Detroit (DTW) to Atlanta (ATL)

Distance, flight time and the air traffic controllers who guide you.

Quick answer

Detroit (DTW) to Atlanta (ATL) is 595 miles in a straight line, about 1h 41m gate to gate. Your flight is handed between 7 air traffic control facilities along the way.

595miles
517nautical miles
958kilometers
~1h 41mestimated flight time
Nonetime change on arrival
Southinitial heading

Who handles your flight

Every airliner is passed from one air traffic control facility to the next. On the most direct path, these are the teams that guide you, in order. Weather and traffic can send a flight through other centers, so your actual flight may differ a little.

  1. DTWTowerDetroit Metro Tower (DTW)Clears you for takeoffThank them →
  2. D21TRACONDetroit TRACON (D21)Guides the climb outThank them →
  3. ZOBCenterCleveland ARTCC (ZOB)Takes over at cruising altitudeThank them →
  4. ZIDCenterIndianapolis ARTCC (ZID)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  5. ZTLCenterAtlanta ARTCC (ZTL)Starts your descentThank them →
  6. A80TRACONAtlanta TRACON (A80)Lines you up for the approachThank them →
  7. ATLTowerAtlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Tower (ATL)Clears you to landThank them →

Flying the other way

Atlanta (ATL) to Detroit (DTW)

ATL → A80 → ZTL → ZID → ZOB → D21 → DTW

About the airports

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

Detroit, MI

Codes: DTW · KDTW

Time zone: Eastern

Control tower: Detroit Metro Tower (DTW)

Thank the tower →

Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Atlanta, GA

Codes: ATL · KATL

Time zone: Eastern

Control tower: Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Tower (ATL)

Thank the tower →

More routes

All flight routes →

How we figure this out

Distance is the great-circle distance between the two airports, the shortest path over the curved Earth. Flight time assumes an average airliner speed of about 500 mph plus about 30 minutes for taxi, takeoff and landing. The list of facilities follows the same path, using each airport's tower and approach control and the FAA's en route center boundaries.

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Common questions

How long is the flight from Detroit (DTW) to Atlanta (ATL)?

About 1h 41m gate to gate for the 595-mile trip.

How far is Detroit (DTW) from Atlanta (ATL)?

595 miles (517 nautical miles, 958 km) in a straight line. The path your flight actually takes is usually a little longer.

Which air traffic controllers handle a flight from Detroit (DTW) to Atlanta (ATL)?

Usually 7 facilities: Detroit Metro Tower (DTW), Detroit TRACON (D21), Cleveland ARTCC (ZOB), Indianapolis ARTCC (ZID), Atlanta ARTCC (ZTL), Atlanta TRACON (A80) and Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Tower (ATL). You can thank each one on its own wall at Thank ATC.

Is there a time change between Detroit (DTW) and Atlanta (ATL)?

No. Detroit (DTW) and Atlanta (ATL) are in the same time zone.

Updated October 2026

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