Boston is 99° (E).
Toronto (43.65°, -79.38°) and Montreal (45.50°, -73.57°) sit in the same approximate time zone. Toronto (43.65°, -79.38°) and Boston (42.36°, -71.06°) share an approximate time zone. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
Montreal is closer at 504 km, which is 188 km (27%) shorter.
504 km (313 miles). Flight: ~1h 8min.
692 km (430 miles). Flight: ~1h 22min.
Flying to Montreal is faster at ~1h 8min, saving about 14 min compared to Boston.
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.