Detroit (DTW) to Newark (EWR)

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

Quick answer

Detroit (DTW) to Newark (EWR) is 487 miles in a straight line, about 1h 28m gate to gate. Your flight is handed between 6 air traffic control facilities along the way.

487miles
423nautical miles
783kilometers
~1h 28mestimated flight time
Nonetime change on arrival
Eastinitial 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. ZNYCenterNew York ARTCC (ZNY)Starts your descentThank them →
  5. N90TRACONNew York TRACON (N90)Lines you up for the approachThank them →
  6. EWRTowerNewark Liberty Tower (EWR)Clears you to landThank them →

Flying the other way

Newark (EWR) to Detroit (DTW)

EWR → N90 → ZNY → 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 →

Newark Liberty International Airport

Newark, NJ

Codes: EWR · KEWR

Time zone: Eastern

Control tower: Newark Liberty Tower (EWR)

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.

Say thanks to the controllers who got you there. It's free, takes 30 seconds, and every post is checked before it goes up.

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Common questions

How long is the flight from Detroit (DTW) to Newark (EWR)?

About 1h 28m gate to gate for the 487-mile trip. Flying east, you often pick up a tailwind, so it can be a little shorter.

How far is Detroit (DTW) from Newark (EWR)?

487 miles (423 nautical miles, 783 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 Newark (EWR)?

Usually 6 facilities: Detroit Metro Tower (DTW), Detroit TRACON (D21), Cleveland ARTCC (ZOB), New York ARTCC (ZNY), New York TRACON (N90) and Newark Liberty Tower (EWR). You can thank each one on its own wall at Thank ATC.

Is there a time change between Detroit (DTW) and Newark (EWR)?

No. Detroit (DTW) and Newark (EWR) are in the same time zone.

Updated October 2026

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