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Distance between cities

Madrid to Palencia distance

Madrid and Palencia are 190 km (118 mi) apart in a straight line and 258 km (160 mi) apart by road: about 3 hr of driving without stops, mostly on the A-6 and the AP-6. 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 Palencia: the straight line and the driving route
By road
258 km (160 mi)
Driving time
3 hr
Straight line
190 km (118 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 November 1, 2026; simplified line.

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The figures

Figure Value
Straight line 190 km (118 mi) geodesic on the WGS84 ellipsoid
By road 258 km (160 mi) fastest driving route (OSRM)
Driving time 3 hr no stops, no traffic
Road detour +36% 1.36 times the straight line
Average speed 86 km/h (53 mph) along the route, without stops
Bearing 339° (north) leaving Madrid toward Palencia
Midpoint 41.2159° N, 4.1073° W in Aguilafuente (Segovia)
Halfway by road Near Arévalo (Ávila) 129 km from each city by road
Time difference None both share the same time
Elevation Madrid: 645 m (2,116 ft) · Palencia: 737 m (2,418 ft) IGN (Spain)
Population Madrid: 3,506,730 · Palencia: 77,466 INE population register, January 1, 2025

Madrid to Palencia by road

The fastest driving route is 258 km (160 mi) long and takes about 3 hr without stops or traffic. It runs mostly on the A-6 (107 km), the AP-6 (70.1 km), and the A-62 (61.8 km).

It goes through 2 autonomous communities: the Community of Madrid (55.6 km) and Castile and León (202 km). That’s an average of 86 km/h (53 mph). Spain’s traffic authority (DGT) recommends a break every two hours or 200 km: with 1 stop of 20 minutes, the trip takes about 3 hr 20 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 Palencia are 190 km (118 mi) apart. That’s the geodesic on the WGS84 ellipsoid, the distance “as the crow flies”.

The road is 36% longer: for every 100 km in a straight line you drive 136. That’s a big detour: the fastest route strays quite far from the straight line. Of the 120 Spanish driving pairs in this series, it ranks 11th for detour (the average is 24%).

From Madrid, Palencia lies to the north (bearing 339°), and from Palencia, Madrid lies to the south.

Halfway between Madrid and Palencia

Halfway along the straight line, 95.2 km (59.1 mi) from each city, is the point 41.2159° N, 4.1073° W. It falls in Aguilafuente (Segovia, pop. 564). The nearest town of 20,000 people or more is Segovia (pop. 52,375), 29.5 km away.

By road, the halfway point is 129 km (80.2 mi) from each city, near Arévalo (Ávila, pop. 7,851), 2.5 km away. The nearest town of 20,000 people or more is Medina del Campo (Valladolid, pop. 20,215), 29.1 km away. The two midpoints are 55.0 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 Palencia at 737 m (2,418 ft), 92 m (302 ft) higher.

Madrid has 3.5 million people and Palencia 77,466 people (INE population register, January 1, 2025).

Frequently asked questions

How many kilometers is it from Madrid to Palencia?

190 km (118 mi) in a straight line and 258 km (160 mi) by road on the fastest route (mostly on the A-6 and the AP-6).

How long is the drive from Madrid to Palencia?

About 3 hr without stops or traffic, according to OSRM with OpenStreetMap data; with 1 stop of 20 minutes, about 3 hr 20 min.

Where is the halfway point between Madrid and Palencia?

In a straight line, in Aguilafuente (Segovia). By road, 129 km from each city, near Arévalo (Ávila).

Which city is higher, Madrid or Palencia?

Palencia, at 737 m (2,418 ft); Madrid sits at 645 m (2,116 ft).

Which direction is Palencia from Madrid?

North: the straight line leaves Madrid on a bearing of 339° (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

Sources