Nairobi, Kenya → Accra, Ghana · ✈ 5h 44min · 🚗 67h 56min
2,258 nautical miles · Time difference: -2h behind · Direction: northwest
The distance from Nairobi to Accra is 4,181 km (2,598 miles). The fastest way to travel is by flight. A direct flight takes approximately 5h 44min.
The straight-line distance from Nairobi, Kenya to Accra, Ghana is approximately 4,181 kilometers (2,598 miles or 2,258 nautical miles). This measurement uses the Haversine formula, computing the great-circle distance — the shortest path between two points on Earth's surface.
Accra is located northwest of Nairobi. Nairobi is in Africa, in the Nairobi region of Kenya, while Accra is in Africa, in Greater Accra, Ghana. Both cities are in Africa.
| Mode | Distance | Est. Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| ✈️ Flight | 4,181 km | ~5h 44min | Best option for speed |
Our recommendation: flight is typically the best way to travel from Nairobi to Accra. For 4,181 km, flying saves significant time and is usually the most practical choice.
Nairobi sits at 1.2921°S, 36.8219°E, while Accra is located at 5.6037°N, 0.1870°W. The initial compass bearing from Nairobi to Accra is 281° (W), so a great-circle flight path leaves Nairobi heading roughly W. Because the Earth is curved, the actual heading shifts gradually along the route — pilots and navigation systems update it continuously instead of holding a single fixed compass bearing.
The latitude difference is 6.90° and the longitude difference is 37.01°. Each degree of latitude represents about 111 km, which is one reason cross-latitude routes feel longer even when the map looks similar to east–west journeys.
The geographic midpoint between Nairobi and Accra is approximately 2.2732°N, 18.3609°E. This is the great-circle halfway position — the spot where you would be exactly 2,091 km from each city. On long-haul flights this point usually falls over open ocean or remote terrain, which is why in-flight maps often look "empty" mid-route.
Accra is roughly 2 hours behind Nairobi. When it is 09:00 in Nairobi, it is approximately 07:00 in Accra. A 2-hour shift is small enough that most travelers adjust within a day. Daylight saving time can shift the offset by an hour during certain months, so confirm the exact difference for your specific travel dates.
Nairobi is a major city in Kenya with a population of approximately 4,734,000. Located in the Nairobi region, it is an important hub in Africa. Nairobi is a significant metropolitan area in Kenya with good domestic and international transport connections.
→ See all distances from Nairobi
Accra is a notable city in Ghana with a population of approximately 2,291,352. Situated in the Greater Accra region, it serves as a key destination in Africa. Accra offers solid transport connections and a variety of arrival options as a major city in Ghana.
→ See all distances from Accra
4,181 km is a long-distance route that typically requires air travel. This is comparable to spanning a large continent. For context, London to Dubai is about 5,500 km.
The 4,181 km between Nairobi and Accra means a beam of light could travel this distance in approximately 13.9 milliseconds — but a flight still takes 5h 44min.
The straight-line distance from Nairobi to Accra is approximately 4,181 kilometers (2,598 miles, 2,258 nautical miles).
A direct flight takes approximately 5h 44min, based on 800 km/h cruising speed plus 30 minutes for takeoff and landing.
Estimated driving time is approximately 67h 56min, based on 80 km/h average speed and roads being ~30% longer than straight-line distance.
Accra is approximately -2h behind compared to Nairobi.
The estimated road distance is approximately 5,435 km, which is about 30% longer than the 4,181 km straight-line distance.
📍 Data: Coordinates from OpenStreetMap contributors. Distances calculated using the Haversine formula. Travel times are estimates only. Last verified: April 21, 2026.