GPS Distance Calculator

Calculate distances between GPS coordinates using the Haversine formula. Supports multiple coordinate formats and distance units.

Decimal Degrees
Degrees Minutes Seconds
Degrees Decimal Minutes
A
Point A
Decimal degrees (-90 to 90)
Decimal degrees (-180 to 180)
B
Point B
Decimal degrees (-90 to 90)
Decimal degrees (-180 to 180)
Kilometers
Miles
Nautical Miles
Meters
Feet
Quick Examples:
NYC to London
LA to Paris
Tokyo to SF
Calculating...

Understanding GPS Distance Calculations

The distance between two points on Earth's surface is calculated using the Haversine formula, which accounts for the spherical shape of the Earth. This provides the "great-circle distance" - the shortest distance between two points on a sphere.

Earth's Parameters:

  • Mean radius: 6,371 kilometers (3,959 miles)
  • Equatorial radius: 6,378.1 km (3,963.2 mi)
  • Polar radius: 6,356.8 km (3,949.9 mi)
  • This calculator uses the mean radius (6,371 km) for all calculations

Coordinate Formats

1

Decimal Degrees (DD): The simplest format, where latitude and longitude are expressed as decimal numbers. Example: 40.7128° N, 74.0060° W.

2

Degrees Minutes Seconds (DMS): The traditional format using degrees, minutes, and seconds. Example: 40° 42' 46" N, 74° 0' 22" W.

3

Degrees Decimal Minutes (DDM): A hybrid format using degrees and decimal minutes. Example: 40° 42.767' N, 74° 0.367' W.

Distance Units

Unit Symbol Equivalent to 1 Kilometer Common Use
Kilometer km 1.000 km International, scientific
Mile mi 0.6214 mi United States, United Kingdom
Nautical Mile nmi 0.5400 nmi Aviation, maritime
Meter m 1,000 m Scientific, engineering
Foot ft 3,280.84 ft United States, aviation altitude

Applications of Distance Calculations

  • Navigation: Route planning for driving, flying, or sailing
  • Logistics: Calculating shipping and delivery distances
  • Geocaching: Finding hidden containers using GPS coordinates
  • Sports: Measuring running, cycling, or hiking routes
  • Geography: Studying spatial relationships between locations
  • Real Estate: Calculating property boundaries and distances to amenities

Calculator Features:

  • Uses the Haversine formula for accurate great-circle distance calculations
  • Supports multiple coordinate formats (DD, DMS, DDM)
  • Provides distance in multiple units (km, mi, nmi, m, ft)
  • Calculates initial and final bearings between points
  • Visualizes locations and path on an interactive map
  • Shows the midpoint between two locations

Frequently Asked Questions

Great-circle distance is the shortest distance between two points on a sphere, following the curvature of the Earth. A rhumb line (or loxodrome) is a path of constant bearing, which appears as a straight line on a Mercator projection map. For long distances, the great-circle route is shorter but requires constant course adjustments.

The Haversine formula is accurate to within about 0.5% for most distances on Earth. It assumes a spherical Earth, while Earth is actually an oblate spheroid (slightly flattened at the poles). For greater precision over very long distances, the Vincenty formula is used, which accounts for Earth's ellipsoidal shape.

Bearing (or azimuth) is the compass direction from one point to another, measured in degrees clockwise from true north. It's important for navigation because it tells you which direction to travel to get from point A to point B. The initial bearing is the direction when starting the journey, and the final bearing is the direction when arriving at the destination.

This calculator calculates the distance between two points. For routes with multiple points (like a road trip with several stops), you would need to calculate each segment separately and sum the distances. Some advanced mapping tools can calculate multi-point routes automatically.

This calculator gives the straight-line (great-circle) distance between two points. Google Maps typically shows driving distance, which follows roads and may be longer due to road networks, traffic patterns, and geographical obstacles. For air or sea travel, the great-circle distance is more relevant.