Distance Calculator

Straight-line distance between two geographic coordinates uses the Haversine formula, which accounts for the Earth's curvature. The formula: a = sin²(Δlat/2) + cos(lat1) × cos(lat2) × sin²(Δlon/2). d = 2 × R × arcsin(√a), where R = 6,371 km (Earth's radius). This gives the 'great circle distance' — the shortest path between two points on a sphere. It's also called 'as-the-crow-flies' distance. Actual road driving distance is typically 20–30% longer due to roads, terrain, and infrastructure.

Several methods: Google Maps: right-click any location → 'What's here?' → coordinates appear at the bottom. Google Maps address search: coordinates shown in the URL. GPS devices and most smartphones display your current coordinates. For cities: New York City: 40.7128°N, 74.0060°W. Los Angeles: 34.0522°N, 118.2437°W. London: 51.5074°N, 0.1278°W. Paris: 48.8566°N, 2.3522°E. Tokyo: 35.6762°N, 139.6503°E. Sydney: 33.8688°S, 151.2093°E.

New York to Los Angeles (straight-line): 2,445 miles (3,935 km). By road (I-40 route): approximately 2,790 miles (4,490 km). Driving time: approximately 40–44 hours of driving time (without stops), typically spread over 4–5 days. By air: approximately 5 hours 30 minutes (flight time, no stops). The direct flight distance is approximately 2,475 miles (3,983 km), slightly longer than the straight-line distance due to the flight path following the great circle route.

Time = Distance ÷ Speed. For distance in miles and speed in mph: 300 miles ÷ 60 mph = 5 hours. For distance in km and speed in km/h: 500 km ÷ 100 km/h = 5 hours. Add 15–20% for traffic, stops, and real-world driving conditions. For long road trips, use average moving speed (not maximum speed): 50–60 mph (80–97 km/h) is realistic for mixed highway/city driving in the US.

A nautical mile = 1.852 km = 1.15078 miles. It's defined as 1 minute of arc of latitude on Earth's surface — making it directly tied to Earth's geometry. Nautical miles are used in maritime and aviation navigation because they simplify calculations involving latitude and longitude. A knot (speed) = 1 nautical mile per hour. For reference: a ship traveling at 20 knots covers 20 nautical miles (37 km / 23 statute miles) per hour.