Destination Point Calculator
Find the destination coordinates given a start point, an initial bearing and a distance travelled.
How it works
φ₂ = asin( sin φ₁·cos δ + cos φ₁·sin δ·cos θ ) · λ₂ = λ₁ + atan2( sin θ·sin δ·cos φ₁ , cos δ − sin φ₁·sin φ₂ ) · δ = d/R
Given a starting coordinate, an initial compass bearing and a distance, this projects forward along the great circle to the destination point. δ is the angular distance (distance divided by Earth’s radius) in radians. It is the inverse of the distance-and-bearing calculation.
Worked example
Starting at New York and travelling 100 km due east (bearing 90°): δ = 100/6371 ≈ 0.0157 rad, giving a destination near (40.71, −72.82) — about 1.2° of longitude to the east.
Frequently asked questions
What bearing convention is used?
Bearing is measured clockwise from true north in degrees: 0° north, 90° east, 180° south, 270° west.
Does the bearing stay constant along the path?
No — this follows a great circle, so only the initial bearing is fixed. For a constant-heading (rhumb line) projection the destination would differ slightly.
Can I use miles instead of km?
Enter distance in kilometres. To use miles, multiply your mileage by 1.60934 first, since the formula uses Earth’s radius in km.
Related calculators
Educational estimate. Uses a spherical-Earth model; results differ slightly from ellipsoidal (WGS84) calculations.