A new ground distance protection for transmission line with strong ability of enduring fault path resistance and load current is proposed. Based on the assumption that the fault path resistance is purely resistive, the voltage drop ranging from the protection location to the fault position is calculated by using the data measured by the protection. Then, fault distance and fault impedance are obtained based on the linear relation between the voltage drop and the fault distance. This paper illustrates that the new algorithm can eliminate the effect of fault resistance and load current, and is not influenced by power system swing. Simulation results and fault recorder data tests show that the new algorithm is independent of fault path resistance and load current and has good practical value.