Great Circle Distance
Calculator
Results
- Distance (km)
- 5,837.248966
- Distance (miles)
- 3,627.098349
- Distance (nautical miles)
- 3,151.862292
Travel results
| Distance (km) | 5,837.248966 |
| Distance (miles) | 3,627.098349 |
| Distance (nautical miles) | 3,151.862292 |
formula-map diagram
- Distance (km)
- 5,837.248966
- Distance (miles)
- 3,627.098349
- Distance (nautical miles)
- 3,151.862292
Travel relationship
Formula
d = 2R × asin(√(sin²(Δφ÷2) + cosφ₁ × cosφ₂ × sin²(Δλ÷2)))= 5837.2489665664
Note
This result is a simplified model: it uses the displayed formula and the values you entered, ignoring traffic, weather, winds, stops, terrain, fees and individual variation. Confirm schedules, rates and allowances with the carrier or operator.
More in Travel and navigation
See all →Frequently asked questions
What is a great-circle distance?+
It is the shortest possible distance between two points on the surface of a sphere, following the arc of the great circle that passes through both points — this is how aircraft and ships typically route over long distances.
Why is the great-circle route not a straight line on a flat map?+
Standard map projections distort the Earth's curved surface onto a flat plane, so a route that looks curved on a map (like a Mercator projection) is actually the straightest path on the globe itself.
What inputs does the calculator need?+
It needs the latitude and longitude coordinates of both locations; from these it applies a spherical trigonometry formula (commonly the haversine formula) to compute the arc distance.
How accurate is the result compared to actual flight distance?+
It is a close approximation, since the Earth is not a perfect sphere and actual flight paths detour for air traffic corridors, weather, and airspace restrictions, but it's typically within a few percent of the real routing distance.
Can this be used for driving distances?+
No, great-circle distance ignores roads, terrain, and obstacles entirely; it only gives the theoretical straight-line distance 'as the crow flies,' which is always shorter than or equal to actual driving distance.