Compare: Toronto→Washington (563 km) vs Toronto→New York (550 km). Toronto → New York wins by 13 km (2%). Side-by-side with flight & drive times.
By SnapDistance Team · Updated April 7, 2026
563 km
350 miles · Flight: ~1h 12min · Drive: ~9h 9min
550 km
342 miles · Flight: ~1h 11min · Drive: ~8h 56min
✓ Shorter route
Difference: 13 km (2%) · Flight time difference: ~1 min
Verdict
Toronto → New York is the smarter pick if travel time and emissions matter most: it is 13 km (2%) shorter, saves about 1 min of flight time, and cuts roughly 4 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Choose Toronto → Washington only if the destination itself is the reason for the trip.
Toronto → New York is the shorter route at 550 km, which is 13 km (2%) shorter than Toronto → Washington. You would save approximately 1 min in flight time by choosing the shorter route.
| Metric | Toronto → Washington | Toronto → New York |
|---|---|---|
| Distance (km) | 563 | 550 |
| Distance (miles) | 350 | 342 |
| Flight time | ~1h 12min | ~1h 11min |
| Driving time | ~9h 9min | ~8h 56min |
| Road distance (est.) | ~732 km | ~715 km |
| Drivable? | Yes | Yes |
| Cross-continental | No | No |
| Initial bearing | 159° (SSE) | 125° (SE) |
| Time-zone shift | None | None |
| CO₂ – flight (per pax) | ~144 kg | ~140 kg |
| CO₂ – driving (per car) | ~125 kg | ~122 kg |
| Fuel cost (est.) | ~$73 USD | ~$72 USD |
Flying from Toronto to Washington produces roughly 144 kg of CO₂ per passenger, based on the ICAO/EEA short-haul emission factor of ~0.255 kg per passenger-km. The Toronto → New York flight emits about 140 kg. Choosing the shorter route saves approximately 4 kg of CO₂ per traveler — equivalent to 0 typical tree-years of carbon sequestration. For comparison, driving emits roughly 125 kg and 122 kg per car respectively — meaningful only when the car carries multiple passengers.
The Toronto to Washington route covers 563 km (350 miles), staying within North America. Toronto (population: 2,731,571) is located in Ontario, Canada, while Washington (population: 689,545) is in Northeast, United States.
The Toronto to New York route covers 550 km (342 miles), remaining within North America. Toronto (population: 2,731,571) is in Ontario, Canada, and New York (population: 8,336,817) is in Northeast, United States.
Flying from Toronto to Washington takes approximately 1h 12min, while Toronto to New York takes 1h 11min. If driving is an option, expect roughly 9h 9min for the first route and 8h 56min for the second.
Since both routes depart from Toronto, this comparison is especially useful for travelers deciding between Washington and New York as a destination.
The 13 km difference between these routes is relatively modest, so other factors like ticket prices and schedules may matter more.
Both routes are drivable, with road distances of approximately 732 km and 715 km respectively. For road trips, the shorter route saves roughly 17 km of driving.
Washington (United States) has a population of 689,545 and is located in the Northeast region of North America. It's a charming destination known for its regional character.
New York (United States) has a population of 8,336,817 and is situated in Northeast, North America. This major global city has multiple airports and world-class infrastructure.
Choose this route if your priority is reaching Washington (United States) — a city of 689,545 in the Northeast region of North America. Despite being the longer of the two at 563 km, it makes sense when Washington itself is the destination, the schedule fits better, or ticket prices are noticeably lower. Driving is realistic at this distance, with an estimated 732 km of road and a fuel cost band around $73 USD. The initial bearing is 159° (SSE), so a great-circle flight leaves Toronto heading roughly SSE.
This route is the right call if you are heading to New York (United States) — a city of 8,336,817 in the Northeast region of North America. It is also the shorter of the two at 550 km, saving about 1 min of flying and around 4 kg of CO₂ per passenger. Driving is feasible — expect roughly 715 km of road and a fuel cost in the $72 USD range. Departing Toronto, the great-circle bearing toward New York is 125° (SE).
Toronto (43.65°, -79.38°) and Washington (38.91°, -77.04°) sit in the same approximate time zone. Toronto (43.65°, -79.38°) and New York (40.71°, -74.01°) share an approximate time zone. Both routes have manageable time-zone shifts, so jet lag should not be a major factor.
New York is closer at 550 km, which is 13 km (2%) shorter.
563 km (350 miles). Flight: ~1h 12min.
550 km (342 miles). Flight: ~1h 11min.
Flying to New York is faster at ~1h 11min, saving about 1 min compared to Washington.
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.