Halfway Between Two Places
Quick answer: Click two points on the map to find the true halfway point between them — the midpoint of the shortest path over the globe, with both legs measured.
How to use halfway between two places
- Choose both endpoints using city names, coordinate pairs or map clicks.
- Read the midpoint’s latitude and longitude with the total route distance.
- Copy the midpoint into another map to look for nearby places. It may be at sea or far from a road.
Worked example
- Input
- Two equatorial points: 0°, 170°E and 0°, 170°W
- Expected result
- The halfway point is 0°, 180°, on the international date line.
A simple average of the two longitude numbers would incorrectly give 0°, on the other side of the world.
Calculation method and accuracy
The midpoint is a spherical interpolation at fraction 0.5 along the shortest great-circle arc. This works across the date line. It gives equal surface distance to the endpoints, not equal driving time and not necessarily a city with services.
Common mistakes and edge cases
- “Meet halfway” by driving requires route durations or road-network distances. This tool answers the geographic question.
- Exact antipodes have infinitely many shortest routes and therefore no unique halfway point.
- For three or more places, use the geographic center tool and choose the appropriate weighting.
Sources and verification
Reviewed by GeoDataViewer · . Examples are rounded; the interactive result uses your selected inputs.
Why the midpoint is not on the straight line on your screen
On a flat map, the halfway point looks like the average of the two positions. On a globe it is not, and the difference is large for long routes. The midpoint of London to Tokyo, for example, sits well north of where a straight line on a Mercator map would put it.
This page computes the true great-circle midpoint, so the answer is the place that is genuinely equidistant from both ends by the shortest surface route.
What people use it for
Meeting points for two groups travelling from different cities, choosing a conference location, and planning where to break a long journey. It is also useful for understanding flight paths, since a great-circle route visibly arcs toward the pole.
Distance to each end
The two legs are equal by construction, so the total distance is twice either one. That gives you a quick sanity check on the result: if the two legs differ, something is wrong.
Limitations to keep in mind
The midpoint is the geometric centre of the great-circle route. For a practical meeting point you also want to weigh travel time, transport links, and cost, none of which this tool models.
Related tools
- Crow-flies distanceStraight-line distance between any two points.
- Bearing calculatorCompass bearing from one point to another.
- Antipode finderThe point on the exact opposite side of the globe.
- Horizon distanceHow far you can see from a given height.
- Geographic centreThe centre of several points you pick.
Frequently asked questions
- How is the halfway point calculated?
- By spherical linear interpolation along the great circle between the two points, which is the true midpoint of the shortest surface path.
- Is it the same as the average of the coordinates?
- No, and the difference can be large. Averaging latitudes and longitudes gives a point that is usually not equidistant from both places, and it fails completely across the antimeridian.
- Why is the midpoint so far north for long routes?
- Because great circles between northern-hemisphere cities bow toward the pole. This is the same reason long-haul flights appear to arc northward on a flat map.
- Are both legs the same length?
- Yes, by definition. The tool shows both so you can confirm it.
- What if the two points are on opposite sides of the world?
- The midpoint is then ambiguous: every point on the great circle between them is equidistant. The tool returns one of them.
- Can I find the midpoint of more than two places?
- That is a different problem, called the geographic median. Use the geographic centre finder for it.
- Does it account for roads?
- No. It is the geometric midpoint. A road-trip meeting point should be chosen on drive time, not distance.
- Is the midpoint always on land?
- Frequently not. Midpoints of long ocean crossings and of many intercontinental pairs fall in water.
- Why does the map draw a curved line?
- Because the shortest path on a sphere appears curved when projected flat. The curve is the accurate route.
- Can I get the midpoint as coordinates?
- Yes, the result panel shows the latitude and longitude of the midpoint, along with the distance to each end.