Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Portsmouth, on England's south coast, and New York City, on the northeastern U.S. seaboard, are separated by the North Atlantic Ocean. While not directly opposite each other, the great-circle (shortest) distance between the two port cities is approximately 5,600 kilometers (3,480 miles).
Actual travel distance varies depending on the route taken. Commercial vessels and great-circle sailing routes may add a few hundred kilometers to avoid weather systems, traffic separation schemes, or to take advantage of favorable currents like the Gulf Stream. A typical transatlantic crossing by ship takes 6–8 days; by air, the flight time is roughly 7–8 hours.
Historically, this route has been one of the world's busiest maritime corridors, linking the British Isles with the eastern United States since the age of sail.