When a single-phase to ground fault (SPGF) occurs near the main power source in an active distribution network, distance protection section II (DPS-II) located at the distributed generator (DG) side operates with a delay. In gap-grounded transformers, this delay can lead to gap breakdown due to neutral-point overvoltage, which adversely affects the operation of DPS-II on the DG side. To address this issue, this paper proposes an improved DPS designed for active distribution networks with gap-grounded transformers. First, the factors influencing the additional impedance are analyzed after gap breakdown. To mitigate the effects of the additional impedance on DPS performance, an improved DPS based on real short-circuit impedances is introduced for active distribution networks. This scheme utilizes the negative-sequence current distribution factor on the DG side to accurately calculate the additional impedance angle, ensuring reliable protection. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed scheme effectively operates under forward faults across various DG capacities, fault locations, local loads, and fault transition resistances. In addition, it avoids tripping under reverse faults, thereby confirming its reliability and superiority.