Philadelphia (PHL) to Detroit (DTW) is 452 miles in a straight line, about 1h 24m 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.
- PHLTowerPhiladelphia Tower (PHL)Clears you for takeoffThank them →
- PHLTRACONPhiladelphia TRACON (PHL)Guides the climb outThank them →
- ZNYCenterNew York ARTCC (ZNY)Takes over at cruising altitudeThank them →
- ZOBCenterCleveland ARTCC (ZOB)Starts your descentThank them →
- D21TRACONDetroit TRACON (D21)Lines you up for the approachThank them →
- DTWTowerDetroit Metro Tower (DTW)Clears you to landThank them →
Flying the other way
Detroit (DTW) to Philadelphia (PHL)
DTW → D21 → ZOB → ZNY → PHL → PHL
About the airports
Philadelphia International Airport
Philadelphia, PA
Codes: PHL · KPHL
Time zone: Eastern
Control tower: Philadelphia Tower (PHL)
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
Detroit, MI
Codes: DTW · KDTW
Time zone: Eastern
Control tower: Detroit Metro Tower (DTW)
More routes
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Atlanta (ATL)
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Dallas–Fort Worth (DFW)
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Denver (DEN)
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Chicago O'Hare (ORD)
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Los Angeles (LAX)
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Las Vegas (LAS)
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Orlando (MCO)
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Miami (MIA)
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Charlotte (CLT)
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Seattle (SEA)
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Phoenix (PHX)
- Philadelphia (PHL) to San Francisco (SFO)
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Houston (IAH)
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Boston (BOS)
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
- Philadelphia (PHL) to Minneapolis (MSP)
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 Philadelphia (PHL) to Detroit (DTW)?
About 1h 24m gate to gate for the 452-mile trip. Flying west, you often fight a headwind, so it can take a little longer.
How far is Philadelphia (PHL) from Detroit (DTW)?
452 miles (393 nautical miles, 728 km) in a straight line. The path your flight actually takes is usually a little longer.
Which air traffic controllers handle a flight from Philadelphia (PHL) to Detroit (DTW)?
Usually 6 facilities: Philadelphia Tower (PHL), Philadelphia TRACON (PHL), New York ARTCC (ZNY), Cleveland ARTCC (ZOB), Detroit TRACON (D21) and Detroit Metro Tower (DTW). You can thank each one on its own wall at Thank ATC.
Is there a time change between Philadelphia (PHL) and Detroit (DTW)?
No. Philadelphia (PHL) and Detroit (DTW) are in the same time zone.