Whether you're planning a weekend walk, measuring out a running route, or just curious how far it is between two places, you need a simple way to measure distances on a map. That's why we built the MapTools Measure Distance tool — a free, easy-to-use distance calculator that works right in your browser.
How It Works
Using the tool is simple: click on the map to add points, and watch the distance update in real-time. You can add as many points as you like to trace out a route, and the tool will calculate the total distance along the path.
- Click to add points — Each click adds a new point to your route
- Drag to adjust — Made a mistake? Just drag any marker to move it
- Right-click to delete — Remove individual points by right-clicking on them
- Read the distance — The total distance updates instantly as you add or move points
It's that simple. No sign-up, no account, no limits on how many routes you can measure.
Choose Your Units
Different activities call for different units. A runner might think in kilometres, while a walker might prefer miles. Our tool lets you switch between six different units:
- Miles — The classic for UK walkers and drivers
- Kilometres — Standard for runners and European travellers
- Metres — Useful for short distances and precise measurements
- Yards — Handy for golfers and sports pitches
- Nautical Miles — For sailors and pilots
- Feet — For when you need imperial precision
Just click the unit you want and the display updates immediately — both the main distance readout and the cumulative distances shown for each point.
Calculate Travel Times
Knowing the distance is useful, but knowing how long it'll take is often more practical. The tool includes a travel time calculator with four modes:
- Walking (5 km/h) — A comfortable walking pace
- Running (10 km/h) — A steady jogging pace
- Cycling (20 km/h) — A moderate cycling speed
- Driving (50 km/h) — Average speed accounting for urban roads
These are estimates based on straight-line distance. Real-world times will vary depending on terrain, traffic, and your actual pace — but they give you a good ballpark figure for planning.
Export Your Route
Once you've planned your route, you might want to take it with you. The tool offers three export formats:
GPX (GPS Exchange Format)
GPX is the standard format for GPS data. You can import GPX files into:
- Garmin watches and bike computers
- Strava
- Komoot
- OS Maps
- Most fitness apps and GPS devices
This means you can plan a route on your computer, export it as GPX, and follow it on your watch or phone while you're out.
KML (Keyhole Markup Language)
KML files can be opened in Google Earth, allowing you to see your route in 3D with satellite imagery. Great for visualising terrain and elevation changes along your planned route.
CSV (Comma-Separated Values)
If you need the raw data — coordinates, distances, bearings — you can export to CSV and open it in Excel or Google Sheets. Useful for documentation or further analysis.
Share Your Route
Want to show someone the route you've planned? Click the Share button to get a link that recreates your exact route. Anyone you share it with will see the same points and measurements — perfect for:
- Sending a walking route to friends before a group hike
- Sharing a running route with your training partner
- Bookmarking a route you want to come back to later
- Documenting a planned route for an event
The route data is encoded in the URL itself, so there's nothing stored on our servers. Your route stays yours.
Compass Bearing
For those who navigate by compass, the tool shows the bearing between each point. This is the compass direction you'd need to travel to get from one point to the next, displayed in degrees (0° is north, 90° is east, 180° is south, 270° is west).
Combined with distance measurements, this makes the tool useful for orienteering practice or planning wilderness navigation routes.
Who Is This For?
Walkers and Hikers
Planning a walk? Trace out your intended route and know exactly how far it is before you set off. Great for checking whether that circular walk will take an hour or three.
Runners
Training for a 5K, 10K, or marathon? Measure out routes from your front door that hit your target distance. Export to GPX and load onto your watch for guided runs.
Cyclists
Plan cycle routes and estimate journey times. Export to GPX for your bike computer or just share the route with your cycling group.
Dog Walkers
Wondering how far your daily dog walk actually is? Trace it out and find out. You might be walking further than you think.
Property and Land
Measure fence lines, boundary lengths, or distances between buildings. The satellite view makes it easy to identify landmarks and measure precisely.
Event Organisers
Planning a fun run, charity walk, or orienteering event? Map out and measure your course, then share the route with participants.
Straight-Line vs Road Distance
It's important to understand that this tool measures straight-line (as-the-crow-flies) distances. If you add two points, it measures the direct line between them, not the distance along roads or paths.
For most walking and running route planning, where you're clicking along the actual path you'll take, this works well. The cumulative distance of many short segments closely approximates the actual route distance.
If you need actual driving distances with turn-by-turn navigation, we recommend using Google Maps or a sat-nav app for that part of your journey.
Privacy First
All calculations happen in your browser. We don't track your routes, store your locations, or collect any personal data. When you share a route, the coordinates are encoded in the URL — nothing is saved on our servers. Close the page, and your data is gone.
Try It Now
Ready to measure your next route? Open the tool and start clicking — no sign-up required.
Got feedback or suggestions? We're always looking to improve — get in touch.