New York LaGuardia (LGA) to Denver (DEN)

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

Quick answer

New York LaGuardia (LGA) to Denver (DEN) is 1,615 miles in a straight line, about 3h 44m gate to gate. Your flight is handed between 10 air traffic control facilities along the way.

1,615miles
1,404nautical miles
2,600kilometers
~3h 44mestimated flight time
−2 htime change on arrival
Westinitial 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. LGATowerLaGuardia Tower (LGA)Clears you for takeoffThank them →
  2. N90TRACONNew York TRACON (N90)Guides the climb outThank them →
  3. ZNYCenterNew York ARTCC (ZNY)Takes over at cruising altitudeThank them →
  4. ZOBCenterCleveland ARTCC (ZOB)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  5. ZAUCenterChicago ARTCC (ZAU)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  6. ZKCCenterKansas City ARTCC (ZKC)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  7. ZMPCenterMinneapolis ARTCC (ZMP)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  8. ZDVCenterDenver ARTCC (ZDV)Starts your descentThank them →
  9. D01TRACONDenver TRACON (D01)Lines you up for the approachThank them →
  10. DENTowerDenver International Tower (DEN)Clears you to landThank them →

Flying the other way

Denver (DEN) to New York LaGuardia (LGA)

DEN → D01 → ZDV → ZMP → ZAU → ZKC → ZOB → ZNY → N90 → LGA

About the airports

LaGuardia Airport

New York, NY

Codes: LGA · KLGA

Time zone: Eastern

Control tower: LaGuardia Tower (LGA)

Thank the tower →

Denver International Airport

Denver, CO

Codes: DEN · KDEN

Time zone: Mountain

Control tower: Denver International Tower (DEN)

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.

Find your airport or ATC facility →

Common questions

How long is the flight from New York LaGuardia (LGA) to Denver (DEN)?

About 3h 44m gate to gate for the 1,615-mile trip. Flying west, you often fight a headwind, so it can take a little longer.

How far is New York LaGuardia (LGA) from Denver (DEN)?

1,615 miles (1,404 nautical miles, 2,600 km) in a straight line. The path your flight actually takes is usually a little longer.

Which air traffic controllers handle a flight from New York LaGuardia (LGA) to Denver (DEN)?

Usually 10 facilities: LaGuardia Tower (LGA), New York TRACON (N90), New York ARTCC (ZNY), Cleveland ARTCC (ZOB), Chicago ARTCC (ZAU), Kansas City ARTCC (ZKC), Minneapolis ARTCC (ZMP), Denver ARTCC (ZDV), Denver TRACON (D01) and Denver International Tower (DEN). You can thank each one on its own wall at Thank ATC.

Is there a time change between New York LaGuardia (LGA) and Denver (DEN)?

Yes. Denver (DEN) is 2 hours behind New York LaGuardia (LGA).

Updated October 2026

Ready to thank someone?

Free, about 30 seconds, no sign-up. Donating is always optional.

Leave a thank-you