The distance measurement tool lets you click along a map and read how long the path is. Two clicks give you the gap between two spots; keep clicking and you build a multi-point path — a route along a river, a fence line, a walking loop — with the running total updating as you go.
Everything happens in your browser and nothing needs installing. You do not need an account to measure, and you can keep several separate measurements on the map at once to compare them.
How it works
Each click drops a point, and MapGO measures every segment along the surface of the Earth rather than across the flat screen image. The total is the sum of those segments, so a path that bends still reports its real walked length instead of the straight gap between the ends.
One thing worth being clear about: this is straight-line distance between the points you place, not driving distance. Roads bend around rivers, hills and buildings, so a car journey is almost always longer than the line you draw. Add more points along the road if you want to trace a route more closely.
How to use the Distance Measurement Tool
- 1
Open the distance tool
Open the MapGO workspace and choose Distance from the Measure tools, then pan the map to the area you want to measure.
- 2
Click along the path
Click your starting point, then click each turn or waypoint. A dashed preview line follows the cursor and the total updates with every click.
- 3
Finish the measurement
Double-click, press Enter, or use the Finish button to lock the path in. Press Esc at any point to cancel and start again.
- 4
Read the breakdown
The panel shows the total plus the length of each segment between consecutive points, so you can see which leg contributes what.
- 5
Switch units
Toggle between metric and imperial once the path is finished and it re-labels in place, with no need to redraw. Metric shows kilometres; imperial shows yards for short measurements and miles for longer ones, with nautical miles listed alongside as you measure. Set the units before you start if you can — switching mid-path clears the points you have placed so far.
What people use it for
Walking, running and cycling
Trace a route point by point to see how far it actually is before you set out, including loops that no route planner offers.
Fencing, cabling and pipework
Measure a boundary run or a cable route from above to estimate materials, without walking the line with a wheel.
Site and travel planning
Check the gap between two locations, or the length of an access route, when deciding where to put something.
Marine and aviation planning
Read a leg in nautical miles alongside kilometres and miles as you measure it — the unit charts and flight plans use.
Frequently asked questions
- Is this driving distance?
- No. The tool measures the straight-line distance between the points you click, following the curve of the Earth. A drive is longer because roads bend. You can approximate a road route by clicking along it with enough points.
- What units does it show?
- A metric/imperial toggle switches the main reading between kilometres and miles, with imperial dropping to yards for short measurements, and nautical miles are shown alongside while you measure. Finished measurements re-label in place when you switch; a path you are still placing points on is cleared, so pick your units first.
- Can I measure a path with more than two points?
- Yes. Keep clicking to add as many points as you need. The panel reports the total for the whole path and the length of each individual segment.
- Do I need an account?
- No. Measuring distance is free and works without signing up. An account is only needed if you want to save a map and return to it later.
- Can I keep several measurements on screen?
- Yes. Each finished path stays on the map with its own label, and you can rename, zoom to or delete any of them. One toggle hides the value labels on the map when they get in the way.