Understand why flight distance and driving distance are different, with real-world examples and practical advice for travel planning.
Flight distance follows the great-circle path between two airports. Driving distance follows real roads, which add detours, mountains, and water crossings. The two numbers can differ by 30% on land routes — and by thousands of kilometers across water.
This guide explains why, with real examples like London–New York (impossible to drive) and Los Angeles–San Francisco (driving and flying nearly identical).
By the end you will know which number to use for which planning question.