Google Maps Distance Calculator

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Google Maps Distance Calculator
Distance Between Two CoordinatesTravel Time (Distance + Speed)
MilesKilometers
Result:
Enter values and click Calculate.
function toggleInputs(){var type = document.getElementById('calc_type').value;if(type === 'coord'){document.getElementById('coordInputs').style.display = 'table';document.getElementById('speedInputs').style.display = 'none';} else {document.getElementById('coordInputs').style.display = 'none';document.getElementById('speedInputs').style.display = 'table';}}function toRad(Value){return Value * Math.PI / 180;}function calculateResult(){var type = document.getElementById('calc_type').value;var unit = document.getElementById('units').value;var showSteps = document.getElementById('steps').checked;var ansDiv = document.getElementById('answer');var R = (unit === 'miles') ? 3958.8 : 6371;if(type === 'coord'){var lat1 = parseFloat(document.getElementById('lat1').value);var lon1 = parseFloat(document.getElementById('lon1').value);var lat2 = parseFloat(document.getElementById('lat2').value);var lon2 = parseFloat(document.getElementById('lon2').value);if(isNaN(lat1)||isNaN(lon1)||isNaN(lat2)||isNaN(lon2)){alert('Please enter valid coordinates');return;}var dLat = toRad(lat2 – lat1);var dLon = toRad(lon2 – lon1);var a = Math.sin(dLat / 2) * Math.sin(dLat / 2) + Math.cos(toRad(lat1)) * Math.cos(toRad(lat2)) * Math.sin(dLon / 2) * Math.sin(dLon / 2);var c = 2 * Math.atan2(Math.sqrt(a), Math.sqrt(1 – a));var d = R * c;var output = "Distance: " + d.toFixed(2) + " " + unit + "";if(showSteps){output += "
Formula: Haversine
Δlat = " + dLat.toFixed(4) + " rad
Δlon = " + dLon.toFixed(4) + " rad
a = sin²(Δlat/2) + cos(lat1)⋅cos(lat2)⋅sin²(Δlon/2) = " + a.toFixed(6) + "
c = 2⋅atan2(√a, √(1-a)) = " + c.toFixed(6) + "
d = R ⋅ c
";}ansDiv.innerHTML = output;} else {var dist = parseFloat(document.getElementById('dist_val').value);var speed = parseFloat(document.getElementById('speed_val').value);if(isNaN(dist)||isNaN(speed)||speed<=0){alert('Please enter valid distance and speed');return;}var time = dist / speed;var hours = Math.floor(time);var minutes = Math.round((time – hours) * 60);ansDiv.innerHTML = "Estimated Travel Time: " + hours + " hours, " + minutes + " minutes
Distance: " + dist + " " + unit + " @ " + speed + " " + unit + "/h";}}

Calculator Use

The google maps distance calculator is an essential tool for travelers, logistics planners, and curious minds. Whether you are trying to find the straight-line distance between two major cities or estimate how long a road trip might take based on average speeds, this tool provides precise calculations based on geographic data.

This calculator allows you to perform two primary functions: calculating the "as the crow flies" distance using coordinates (Latitude and Longitude) and determining travel duration based on distance and speed. It is designed to mimic the high-level calculations used by professional GIS systems.

Latitude & Longitude
Geographic coordinates used to identify any location on Earth. Latitude represents North/South, while Longitude represents East/West.
Measurement Unit
Toggle between Miles (standard in the US/UK) and Kilometers (standard globally) for your results.
Average Speed
The expected speed of travel used to calculate the time of arrival or total duration of the trip.

How It Works

When calculating distance on a sphere (like the Earth), we cannot use a simple straight line as we would on a flat map. The google maps distance calculator utilizes the Haversine Formula to account for the Earth's curvature. This formula is highly accurate for most civilian purposes.

d = 2R × arcsin(√[sin²(Δφ/2) + cos(φ1) × cos(φ2) × sin²(Δλ/2)])

  • R: The radius of the Earth (average 6,371 km or 3,959 miles).
  • Δφ: The difference in latitude between the two points (converted to radians).
  • Δλ: The difference in longitude between the two points (converted to radians).
  • φ1, φ2: The latitudes of point 1 and point 2 in radians.

Calculation Example

Example: Calculating the distance between New York City (40.7128° N, 74.0060° W) and Los Angeles (34.0522° N, 118.2437° W).

Step-by-step solution:

  1. Point 1 (NYC): Lat 40.7128, Lon -74.0060
  2. Point 2 (LA): Lat 34.0522, Lon -118.2437
  3. Convert coordinates to radians: NYC (0.7106, -1.2916), LA (0.5943, -2.0637).
  4. Calculate the difference in latitude (Δφ = -0.1163) and longitude (Δλ = -0.7721).
  5. Apply the Haversine formula using Earth's radius (3,959 miles).
  6. Result: 2,445.55 miles.

Common Questions

Is this the same as driving distance?

No. This tool calculates the "Great Circle" distance, which is the shortest path between two points on the surface of a sphere. Driving distance involves roads, traffic, and terrain, which typically makes the travel distance 20-30% longer than the coordinate-based distance.

How accurate is the Haversine formula?

The Haversine formula is generally accurate to within 0.5%. The Earth is not a perfect sphere (it is an oblate spheroid), so for extreme precision required in aerospace, the Vincenty formula is used, though it is significantly more complex.

Where do I find Latitude and Longitude?

You can find these by right-clicking any point on Google Maps and selecting the numbers that appear, or by searching for "City Name coordinates" in any major search engine.

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