Chicago Midway (MDW) to Phoenix (PHX)

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

Quick answer

Chicago Midway (MDW) to Phoenix (PHX) is 1,441 miles in a straight line, about 3h 23m gate to gate. Your flight is handed between 9 air traffic control facilities along the way.

1,441miles
1,252nautical miles
2,320kilometers
~3h 23mestimated flight time
−2 h / −1 htime change on arrival (summer / winter)
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. MDWTowerChicago Midway Tower (MDW)Clears you for takeoffThank them →
  2. C90TRACONChicago TRACON (C90)Guides the climb outThank them →
  3. ZAUCenterChicago ARTCC (ZAU)Takes over at cruising altitudeThank them →
  4. ZKCCenterKansas City ARTCC (ZKC)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  5. ZMPCenterMinneapolis ARTCC (ZMP)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  6. ZDVCenterDenver ARTCC (ZDV)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  7. ZABCenterAlbuquerque ARTCC (ZAB)Starts your descentThank them →
  8. P50TRACONPhoenix TRACON (P50)Lines you up for the approachThank them →
  9. PHXTowerPhoenix Sky Harbor Tower (PHX)Clears you to landThank them →

Flying the other way

Phoenix (PHX) to Chicago Midway (MDW)

PHX → P50 → ZAB → ZDV → ZKC → ZMP → ZAU → C90 → MDW

About the airports

Chicago Midway International Airport

Chicago, IL

Codes: MDW · KMDW

Time zone: Central

Control tower: Chicago Midway Tower (MDW)

Thank the tower →

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

Phoenix, AZ

Codes: PHX · KPHX

Time zone: Arizona (Mountain, no daylight saving)

Control tower: Phoenix Sky Harbor Tower (PHX)

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 Chicago Midway (MDW) to Phoenix (PHX)?

About 3h 23m gate to gate for the 1,441-mile trip. Flying west, you often fight a headwind, so it can take a little longer.

How far is Chicago Midway (MDW) from Phoenix (PHX)?

1,441 miles (1,252 nautical miles, 2,320 km) in a straight line. The path your flight actually takes is usually a little longer.

Which air traffic controllers handle a flight from Chicago Midway (MDW) to Phoenix (PHX)?

Usually 9 facilities: Chicago Midway Tower (MDW), Chicago TRACON (C90), Chicago ARTCC (ZAU), Kansas City ARTCC (ZKC), Minneapolis ARTCC (ZMP), Denver ARTCC (ZDV), Albuquerque ARTCC (ZAB), Phoenix TRACON (P50) and Phoenix Sky Harbor Tower (PHX). You can thank each one on its own wall at Thank ATC.

Is there a time change between Chicago Midway (MDW) and Phoenix (PHX)?

Yes. Phoenix (PHX) is 2 hours behind Chicago Midway (MDW) in summer and 1 hour in winter.

Updated October 2026

Ready to thank someone?

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

Leave a thank-you