how far is the moon miles

The Moon is about 238,855 miles from Earth on average. Because its orbit is slightly elliptical, that distance varies from about 221,500 miles at its closest to about 252,000 miles at its farthest.

Quick Scoop

If you want the short version: roughly 239,000 miles away is the usual answer.

A simple way to think about it is that the Moon is far enough away that it looks close in the sky, but it is actually hundreds of thousands of miles out in space.

Distance Range

• Average distance: 238,855 miles.

• Closest point: about 221,500 miles.

• Farthest point: about 252,000 miles.

Bottom Line

So if someone asks, “How far is the Moon in miles?” the best everyday answer is about 239,000 miles.