How the distance is calculated
The result is the geodesic, the shortest path on the WGS 84 ellipsoid, computed with Charles Karney's algorithm (GeographicLib), accurate to nanometres even for antipodal points. Simpler formulas such as haversine treat the Earth as a sphere and can be off by up to 0.5%.
The initial bearing is the direction, clockwise from true north, in which you leave point A. On a long geodesic the bearing changes along the way, so the final bearing is shown too.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the straight-line distance?
It is the shortest distance over the ellipsoid surface, ignoring terrain and roads. For driving distance, use a routing app.
Is the bearing true or magnetic?
True bearing, measured from geographic north. To get a magnetic bearing, subtract the local magnetic declination (east positive).
More tools
Coordinate converterAny format to all the others, with a map. UTM zone finderZone, band and central meridian of any point. Batch coordinate converterA whole spreadsheet at once, with KML and GPX. Area from coordinatesArea in acres and hectares from the corners. Sunrise, sunset and twilightSunrise, sunset, twilight and a monthly daylight table. Hiking time calculatorWalking time from distance, elevation gain and a GPX track.