Minneapolis (MSP) to Houston (IAH)

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

Quick answer

Minneapolis (MSP) to Houston (IAH) is 1,036 miles in a straight line, about 2h 34m gate to gate. Your flight is handed between 9 air traffic control facilities along the way.

1,036miles
900nautical miles
1,667kilometers
~2h 34mestimated flight time
Nonetime change on arrival
Southinitial 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. MSPTowerMinneapolis-St. Paul Tower (MSP)Clears you for takeoffThank them →
  2. M98TRACONMinneapolis TRACON (M98)Guides the climb outThank them →
  3. ZMPCenterMinneapolis ARTCC (ZMP)Takes over at cruising altitudeThank them →
  4. ZKCCenterKansas City ARTCC (ZKC)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  5. ZMECenterMemphis ARTCC (ZME)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  6. ZFWCenterFort Worth ARTCC (ZFW)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  7. ZHUCenterHouston ARTCC (ZHU)Starts your descentThank them →
  8. I90TRACONHouston TRACON (I90)Lines you up for the approachThank them →
  9. IAHTowerHouston Bush Tower (IAH)Clears you to landThank them →

Flying the other way

Houston (IAH) to Minneapolis (MSP)

IAH → I90 → ZHU → ZFW → ZME → ZKC → ZMP → M98 → MSP

About the airports

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 →

George Bush Intercontinental Airport

Houston, TX

Codes: IAH · KIAH

Time zone: Central

Control tower: Houston Bush Tower (IAH)

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.

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Common questions

How long is the flight from Minneapolis (MSP) to Houston (IAH)?

About 2h 34m gate to gate for the 1,036-mile trip.

How far is Minneapolis (MSP) from Houston (IAH)?

1,036 miles (900 nautical miles, 1,667 km) in a straight line. The path your flight actually takes is usually a little longer.

Which air traffic controllers handle a flight from Minneapolis (MSP) to Houston (IAH)?

Usually 9 facilities: Minneapolis-St. Paul Tower (MSP), Minneapolis TRACON (M98), Minneapolis ARTCC (ZMP), 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 Minneapolis (MSP) and Houston (IAH)?

No. Minneapolis (MSP) and Houston (IAH) are in the same time zone.

Updated October 2026

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