How Far Away Is the Moon? Distance in Miles, km & Travel Times

You might picture the Moon hanging at a fixed distance above Earth, but its orbit is more of a dance than a straight line. The distance changes every minute because the Moon travels an elliptical path, coming closer and pulling farther as it circles us.

Average distance: 238,855 miles (384,400 km) ·
Closest (perigee): about 225,623 miles (363,104 km) ·
Farthest (apogee): about 252,088 miles (405,696 km) ·
Light travel time: 1.3 seconds ·
Equivalent Earths lined up: 30 Earths

One glance at these key figures shows how the Moon’s distance isn’t a single number but a range.

How far away is the moon from earth?

What is the average distance?

• The average distance from Earth to the Moon is 238,855 miles (384,400 km). That’s about the width of 30 Earths lined up end to end — NASA Moon Facts (tier 1 source)

How does the distance change during orbit?

• Because the Moon’s orbit is elliptical (eccentricity 0.055), its distance varies by about 14%. At perigee (closest) it comes within about 225,623 miles (363,104 km); at apogee (farthest) it reaches about 252,088 miles (405,696 km) — Wikipedia: Orbit of the Moon (astronomy reference)
• A supermoon occurs when a full Moon coincides with perigee, making it appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than a full Moon at apogee — NASA Science: Supermoons (tier 1 source)

The implication: the Moon’s distance is a moving target, and understanding its rhythm is essential for both science and exploration.

How long would it take to get to the Moon?

Travel time by spacecraft

• Apollo missions took approximately 3 days (73 hours from Earth orbit to lunar orbit) — Wikipedia: Apollo 11 (mission data)
• Future Artemis missions will likely follow similar transit times, though specific trajectories are still being refined — NASA Artemis (program update)

Travel time by Boeing 747

• A Boeing 747 cruising at 570 mph (917 km/h) would need about 17.5 days of nonstop flight to cover the average distance — Space.com (travel-time calculations)

Travel time by car at 60 mph

• Driving a car at a steady 60 mph (97 km/h) without stopping would take approximately 166 days — roughly 5.5 months — to reach the Moon — Space.com (travel-time calculations)

Travel time by walking

• At a brisk walking pace of 3 mph (5 km/h), walking to the Moon would take about 9 years (assuming 24/7 movement) — Space.com (travel-time calculations)

The pattern: every method underscores the enormous gap between everyday human travel and interplanetary transit.

How far away is the Sun compared to the Moon?

Distance to Sun in miles and km

• The Sun lies about 93 million miles (150 million km) from Earth — roughly 390 times the average Moon distance — Wikipedia: Sun (fundamental data)

Relative scale: Sun vs Moon distance

• If you scaled the Moon to the size of a tennis ball (about 2.7 inches), the Sun would be a 8.3-foot-wide sphere placed roughly 1,000 feet away — Wikipedia: Sun distance (scale analogy)

For perspective on celestial scales, check out our piece on How Hot is the Sun?

The Sun’s distance dwarfs the Moon’s, highlighting the vast scale of the solar system.

How much do astronauts get paid to go to the Moon?

NASA astronaut salary range

• Civilian astronauts are federal employees paid on the GS-13 to GS-15 scale, which ranges from approximately $66,000 to $158,000 per year, depending on experience and step — NASA Astronaut Careers (official pay table)

Artemis mission pay considerations

• Specific hazard pay and per diem for Artemis lunar missions have not been publicly finalized, but historically astronauts receive a small daily stipend (~$4 per day) and hazardous-duty incentive pay — NASA Historical Pay Information (archived data)

The trade-off: astronauts aren’t paid for the danger — they’re paid for the expertise. The real reward is the mission itself.

Ever wondered how long it would take to reach the Moon using different methods?

Rocket

• Typical spacecraft: ~3 days (Apollo missions) — Wikipedia: Apollo 11

Airplane

• Boeing 747 at 570 mph: ~17.5 days — Space.com

Car

• Driving at 60 mph nonstop: ~166 days — Space.com

Walking

• Walking at 3 mph: ~9 years — Space.com

Light speed

• Light travels the average Moon distance in 1.3 seconds — Wikipedia: Moon (speed-of-light data)

Every mode of travel tells the same story: the Moon is reachable, but not trivial.

Now let’s look at the Moon’s orbital mechanics in detail.

Six key specs that define the Moon’s orbit and physical characteristics, all verified against primary sources.

The average distance from Earth to the Moon is 238,855 miles (384,400 km). That’s about the width of 30 Earths.

NASA Space Place (educational resource)

The Moon’s orbit is elliptical, so its distance varies by about 13% between perigee and apogee.

Royal Museums Greenwich (national museum astronomy)

The Moon’s orbital eccentricity of 0.055 means the Earth-Moon distance changes by about 14% over the course of one orbit.

Wikipedia: Moon (collaborative encyclopedia)

The Moon’s distance isn’t static—it’s a rhythm governed by orbital mechanics. That 238,855-mile average is a starting point, not a finish line. For anyone dreaming of space travel, the Moon’s distance is both a challenge and an opportunity: the technology exists to cross that gap in three days, but the real test is sustaining life for the journey. For space enthusiasts and future Artemis astronauts, the lesson is clear: master the orbit, and the destination opens up.

Related reading: How Hot is the Sun? · NASA Asteroid Hitting Earth

For a deeper look at the numbers, including how the Moon’s orbit affects its distance, check out the Moons average distance from another astronomy resource.

Frequently asked questions