# How far is that from me? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 10, 2017, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-that-from-me/798427 "2017-10-10T01:34:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-that-from-me/798427/1 "2017-10-10T01:34:13Z")
Is there a way to find out how far, as the crow fly’s, some place is from me? Google Maps seems to only shows driving distance. No point to point distance. Thanks:) ---
**Author:** ![Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tired_and_Cranky)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-that-from-me/798427/2 "2017-10-10T01:42:50Z")
Google maps has a function to measure distance. If you’re using a desktop browser, right click on the point where you want to start your measurement and pick “measure distance.” Then right click on your end point and pick “measure distance to here.” ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-that-from-me/798427/3 "2017-10-10T01:52:53Z")
There’s also this site that uses google maps and facilitates calculating distances: [Distance Calculator](https://www.daftlogic.com/projects-google-maps-distance-calculator.htm) It’s got some extras added in that I don’t know if the standard Google maps offers yet or not. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-that-from-me/798427/4 "2017-10-10T01:57:56Z")
This is a standard function of google earth. And it’s allfree ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-that-from-me/798427/5 "2017-10-10T02:18:02Z")
Thank You! Those are great! 51.9 miles ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-that-from-me/798427/6 "2017-10-10T06:03:34Z")
You can also just put “How far is it from X to Y?” (and you don’t need to use the quotation marks) into Google and you should get an immediate answer, even when the two places are obscure (assuming that you haven’t put in an ambiguous place name). ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-that-from-me/798427/7 "2017-10-10T14:24:46Z")
Google Earth (not Google Map) additionally allows measurement of multi-segment paths. Handy if you want to calculate how long a particular hike is in settings that aren’t easily navigated by Google Map (e.g. wandering through a park or something). ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-that-from-me/798427/8 "2017-10-10T19:01:36Z")
Thanks, I did not know how to do that. Most useful. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-that-from-me/798427/9 "2017-10-10T20:48:35Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Google Earth (not Google Map) additionally allows measurement of multi-segment paths. Handy if you want to calculate how long a particular hike is in settings that aren’t easily navigated by Google Map (e.g. wandering through a park or something). Google Map does this, too. Do the right click… measure distance… and you can keep clicking from place to place and it will add up the total distance. I use this feature regularly. ---
**Author:** ![Ornery\_Bob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/da6949/32.png) [@Ornery\_Bob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ornery_Bob)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-that-from-me/798427/10 "2017-10-10T21:14:06Z")
The works the same on water too, for us boaters. ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-that-from-me/798427/11 "2017-10-10T22:54:34Z")
I’ve tended to use Wolfram Alpha for questions like this, mainly because there was a time when Google wouldn’t do it as well. They’re probably on par on this sort of question by now though. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2017, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-that-from-me/798427/12 "2017-10-10T22:57:33Z")
> [@Ornery\_Bob](#): > > The works the same on water too, for us boaters. How does that work? The water _moves._ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GMANCANADA](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gmancanada/32/2837_2.png) [@GMANCANADA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GMANCANADA)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2017, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-that-from-me/798427/13 "2017-10-11T04:34:58Z")
For anyone who cycles, runs, hikes, I’ve found Route Planner works well. It’s also great if you have a group that works out together - you can select a route and save it then everyone can have access to it on their devices. > **[Route Planner for Walking, Running, Cycling - plotaroute.com](https://www.plotaroute.com/routeplanner)** > > Free route planner - plan, measure and discover new routes, with choice of maps, directions and elevation profiles. Making Routes Made Easy. ---
**Author:** ![Kzbre5m](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Kzbre5m](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kzbre5m)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2017, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-is-that-from-me/798427/15 "2017-10-11T12:09:28Z")
> [@Orwell](#): > > Google Map does this, too. Do the right click… measure distance… and you can keep clicking from place to place and it will add up the total distance. I use this feature regularly. I’ve seen a crane operator use his phone to get a distance in google maps to see if he has the reach for a drop; about 95 feet out, up and over a three story office building. Didn’t think it had the accuracy for that. (Fortunately, it was in range.)