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Distance between cities

Madrid to Málaga distance

Madrid and Málaga are 415 km (258 mi) apart in a straight line and 535 km (332 mi) apart by road: about 6 hr 5 min of driving without stops, mostly on the A-4 and the A-44. Below you’ll find the route map, both halfway points, the bearing and where every figure comes from.

By the All Map Tools Team

Map from Madrid to Málaga: the straight line and the driving route
By road
535 km (332 mi)
Driving time
6 hr 5 min
Straight line
415 km (258 mi)
  • Driving route
  • Straight line
  • Straight-line midpoint
  • Halfway by road
Straight line vs driving distance

Lambert azimuthal equal-area projection centered on the midpoint. Route: FOSSGIS OSRM with data © OpenStreetMap contributors, calculated on October 31, 2026; simplified line.

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The figures

Figure Value
Straight line 415 km (258 mi) geodesic on the WGS84 ellipsoid
By road 535 km (332 mi) fastest driving route (OSRM)
Driving time 6 hr 5 min no stops, no traffic
Road detour +29% 1.29 times the straight line
Average speed 88 km/h (55 mph) along the route, without stops
Bearing 189° (south) leaving Madrid toward Málaga
Midpoint 38.5705° N, 4.0627° W in Mestanza (Ciudad Real)
Halfway by road In La Carolina (Jaén) 267 km from each city by road
Time difference None both share the same time
Elevation Madrid: 645 m (2,116 ft) · Málaga: 6 m (20 ft) IGN (Spain)
Population Madrid: 3,506,730 · Málaga: 599,063 INE population register, January 1, 2025

Madrid to Málaga by road

The fastest driving route is 535 km (332 mi) long and takes about 6 hr 5 min without stops or traffic. It runs mostly on the A-4 (282 km), the A-44 (115 km), and the A-92 (89.0 km).

It goes through 3 autonomous communities: the Community of Madrid (42.9 km), Castilla–La Mancha (204 km), and Andalusia (287 km). That’s an average of 88 km/h (55 mph). Spain’s traffic authority (DGT) recommends a break every two hours or 200 km: with 3 stops of 20 minutes, the trip takes about 7 hr 5 min. The time is OSRM’s estimate with OpenStreetMap data: no traffic and speeds somewhat below the limits, so real trips can differ.

Straight-line distance and bearing

In a straight line, the shortest distance over the Earth’s surface, Madrid and Málaga are 415 km (258 mi) apart. That’s the geodesic on the WGS84 ellipsoid, the distance “as the crow flies”.

The road is 29% longer: for every 100 km in a straight line you drive 129. That’s a normal detour between two cities. Of the 120 Spanish driving pairs in this series, it ranks 34th for detour (the average is 24%).

From Madrid, Málaga lies to the south (bearing 189°), and from Málaga, Madrid lies to the north.

Halfway between Madrid and Málaga

Halfway along the straight line, 208 km (129 mi) from each city, is the point 38.5705° N, 4.0627° W. It falls in Mestanza (Ciudad Real, pop. 634). The nearest town of 20,000 people or more is Puertollano (Ciudad Real, pop. 45,565), 13.6 km away.

By road, the halfway point is 267 km (166 mi) from each city, in La Carolina (Jaén, pop. 14,677). The nearest town of 20,000 people or more is Linares (Jaén, pop. 55,633), 19.2 km away. The two midpoints are 51.7 km apart: if you want to meet halfway, the one on the road is the useful one.

By plane

No flight time is given: under 500 km (311 miles) in a straight line, time at the airport outweighs time in the air.

The two cities

Madrid sits at 645 m (2,116 ft) and Málaga at 6 m (20 ft), 639 m (2,096 ft) lower.

Madrid has 3.5 million people and Málaga 599,063 people (INE population register, January 1, 2025).

Frequently asked questions

How many kilometers is it from Madrid to Málaga?

415 km (258 mi) in a straight line and 535 km (332 mi) by road on the fastest route (mostly on the A-4 and the A-44).

How long is the drive from Madrid to Málaga?

About 6 hr 5 min without stops or traffic, according to OSRM with OpenStreetMap data; with 3 stops of 20 minutes, about 7 hr 5 min.

Where is the halfway point between Madrid and Málaga?

In a straight line, in Mestanza (Ciudad Real). By road, 267 km from each city, in La Carolina (Jaén).

Which city is higher, Madrid or Málaga?

Madrid, at 645 m (2,116 ft); Málaga sits at 6 m (20 ft).

Which direction is Málaga from Madrid?

South: the straight line leaves Madrid on a bearing of 189° (0° is north and 90° is east).

Measure it yourself on the map

The same two cities, already set up in the tools: move the points, get the route by bike or on foot and download the map.

Similar pairs

The ones in this series whose cities are closest to these two, in case another one suits you better.

More distances from Madrid

All distances

More distances from Málaga

Sources