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CIU to DSM: distance & flight time
Sault Ste Marie (Chippewa County International Airport) → Des Moines (Des Moines International Airport)
561 mi
903 km · 488 nm
1h 41m
estimated nonstop flight time
-1h
time difference · heading southwest
See live CIU→DSM fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
561 miles nonstop takes roughly 1h 41m gate to gate, flying southwest. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 1-hour time set-back when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- CIU — Chippewa County International Airport · Sault Ste Marie, United States
- DSM — Des Moines International Airport · Des Moines, United States
Distances are great-circle ("as the crow flies") — the same basis airlines use for frequent-flyer miles.
Alternate airports can cut this fare
Flying from or into a nearby airport is the #1 trick our agents use to beat online prices. Call and we'll compare every combination on one call.
Near CIU
- YAM · Sault Ste Marie Airport16 mi away
- DRE · Drummond Island Airport39 mi away
- PLN · Pellston Regional Airport of Emmet County Airport49 mi away
- GLR · Gaylord Regional Airport86 mi away
Near DSM
- OTM · Ottumwa Regional Airport70 mi away
- FOD · Fort Dodge Regional Airport75 mi away
- ALO · Waterloo Regional Airport96 mi away
- CID · The Eastern Iowa Airport104 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is CIU from DSM?
The flight distance from Sault Ste Marie (CIU) to Des Moines (DSM) is 561 miles (903 km, 488 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from CIU to DSM?
A nonstop flight takes about 1h 41m gate to gate. Actual time varies with winds, routing and season — eastbound transatlantic flights, for example, are usually faster than the return.
Are there nonstop flights from CIU to DSM?
Nonstop service on CIU–DSM depends on the season and the day of week. Run the fare search on this page with the nonstop filter applied to see current direct options; when there is no nonstop, a single connection through a carrier hub adds roughly 2–4 hours to the 1h 41m nonstop estimate.
What is the time difference between Sault Ste Marie and Des Moines?
Des Moines is 1 hour behind Sault Ste Marie.
What is the cheapest way to fly from CIU to DSM?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on CIU–DSM that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.
Why are some CIU to DSM fares phone-only?
Consolidator contracts let us sell certain CIU–DSM tickets below the price airlines permit us to publish online, so those fares can only be quoted over the phone. Call the travel desk and an agent will check phone-only inventory for your dates.