An improved method for detecting fault distance in overhead transmission lines is described in this paper. Based on single-ended measurement, propagation theory of traveling waves together with the wavelet transform technique is used. In estimating fault location, a simple, but fundamental method using the time difference between the two consecutive peaks of transient signals is considered; however, a new method to enhance measurement sensitivity and its accuracy is sought. The algorithm is developed based on the lattice diagram for traveling waves. Representing both the ground mode and alpha mode of traveling waves, in a lattice diagram, several relationships to enhance recognition rate or estimation accuracy for fault location can be found. For various cases with fault types, fault locations, and fault inception angles, fault resistances are examined using the proposed algorithm on a typical transmission line configuration. As a result, it is shown that the proposed system can be used effectively to detect fault distance.