Des Moines to Detroit (DSM–DTW) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

DSM Airport Page →
532 mi airlines 37/wk
On-time Some delays Frequent delays
Flight Schedule 13 flights Verified 37m ago
Nonstop 1-Stop 2-Stop Hide separate tickets Hide overnight
  Flight Airline AC Dep Arr Dur OTP Sched  
DL5414
DL Delta
CR9
6:15 AM
CDT TM
9:04 AM
EDT
1h 49m
M T W T F S S
Prices
DL5058
DL Delta
CR9
10:28 AM
CDT TM
1:15 PM
EDT
1h 47m
M T W T F S S
Prices
DL5268
DL Delta
CR9
10:34 AM
CDT
1:23 PM
EDT
1h 49m
M T W T F S S
Prices
AF2886
AF Air France
CR9
10:40 AM
CDT TM
1:26 PM
EDT
1h 46m
M T W T F S S
Prices
DL5249
DL Delta
CR9
12:29 PM
CDT TM
3:13 PM
EDT
1h 44m
M T W T F S S
Prices
AF2364
AF Air France
CR9
12:29 PM
CDT
3:13 PM
EDT
1h 44m
M T W T F S S
Prices
DL5345
DL Delta
CR9
5:47 PM
CDT TM
8:32 PM
EDT
1h 45m
M T W T F S S
Prices
DL5058
DL Delta
CR9
8:45 AM
EDT TM
9:46 AM
CDT
2h 1m
M T W T F S S
Prices
DL5345
DL Delta
CR9
4:00 PM
EDT TM
4:54 PM
CDT
1h 54m
M T W T F S S
Prices
AM3806
AM Aeromexi
CR9
7:45 PM
EDT TM
8:49 PM
CDT
2h 4m
M T W T F S S
Prices
AM3191
AM Aeromexi
CR9
7:50 PM
EDT TM
8:45 PM
CDT
1h 55m
M T W T F S S
Prices
AM3286
AM Aeromexi
CR9
7:50 PM
EDT TM
8:45 PM
CDT
1h 55m
M T W T F S S
Prices
DL5087
DL Delta
CR9
7:50 PM
EDT TM
8:45 PM
CDT
1h 55m
M T W T F S S
Prices

No flights match your filters.

No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.

1-STOP
2-STOP Loading...
Des Moines to Detroit
2 carriers, 37 flights/week nonstop.
2 Airlines 37 Flights/wk 532 mi 1h 44m nonstop +1h ahead 33 1-stop hubs

DSM–DTW is served by 2 airlines with nonstop service. Delta Air Lines and Air France lead the route. The flight covers 532 miles in approximately 1h 44m. Beyond nonstop, 33 hubs offer 1-stop connections.

Airline Landscape

All carriers operating nonstop DSM–DTW service, compared side by side.
Airline Freq/wk Aircraft Duration Dep OTP Alliance Codeshares
DL Delta Air Lines 29 CR9 1h44-1h49 100% SkyTeam
AF Air France 8 CR9 1h44-1h46 100% SkyTeam
Aircraft on this route
CR9 Bombardier CRJ-900 – AF, DL
Alliance coverage
SkyTeam: AF + DL (37 flights/wk, 100%)
OTP based on airport-level delay snapshots. Duration ranges reflect seasonal/directional variation.

Weekly Schedule Pattern

Nonstop flight frequency by day of week, DSM to DTW direction.
Mon
5
flights
Tue
5
flights
Wed
5
flights
Thu
5
flights
Fri
5
flights
Sat
7
flights
Sun
5
flights
Departure time distribution
12 AM6 AM12 PM6 PM12 AM
Morning departures
Afternoon/evening departures
7
Nonstop flights
37
Outbound / wk
35
Return / wk

Connection Landscape

Beyond nonstop. 1-stop and 2-stop options for DSM to DTW.
1-STOP
One-Stop Connections
33
Hubs
~3h
Fastest
~24h
Longest
Verified with published schedule alignment and minimum connection time.
2-STOP
Two-Stop Connections
1,714
Candidates
Two-stop connections loaded in the connections tab above.
Connections computed from published schedules with minimum connection time verification. Use the interactive explorer above the fold to filter by airline, tier, and layover time.

On-Time Performance

What to expect at each end of your journey.
Outbound
DSM → DTW
100%
Generally reliable. Most flights run on time.
Departing
100%
Arriving
28%
Return
DTW → DSM
100%
Generally reliable. Most flights run on time.
Departing
100%
Arriving
100%
OTP = percentage of flights arriving within 15 min of schedule. Based on airport-level delay snapshots. DSM delays → DTW delays →

Other ways to reach Detroit from Des Moines

Nearby airports with service to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.
Metric DSM→DTW OMA→DTW
Distance from DSM 117 mi
Nonstop airlines 2 2
Weekly flights 37 27
Flight time 1h 44m 1h 59m
Departure OTP 100%
Airports within 200 miles of DSM with service to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.

Travel Essentials

Practical planning for this route.
Time Difference
+1h
Detroit is 1 hour ahead of Des Moines.
DSM: CDT · DTW: EDT

When it's 6:00 PM in Des Moines, it's 7:00 PM in Detroit.
Distance & Flight Time
532 mi / 856 km
Nonstop flight time is approximately 1h 44m to 1h 49m.
Getting from DTW

DTW has no rail. Ride-shares and taxis are the practical options. Taxis to downtown cost $45–60. Ride-shares run $30–45. The two terminals (McNamara and North) are connected by the automated people mover (MTC); both share the same baggage claim and ground transport facilities.Car rental desks are in the consolidated facility accessible from McNamara Terminal. SMART bus Route 261 serves the airport with transfers into the bus network. Allow extra time for I-94 congestion during peak hours.

Detroit Climate

Humid continental climate. Winters are cold and snowy (−8 to 0°C) from December through March. Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair generate significant lake-effect snow that can fall heavily with little warning. Ice storms and blizzards cause the most serious flight disruptions.

Summers are warm and humid (26–32°C) with frequent afternoon thunderstorms. Spring and fall are transitional with frost risk into April and from October. January and February are the highest disruption-risk months.

DSM–DTW Quick Facts

Key statistics for the Des Moines to Detroit route.
Route details
Distance532 mi / 856 km
Flight time1h 44m to 1h 49m
Time difference+1 hour
Airlines (nonstop)2
Weekly flights37 out / 35 return
1-stop connections33 hubs
Origin: DSM
IATA / ICAODSM / KDSM
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
Passengers/yr3.1M
Elevation958 ft / 292 m
Destination: DTW
IATA / ICAODTW / KDTW
TimezoneAmerica/Detroit
Passengers/yr32.2M
Elevation645 ft / 197 m

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about DSM to DTW flights.
Nonstop flights from Des Moines International Airport to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport take approximately 1h 44m to 1h 49m. The route covers 532 miles.
2 airlines operate nonstop service: Air France and Delta Air Lines.
There are approximately 37 nonstop flights per week from DSM to DTW. The return direction has about 35 weekly flights.
Yes, 1-stop connections are available through IND, CVG, STL, MEM, IAD, BWI, ATW, SLC, YYC, IFP, AUS, SNA, ORD, SAT, MDW, RSW, LGA, MSP, MIA, ATL, DEN, IAH, DCA, BNA, CLT, DFW, PHX, LAX, SRQ, MCO, BOS, FLL and LAS. These options provide additional schedule flexibility.
Detroit is 1 hour ahead of Des Moines.
Yes, return flights from DTW to DSM are available. Use the direction toggle at the top to view the return schedule.
Nearby alternatives include OMA. See the Alternatives section for a full comparison.
Click the 'Search Flights' button to check availability and prices on Google Flights. You can also compare airlines and schedules on this page to find the best option.
See the On-Time Performance section for the latest delay data at both airports. This shows departure and arrival reliability to help you plan.
Route data is updated regularly from official airline schedules. On-time performance data comes from recent airport delay snapshots.

Flights from DSM to DTW

Des Moines International Airport (DSM) and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) are connected by nonstop service from Air France and Delta Air Lines. With 37 weekly departures, this is a heavily served route.

DSM to DTW Flight Duration and Schedule

Nonstop flight time from DSM to DTW ranges from 1 hours 44 minutes to 1 hours 49 minutes. The route covers a distance of 532 miles (856 km). There are approximately 37 weekly flights outbound and 35 return, totaling 72 flights per week in both directions.

Connecting Options and Alternatives

33 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 3 hours via IND. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs. Nearby alternative airports include Omaha (OMA).