Essen to Kiel distance
The distance from Essen (Germany) to Kiel (Germany) is 446 km by road, with a driving time of about 4 h 28 min. The straight-line distance is 380 km (236 miles); Kiel lies to the NNE of Essen.
Reverse direction: Kiel to Essen distance — the route is the same.
Travel time comparison
| Mode | Distance | Duration approx. |
|---|---|---|
| Airplane (straight line) | 380 km | 59 min |
| Car (road) | 446 km | 4 h 28 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 Kiel would cost roughly 900–1210 € under the municipal tariff, calculated over 446 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 |
Kiel
Kiel is located in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.
| Coordinates (DMS) | 54° 19′ 23.85″ N, 10° 7′ 21.95″ O |
|---|---|
| Latitude | 54.32 |
| Longitude | 10.12 |
| Region | Schleswig-Holstein |
| Country | Germany |
| Population | 252,668 |
Midpoint of the route
The geographic midpoint between Essen and Kiel is at 52.9° N, 8.52° E.
The nearest town is Winkelsett, Landkreis Oldenburg, Niedersachsen — about 190 km from each city. If you are meeting halfway, that is roughly the place.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Essen from Kiel?
By car it is 446 km, with a driving time of about 4 h 28 min. The straight-line distance between Essen and Kiel is 380 kilometres (236 miles or 205 nautical miles).
How long does it take to drive from Essen to Kiel?
The driving distance is 446 km (OpenStreetMap/OSRM); the pure driving time by car is about 4 h 28 min (excluding traffic).
In which direction is Kiel from Essen?
Kiel lies to the NNE (32°) as seen from Essen.
How long is a flight from Essen to Kiel?
At a cruising speed of around 800 km/h, the pure flight time for the straight-line distance is about 59 minutes.
How much does a taxi from Essen to Kiel cost?
Over 446 km by road, a regular metered taxi from Essen to Kiel would cost roughly 900–1210 € 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 Kiel
| Destination | By road |
|---|---|
| Kiel → Lübeck | 88 km |
| Kiel → Hamburg | 96 km |
| Kiel → Timmendorfer Strand | 98 km |
| Kiel → Wismar | 145 km |
| Kiel → Lüneburg | ≈ 157 km |
| Kiel → Rostock | 202 km |
| Kiel → Bremen | 212 km |
| Kiel → Odense | 242 km |