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Google Maps Distance Calculator

Last Updated 8th October 2009

[Map Height : Small - Medium - Large]

Quick Find :

Total Distance Miles KM Nautical Miles Metres Feet Autopan ? Google Search Bar ?

Description

You can use the Google Maps Distance Calculator to find out the distance between two or more points anywhere on the earth. In other words, the distance between A and B. Click once on the map to place the first marker and then click again to position the second marker. The distance between the points will then be displayed. You can also build up a series of locations to find a total distance.

An important feature of this tool is that is "as the crow flies", so traveling in real life will normally involve larger distances, but this may also help those who need to measure off-road distances.

How To Use

  1. Zoom and drag the map to find the location of marker 1
  2. Click to place marker 1.
  3. Zoom and drag the map to find the location of marker 2.
  4. Click to place marker 2.
  5. The distance will be displayed below the map in miles or kilometers. You can change between miles or km at any time.
  6. Add as many points as required and the distance will build up.
  7. You can also drag and drop markers after they have been put on the map

Note

All distances are estimations so Daft Logic does not accept any responsibility that may arise when the value reported is incorrect.

You can move the markers after they have been positioned so you can modify you route on the fly and see how the distance will be effected.

Options

How it Works

Clearly you, the user inputs two 'points' that are used to calculate the distance. Calculating the "As the Crow Flies" distance is a matter of using Great Circle formula. Then the main problem is converting the Google Map unit to miles and kilometers.

The map will also automatically save your route in your temporary internet cookies so that you can return and see the route as you last left it. If you ever need to start from scratch then use the [Clear Map] button.

Benchmark Tests

Map between New York and Paris
Map showing the estimated distance between New York and Paris. All references that can be found suggest that this is an accurate measurement.
Seven Mile Straight in Antrim
Map showing the Seven Mile Straight in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. This shows a reading of 6.910 miles.
Map between Belfast and Dublin
Map showing the distance between Belfast and Dublin. As far as I can see this is an accurate estimate (if there is such a thing). This trip would be approximately 100 miles by road so the proverbial crow would have less distance to travel.
Mary Peters Track in Belfast
Map showing the Mary Peters Track in South Belfast. The reading shows 0.394km which is clearly a reasonable measurement for an athletics track.

Relevant Links

Google Maps API

Further Uses and Ideas

Version History

Version 1 (29/12/2005) - The Beginning

Version 2 (19/01/2006)

Version 3 (15/06/2007)

Version 3.1 (25/09/2007)

Version 3.2 (01/10/2007)

Version 4 (20/01/2008)

Version 4.1 (21/02/2008)

Version 4.2 (10/06/2008)

Version 4.3 (20/10/2008)

Version 4.4 (17/12/2008)

Version 4.5 (04/01/2009)

Version 4.6 (28/09/2009)

Version 4.7 (06/10/2009)

Version 4.8 (08/10/2009) - You Are Here

Previous Comments For This Page

It is very useful sight to find quick results when we required urgently
By MSR on 06/11/2009why hasn't google incorporated this?? wonderful job
On 06/11/2009IDEA: Click on point, then draw outward a circle of radius distance.
On 05/11/2009What else I ca say. It is wondefull tool.
By Paul on 05/11/2009Awesome! this tool is very user friendly and helpful.
By Deborak from Canada on 04/11/2009Great! ... and please add difference in altitude.
By Cairon on 04/11/2009wow.. great work guys !!
By fernando on 04/11/2009Just Awesome
By NS on 03/11/2009Nice one boyo :-)
By Neil on 01/11/2009Can't say enough about how great this program is. Extremely accurate. I measured one lap around the school track, which comes out to .250 miles exactly and have been using it for finding distances to everywhere. Only issue I have is like others where it lags when there are many points on the map. Otherwise perfect.
On 26/10/2009I would like the coordiantes with the selected points. With a better map one could locate landmarks with precise coordinates, eg mountain tops,
By erich on 22/10/2009Distance I think it is around park. 21/10/2009
On 21/10/2009Thanks
By Peter on 19/10/2009walk the dogs come home build afire nice to know how far we walked and why my legs are tired
By Christopher on 18/10/2009well done. good app. would it be possible to create a "street" option (aka. as the car drives instead of as the crow flies)?
On 17/10/2009good stuff and easy to use
By maryam on 17/10/2009Stephen, have a look at Advanced Google Maps Distance Calculator.
By Daft Logic on 15/10/2009is it possible to save the markers and the marked route before I click the Clear Map to work on another route? Thanks.
By Stephen on 15/10/2009I love this. great for calculating the distance from house on the market to target school - in some cases you need to be within 100 meters as the crow flies to get in - so this level of detail is perfect (well a lot better than me and my A-Z and a compass anyway)
By c on 13/10/2009I just find out that if you check the Google Search Bar box then it shows the Quick Find on bottom left which is great! Keep up the best work!!! Thanks a lot! Jesse
On 13/10/2009Yay! This is fab. I am using it for walks and jogging.
By Alix on 13/10/2009Jesse, You can switch it on using the Google Search Bar tick box over to the right. Thanks for the Feedback.
By Daft Logic on 11/10/2009Well%u2026Well%u2026 Well%u2026 if you really want to keep the Quick find at top (which most of the users don%u2019t like anyway!) then at least put the same functionality as it had with the bottom left Quick find (I think it was done in Flash). That will be a great help! Thanks a lot in advance!
By Jesse on 11/10/2009I used this to calculate a running route around my neighbourhood, thanks!
By Nick on 11/10/2009i need to know how many miles from salt lake city, utah to calexico ,idaho
On 09/10/2009Wow, you guys are fast! The ability to measure feet is a great addition. Before, I was zooming in as close as possible then moving the map until the feature I wanted to measure was lined up with the scale display in the corner.
By Orsbore on 09/10/2009Quick find in the bottom left had better functionality and it was so quick to find the distance between two points. I have many friends who were using it and all of them were very happy with the design but now all of them are upset that why they switched back to the old one and i agree with them.
By Scott on 08/10/2009Well, the Quick find at the bottom left was 100 times better. Please switch it back to bottom left!
By Jesse on 07/10/2009I liked the Google search in the bottom left, because it put a marker which I could then click on, the quick find doesn't. Is there any way to bring back the handy marker placement when searching?
By Fishsta on 07/10/2009Quick Find at the top is much better, thanks! I'm not sure if you were earning anything from Google Search, but I hope the switch back doesn't adversely affect whatever money you might make from this great tool.
By Orsbore on 06/10/2009

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