Zip Code to Mileage

[duvall]

I need to be able to compute the mileage between zip code(s). Does anyone have (or know) where to get a list (db?) of zip codes with sufficient information to generate at least an estimate of the distance between them?

As an example, I would like to be able to enter two zip codes (Zip1 = 10119; Zip2 = 20000) basically from somewhere in N.Y. to Somewhere in Washingto D.C. and calculate the mileage between them (approx 200 Miles).

 

[fenris]

I have seen some work on the net that does just that. Unfortunately it is proprietary GIS information. Try searching for GIS and zip codes.

You could, however, use lat and long readings and correlate them to the zip codes. For a db of the zip codes you could try the us postal service.

Once you have your lat and long coordinates associated with the zip codes, then it's a matter of spherical geometry to calculate the distance between those points.

I have also heard of thesis work done in these areas.

Hope this helps....

BTW, this sounds like an interesting project! Troy Williams B.Eng.
fenris@hotmail.com

 

[duvall]

The calcs are doable to the accuracy I need fromthe lat/long info. I just need the zip to lat long info. I have looked at some of the USPS site info and they have it in a ASCII Fixed width format table. There is even a 'free' sample, but I did not see any way to get the entire listing, even if I would pay for it.

Still trying.

 

[Niv3k]

keep searching, I know I saw a company sometime last year that had a list of the zip code, zip +4s, with city, state, street even, and the lats and longs. The company I was working for at the time bought it for some database work. It even included the equations for calculating distance.

Unfortunately, I don't remember where it was we found it...

Good Luck,
Kevin

 

[jvegas]

Try this site

http://www.msaccessconsulting.com/zipcode.htm.

They claim to have exactly what you are looking for.