How Where2Meet Finds the Fairest Meeting Location
Stop making one person travel twice as far. Find meeting spots that respect everyone's time.
Why Finding a Fair Meeting Spot Is Hard
We've all been there. You're organizing a group meetup, and someone suggests a location that's "pretty central." But when everyone arrives, you realize:
- Unequal travel times: Sarah drove 10 minutes while Tom spent 45 minutes on public transit
- One person always loses: The "central" spot is actually closest to whoever suggested it
- Manual map switching: Checking routes one by one across different apps is exhausting
- Group frustration: "Next time, can we meet somewhere fair?"
The real problem? Most tools show you distance, not fairness.
What Does a Fair Meeting Location Mean?
A fair meeting location isn't just about finding the geographic midpoint. It's about balancing everyone's actual travel burden.
Equal Commute Philosophy
If Alice travels 20 minutes and Bob travels 25 minutes, that's fair. If Alice travels 10 minutes and Bob travels 50 minutes, that's not.
Where2Meet optimizes for travel time balance, not just distance. This means:
- Real-world commute times (driving, transit, walking)
- Traffic and route complexity considered
- Visual comparison so you can see the tradeoffs
How Where2Meet Calculates the Optimal Meeting Point
Our algorithm is designed to be both powerful and transparent:
Participants Enter Their Locations
Everyone adds their starting point—home address, office, or current location. You can add as many participants as you need.
Travel Times Are Calculated
Where2Meet queries real routing data to get accurate travel times for each participant to potential meeting spots. We consider driving, public transit, and walking.
Time-Balanced Point Is Found
Our algorithm finds locations where total travel time is minimized and balanced across all participants. No one person should bear an unfair burden.
Visual Map Shows Tradeoffs
You see everyone's location, travel routes, and venue options on an interactive map. Vote on the best spot together and make an informed group decision.
Why Travel Time Matters More Than Distance
Here's a common mistake: picking the geographic midpoint. It sounds fair, but it often isn't.
Example: The Midpoint Myth
Alex lives in downtown (well-connected by transit). Jamie lives in the suburbs (car-dependent).
The geographic midpoint might be 5 miles from each person. But Alex can get there in 15 minutes by train, while Jamie needs 35 minutes in traffic. That's not fair.
Where2Meet solves this by optimizing for:
- Real commute times (not crow-flies distance)
- Transportation mode (driving vs transit vs walking)
- Route complexity (highways vs side streets, train transfers, etc.)
Fairness is about time, not miles.
Where2Meet vs Other Approaches
| Feature | Where2Meet (Travel Time Based) | Geographic Midpoint Tools (Distance Based) | Manual Planning (Google Maps) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Optimization Goal | Equal travel times | Equal distance | Guesswork |
| Accounts for Traffic | ✅ Yes Real routing data | ❌ No Straight-line distance only | ❌ No Manual checks required |
| Transportation Modes | ✅ Multiple Driving, transit, walking | ❌ None Distance only | ⚠️ Manual Check each separately |
| Fairness Focus | ✅ Balanced commutes Minimizes time differences | ❌ Midpoint may be unfair Equal distance ≠ equal time | ❌ Subjective No fairness calculation |
| Visual Comparison | ✅ Interactive map Routes for all participants | ⚠️ Static map Shows midpoint only | ❌ Multiple apps Switch between screens |
| Group Decision | ✅ Collaborative voting Everyone sees and votes | ❌ No voting Organizer decides alone | ❌ Text thread chaos "Works for me" messages |
| Time to Plan | ⏱️ < 2 minutes Automated analysis | ⏱️ < 1 minute Fast but inaccurate | ⏱️ 20+ minutes Manual route checks |
🎯 The Bottom Line
Geographic midpoint tools are fast but often unfair. Manual planning with Google Maps is accurate but tedious. Where2Meet combines speed with fairness—showing you real travel time comparisons in under 2 minutes.
Who Is Where2Meet For?
Friends Meeting in a City
Find a restaurant, café, or park that's fair for everyone. No more "let's just meet at my place."
Remote Teams & Offsites
Plan team gatherings, workshops, or hybrid meetups where everyone travels a fair distance.
Cross-City Group Meetups
Organizing a meetup with people from different neighborhoods or cities? Find the optimal central location.
Dating & Social Groups
Meeting someone new? Pick a spot that's equally convenient for both of you—no awkward "you pick" back-and-forth.
Try It Yourself — Find a Fair Meeting Spot in Seconds
No signup required. Add participants, compare routes, and decide together.
Start Planning Now