Find the Distance Between Two Cities
The Distance Calculator measures the straight-line (great-circle) distance between two cities, states, or any pair of points on Earth. Pick a country and state for each location, or type in GPS coordinates, and you get instant results in kilometers and miles.
It is built for travelers comparing routes, anyone curious how far apart two places are, and people working with latitude and longitude. Every result also shows the compass bearing, a 16-point cardinal direction, rough travel-time estimates, and an interactive map linking the two points.
How to Use the Distance Calculator
Choose your start point
In the From section, search and select a country. A second dropdown then appears — pick a state or province for that country.
Choose your destination
Repeat the same country, then state or province selection in the To section. As soon as both locations are set, results appear automatically.
Or enter coordinates
Prefer exact points? Click the Coordinates tab and type the latitude and longitude for both points. Results update in real time as you type.
Read the results
See the distance, bearing, and direction up top, the same distance in six units, travel-time estimates, and a map with markers and a curved line. Use Swap locations to reverse the route or Reset to start over.
Features
Great-Circle Distance
Uses the Haversine formula to compute the shortest straight-line distance between two points on the globe.
Country & State Picker
Cascade selection: choose a country first, then narrow down to a specific state or province for each location.
GPS Coordinate Mode
Switch to the Coordinates tab to enter exact latitude and longitude in decimal degrees for precise points.
Six Distance Units
Every result is shown in kilometers, miles, nautical miles, meters, feet, and yards at once.
Bearing & Direction
Get the compass bearing in degrees plus a 16-point cardinal direction from your start point to the destination.
Travel-Time Estimates
A quick idea of the journey by walking, driving, flying, and sailing, based on typical average speeds.
Interactive Map
Labeled A and B markers and a curved geodesic line with the distance shown right on it; zoom, pan, and click markers for coordinates.
Swap & Reset
Reverse the two locations with one click, or reset every field to start a fresh calculation.
Searchable Dropdowns
Filter the country and state lists in real time by name or country code to find places fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this give straight-line or driving distance?
It gives straight-line distance — the great-circle path "as the crow flies." Actual driving distance is longer because roads curve around terrain, water, and buildings, so treat the result as the shortest possible distance.
How is the distance calculated?
It uses the Haversine formula, which finds the great-circle distance — the shortest path between two points on a sphere. This accounts for the Earth's curvature, so for everyday use the margin of error is well under 1%.
Why is driving distance longer than straight-line distance?
Roads rarely run in a perfectly straight line. They bend around mountains, rivers, coastlines, and city layouts, adding extra length. The straight-line value here is the theoretical minimum, so a real trip on roads will always be the same or longer.
Can I enter latitude and longitude coordinates?
Yes. Open the Coordinates tab and enter latitude (between -90 and 90) and longitude (between -180 and 180) in decimal degrees for both points. The distance updates automatically as you type valid values.
Does it show distance in miles and kilometers?
Yes. Each calculation is shown in six units at once — kilometers, miles, nautical miles, meters, feet, and yards — so you can read whichever unit you need without converting anything yourself.
What is bearing, and why are travel times approximate?
Bearing is the compass angle (0° to 360°, clockwise from north) pointing from your start to your destination — 90° is due east, 270° due west. Travel times are based on average speeds and straight-line distance, so they are only a rough guide; real trips depend on routes, traffic, weather, and flight paths.
Is my data private?
The distance, bearing, and travel-time math all run in your browser — no location data is sent anywhere to be calculated or stored. The only network requests are for loading the country and state lists and the map tiles that draw your route.
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