Detroit (DTW) to Minneapolis (MSP)

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

Quick answer

Detroit (DTW) to Minneapolis (MSP) is 527 miles in a straight line, about 1h 33m gate to gate. Your flight is handed between 7 air traffic control facilities along the way.

527miles
458nautical miles
848kilometers
~1h 33mestimated flight time
−1 htime change on arrival
Northwestinitial 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. ZAUCenterChicago ARTCC (ZAU)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  5. ZMPCenterMinneapolis ARTCC (ZMP)Starts your descentThank them →
  6. M98TRACONMinneapolis TRACON (M98)Lines you up for the approachThank them →
  7. MSPTowerMinneapolis-St. Paul Tower (MSP)Clears you to landThank them →

Flying the other way

Minneapolis (MSP) to Detroit (DTW)

MSP → M98 → ZMP → 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)

Thank the tower →

Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field

Minneapolis, MN

Codes: MSP · KMSP

Time zone: Central

Control tower: Minneapolis-St. Paul Tower (MSP)

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 Minneapolis (MSP)?

About 1h 33m gate to gate for the 527-mile trip. Flying west, you often fight a headwind, so it can take a little longer.

How far is Detroit (DTW) from Minneapolis (MSP)?

527 miles (458 nautical miles, 848 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 Minneapolis (MSP)?

Usually 7 facilities: Detroit Metro Tower (DTW), Detroit TRACON (D21), Cleveland ARTCC (ZOB), Chicago ARTCC (ZAU), Minneapolis ARTCC (ZMP), Minneapolis TRACON (M98) and Minneapolis-St. Paul Tower (MSP). You can thank each one on its own wall at Thank ATC.

Is there a time change between Detroit (DTW) and Minneapolis (MSP)?

Yes. Minneapolis (MSP) is 1 hour behind Detroit (DTW).

Updated October 2026

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