Google Maps shows driving distance and time by default, but there’s a quick way to find the straight-line (as the crow flies) distance between any two locations — and it works on both mobile and desktop.
Short Answer: To measure the straight-line distance between two places on Google Maps, long-press the starting point → tap ‘Measure distance’ → tap the destination. On desktop, right-click the starting point → Measure distance → click the destination.
Measure Distance on Google Maps (Mobile — Android & iPhone)
- Open Google Maps
- Find your starting location on the map
- Long-press (tap and hold) on the starting point — a red pin drops and an info card appears at the bottom
- In the info card at the bottom, tap Measure distance
- A crosshair appears in the center of the screen — drag the map so the crosshair aligns with your destination
- Tap Add point to add waypoints along the route if measuring a path
- The distance is shown at the bottom of the screen
📸 SCREENSHOT NEEDED: Google Maps on Android showing the ‘Measure distance’ option in the bottom info card after a long-press
📸 SCREENSHOT NEEDED: Google Maps measurement mode with crosshair on a destination and straight-line distance shown at the bottom
Measure Distance on Google Maps (Desktop)
- Open maps.google.com in a browser
- Right-click on the starting location on the map
- Select Measure distance from the context menu
- Click anywhere on the map to set your destination — a straight line appears with the distance
- Keep clicking to add more points and measure a multi-segment path
- The total distance updates with each click
📸 SCREENSHOT NEEDED: Google Maps desktop right-click menu showing ‘Measure distance’ option
Measure Driving Distance (Route Distance)
The above method measures straight-line distance. For actual driving or walking distance along roads:
- Tap the Directions button in Google Maps
- Enter your starting point and destination
- Select your travel mode (driving, walking, cycling, transit)
- Google Maps shows the route distance and estimated time
Why Straight-Line Distance vs. Driving Distance?
Straight-line distance (aerial distance) is useful when you want to know how far two places actually are from each other geographically — useful for planning, understanding proximity, or calculating as-the-crow-flies distances. Driving distance is always longer because roads aren’t straight.
Quick guide:
Straight-line distance → Long-press → Measure distance | Driving distance → Directions button → Enter start & end → Choose travel mode
FAQ
Can I measure distance along a custom path in Google Maps?
Yes. In Measure distance mode (mobile or desktop), keep adding points to trace a custom path — along a hiking trail, coastline, or any irregular route. The total distance of the path updates as you add each point.
Does Google Maps show distance in km or miles?
It uses whatever unit is set in your Google Maps settings. Change it in Google Maps → Settings → Distance units (Android) or in your Google account settings.
Can I save a distance measurement?
Not directly in Google Maps. Take a screenshot to save a specific measurement. For repeat measurements, note down the coordinates of start and end points.
Quick checklist:
- ✅ Long-press starting point to access ‘Measure distance’ on mobile
- ✅ On desktop, right-click the starting point for the same option
- ✅ Add multiple points to trace a custom path
- ✅ Use Directions for actual driving/walking distance along roads
Open Google Maps ↗ ↗More Google Maps Tips
Conclusion
Google Maps’ built-in distance measurement tool is more capable than most people realize. The long-press method on mobile gets you there in two taps. For driving or walking distances, the Directions function is the right tool. See our guide on Google Maps tips and tricks for more navigation shortcuts.