Frequently Asked Questions
What is the distance between Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa and Los Angeles, California, United States?
The straight-line (great-circle) distance between Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa and Los Angeles, California, United States is 16,051 kilometres (9,974 miles). This is the shortest possible distance between the two points on Earth's surface, calculated using the haversine formula based on precise latitude and longitude coordinates.
How long does it take to fly from Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa to Los Angeles, California, United States?
At an average commercial jet speed of 900 km/h, the estimated flight time from Cape Town to Los Angeles is approximately 17.8 hours. This excludes takeoff, landing, taxi time, and potential layovers. Actual flight duration may vary depending on aircraft type, routing, weather conditions, and air traffic.
What is the time difference between Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa and Los Angeles, California, United States?
The time difference between Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa and Los Angeles, California, United States is -9h. Los Angeles is -9h behind Cape Town. This difference is important to consider when scheduling calls, meetings, or travel between the two cities.
Is the distance shown the same as driving distance?
No. The distance shown is the straight-line distance (also called "as the crow flies" or great-circle distance). Actual driving distance would be longer due to roads, terrain, and geographic obstacles. Flight routing may also differ from the straight-line path due to air traffic corridors, weather, and political airspace restrictions.
How accurate is this distance calculator?
Our calculator uses precise latitude and longitude coordinates from a database of over 150,000 cities worldwide and applies the haversine formula. This method is accurate to within a fraction of a percent for Earth-scale distances, making it suitable for travel planning, logistics, and general reference.
What are the coordinates of Cape Town and Los Angeles?
Cape Town is located at approximately -33.92584000°N, 18.42322000°E. Los Angeles is located at approximately 34.05223000°N, -118.24368000°E. These coordinates are used to calculate the precise great-circle distance between the two cities.