Essen to Karlsruhe distance
The distance from Essen (Germany) to Karlsruhe (Germany) is 361 km by road, with a driving time of about 3 h 35 min. The straight-line distance is 290 km (180 miles); Karlsruhe lies to the SSE of Essen.
Reverse direction: Karlsruhe to Essen distance — the route is the same.
Travel time comparison
| Mode | Distance | Duration approx. |
|---|---|---|
| Airplane (straight line) | 290 km | 52 min |
| Car (road) | 361 km | 3 h 35 min |
Driving distance and time come from OpenStreetMap road data (OSRM), excluding traffic.
Taxi cost for this route
A regular metered taxi from Essen to Karlsruhe would cost roughly 730–981 € under the municipal tariff, calculated over 361 km by road.
Estimated cost of a regular metered taxi under the municipal tariff (base fare + per-kilometre rate, 2026). Tariffs are set per municipality by ordinance and may differ; only the meter in the vehicle is binding. Not a booking, no guarantee.
Essen
Essen is located in Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany.
| Coordinates (DMS) | 51° 27′ 27.21″ N, 7° 1′ 20.87″ O |
|---|---|
| Latitude | 51.46 |
| Longitude | 7.02 |
| Region | Nordrhein-Westfalen |
| Country | Germany |
| Population | 574,682 |
Karlsruhe
Karlsruhe is located in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
| Coordinates (DMS) | 49° 0′ 24.80″ N, 8° 24′ 13.15″ O |
|---|---|
| Latitude | 49.01 |
| Longitude | 8.4 |
| Region | Baden-Württemberg |
| Country | Germany |
| Population | 309,050 |
Midpoint of the route
The geographic midpoint between Essen and Karlsruhe is at 50.23° N, 7.73° E.
The nearest town is Winterwerb, Rhein-Lahn-Kreis, Rheinland-Pfalz — about 145 km from each city. If you are meeting halfway, that is roughly the place.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Essen from Karlsruhe?
By car it is 361 km, with a driving time of about 3 h 35 min. The straight-line distance between Essen and Karlsruhe is 290 kilometres (180 miles or 156 nautical miles).
How long does it take to drive from Essen to Karlsruhe?
The driving distance is 361 km (OpenStreetMap/OSRM); the pure driving time by car is about 3 h 35 min (excluding traffic).
In which direction is Karlsruhe from Essen?
Karlsruhe lies to the SSE (160°) as seen from Essen.
How long is a flight from Essen to Karlsruhe?
At a cruising speed of around 800 km/h, the pure flight time for the straight-line distance is about 52 minutes.
How much does a taxi from Essen to Karlsruhe cost?
Over 361 km by road, a regular metered taxi from Essen to Karlsruhe would cost roughly 730–981 € under the municipal tariff — base fare plus per-kilometre rate, 2026. Surcharges, waiting time and luggage are not included; only the meter in the vehicle is binding.
Distances from Essen
| Destination | By road |
|---|---|
| Essen → Bochum | 16 km |
| Essen → Oberhausen | 16 km |
| Essen → Herne | 20 km |
| Essen → Duisburg | 25 km |
| Essen → Recklinghausen | 30 km |
| Essen → Düsseldorf | 35 km |
| Essen → Dortmund | 35 km |
| Essen → Wuppertal | 36 km |
Distances from Karlsruhe
| Destination | By road |
|---|---|
| Karlsruhe → Pforzheim | 29 km |
| Karlsruhe → Heidelberg | 53 km |
| Karlsruhe → Mannheim | 68 km |
| Karlsruhe → Ludwigshafen | 72 km |
| Karlsruhe → Stuttgart | 80 km |
| Karlsruhe → Strasbourg | 83 km |
| Karlsruhe → Heilbronn | 91 km |
| Karlsruhe → Reutlingen | 104 km |