Tampa (TPA) to Detroit (DTW)

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

Quick answer

Tampa (TPA) to Detroit (DTW) is 985 miles in a straight line, about 2h 28m gate to gate. Your flight is handed between 8 air traffic control facilities along the way.

985miles
856nautical miles
1,585kilometers
~2h 28mestimated flight time
Nonetime change on arrival
Northinitial 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. TPATowerTampa Tower (TPA)Clears you for takeoffThank them →
  2. ZMACenterMiami ARTCC (ZMA)Takes over at cruising altitudeThank them →
  3. ZJXCenterJacksonville ARTCC (ZJX)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  4. ZTLCenterAtlanta ARTCC (ZTL)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  5. ZIDCenterIndianapolis ARTCC (ZID)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  6. ZOBCenterCleveland ARTCC (ZOB)Starts your descentThank them →
  7. D21TRACONDetroit TRACON (D21)Lines you up for the approachThank them →
  8. DTWTowerDetroit Metro Tower (DTW)Clears you to landThank them →

Flying the other way

Detroit (DTW) to Tampa (TPA)

DTW → D21 → ZOB → ZID → ZTL → ZJX → ZMA → TPA

About the airports

Tampa International Airport

Tampa, FL

Codes: TPA · KTPA

Time zone: Eastern

Control tower: Tampa Tower (TPA)

Thank the tower →

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport

Detroit, MI

Codes: DTW · KDTW

Time zone: Eastern

Control tower: Detroit Metro Tower (DTW)

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 Tampa (TPA) to Detroit (DTW)?

About 2h 28m gate to gate for the 985-mile trip.

How far is Tampa (TPA) from Detroit (DTW)?

985 miles (856 nautical miles, 1,585 km) in a straight line. The path your flight actually takes is usually a little longer.

Which air traffic controllers handle a flight from Tampa (TPA) to Detroit (DTW)?

Usually 8 facilities: Tampa Tower (TPA), Miami ARTCC (ZMA), Jacksonville ARTCC (ZJX), Atlanta ARTCC (ZTL), Indianapolis ARTCC (ZID), 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 Tampa (TPA) and Detroit (DTW)?

No. Tampa (TPA) and Detroit (DTW) are in the same time zone.

Updated October 2026

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