Detroit (DTW) to Houston (IAH) is 1,076 miles in a straight line, about 2h 39m gate to gate. Your flight is handed between 11 air traffic control facilities along the way.
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.
- DTWTowerDetroit Metro Tower (DTW)Clears you for takeoffThank them →
- D21TRACONDetroit TRACON (D21)Guides the climb outThank them →
- ZOBCenterCleveland ARTCC (ZOB)Takes over at cruising altitudeThank them →
- ZAUCenterChicago ARTCC (ZAU)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZIDCenterIndianapolis ARTCC (ZID)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZKCCenterKansas City ARTCC (ZKC)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZMECenterMemphis ARTCC (ZME)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZFWCenterFort Worth ARTCC (ZFW)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
- ZHUCenterHouston ARTCC (ZHU)Starts your descentThank them →
- I90TRACONHouston TRACON (I90)Lines you up for the approachThank them →
- IAHTowerHouston Bush Tower (IAH)Clears you to landThank them →
Flying the other way
Houston (IAH) to Detroit (DTW)
IAH → I90 → ZHU → ZFW → ZME → ZKC → ZID → ZAU → 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)
George Bush Intercontinental Airport
Houston, TX
Codes: IAH · KIAH
Time zone: Central
Control tower: Houston Bush Tower (IAH)
More routes
- Detroit (DTW) to Atlanta (ATL)
- Detroit (DTW) to Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW)
- Detroit (DTW) to Denver (DEN)
- Detroit (DTW) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD)
- Detroit (DTW) to Los Angeles (LAX)
- Detroit (DTW) to New York JFK (JFK)
- Detroit (DTW) to Las Vegas (LAS)
- Detroit (DTW) to Orlando (MCO)
- Detroit (DTW) to Miami (MIA)
- Detroit (DTW) to Charlotte (CLT)
- Detroit (DTW) to Seattle (SEA)
- Detroit (DTW) to Phoenix (PHX)
- Detroit (DTW) to Newark (EWR)
- Detroit (DTW) to San Francisco (SFO)
- Detroit (DTW) to Boston (BOS)
- Detroit (DTW) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
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.
Common questions
How long is the flight from Detroit (DTW) to Houston (IAH)?
About 2h 39m gate to gate for the 1,076-mile trip. Flying west, you often fight a headwind, so it can take a little longer.
How far is Detroit (DTW) from Houston (IAH)?
1,076 miles (935 nautical miles, 1,731 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 Houston (IAH)?
Usually 11 facilities: Detroit Metro Tower (DTW), Detroit TRACON (D21), Cleveland ARTCC (ZOB), Chicago ARTCC (ZAU), Indianapolis ARTCC (ZID), Kansas City ARTCC (ZKC), Memphis ARTCC (ZME), Fort Worth ARTCC (ZFW), Houston ARTCC (ZHU), Houston TRACON (I90) and Houston Bush Tower (IAH). You can thank each one on its own wall at Thank ATC.
Is there a time change between Detroit (DTW) and Houston (IAH)?
Yes. Houston (IAH) is 1 hour behind Detroit (DTW).