Detroit (DTW) to New York LaGuardia (LGA) is 500 miles in a straight line, about 1h 30m gate to gate. Your flight is handed between 6 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 →
- ZNYCenterNew York ARTCC (ZNY)Starts your descentThank them →
- N90TRACONNew York TRACON (N90)Lines you up for the approachThank them →
- LGATowerLaGuardia Tower (LGA)Clears you to landThank them →
Flying the other way
New York LaGuardia (LGA) to Detroit (DTW)
LGA → 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)
LaGuardia Airport
New York, NY
Codes: LGA · KLGA
Time zone: Eastern
Control tower: LaGuardia Tower (LGA)
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 Houston (IAH)
- Detroit (DTW) to Boston (BOS)
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 New York LaGuardia (LGA)?
About 1h 30m gate to gate for the 500-mile trip. Flying east, you often pick up a tailwind, so it can be a little shorter.
How far is Detroit (DTW) from New York LaGuardia (LGA)?
500 miles (435 nautical miles, 805 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 New York LaGuardia (LGA)?
Usually 6 facilities: Detroit Metro Tower (DTW), Detroit TRACON (D21), Cleveland ARTCC (ZOB), New York ARTCC (ZNY), New York TRACON (N90) and LaGuardia Tower (LGA). You can thank each one on its own wall at Thank ATC.
Is there a time change between Detroit (DTW) and New York LaGuardia (LGA)?
No. Detroit (DTW) and New York LaGuardia (LGA) are in the same time zone.