Distance Between Two Places – How Far Is It?

Calculate the straight-line distance between any two locations in miles and kilometers. Instant results.

How Far Is It Between Two Places?

Need to know the distance between two cities, towns, or ZIP codes? Our free distance calculator gives you an instant answer. Just type in two place names and get the straight-line distance in miles, kilometers, and nautical miles.

This tool calculates the "as the crow flies" distance - the shortest path between two points on Earth. It's perfect for getting a quick sense of how far apart two places are, whether you're planning travel, answering a trivia question, or just curious.

What Can You Search For?

The tool accepts a wide range of inputs:

  • City names - New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston
  • Town names - Boulder, Savannah, Portland, Austin
  • US ZIP codes - 10001, 90210, 60601, 33139
  • Places with context - "Springfield, IL" or "Portland, Oregon"
  • International cities - London, Paris, Tokyo, Sydney

For US ZIP codes, we use local data for instant results. For other places, we use geocoding services to find the location.

Understanding the Results

Straight-Line Distance

The distance shown is the straight-line distance (also called "as the crow flies" or great-circle distance). This is the shortest possible distance between two points on Earth's surface, accounting for the planet's curvature.

Why Is Road Distance Different?

Actual driving or walking distance is always longer than the straight-line distance because roads don't go in straight lines - they curve around obstacles, follow terrain, and connect to other roads. As a rough guide, road distance is typically 20-40% longer than straight-line distance.

Bearing

The bearing tells you the compass direction from the first place to the second. A bearing of 0° means due north, 90° is east, 180° is south, and 270° is west.

Common Distance Questions

How far is New York from Los Angeles?

The straight-line distance from New York to Los Angeles is approximately 2,451 miles (3,944 km). By road, it's about 2,800 miles and takes around 40 hours of driving time.

How far is Chicago from Houston?

Chicago to Houston is approximately 940 miles (1,513 km) as the crow flies. The drive is roughly 1,090 miles and takes about 16 hours.

How far is Miami from Atlanta?

Miami and Atlanta are about 594 miles (956 km) apart in a straight line. By road, it's approximately 660 miles, taking about 10 hours to drive.

How far is San Francisco from Seattle?

San Francisco to Seattle is approximately 679 miles (1,093 km) as the crow flies. The scenic coastal drive is around 810 miles and takes about 12 hours.

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