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CLD to DSM: distance & flight time
Carlsbad (Mc Clellan-Palomar Airport) → Des Moines (Des Moines International Airport)
1,416 mi
2,278 km · 1,230 nm
3h 33m
estimated nonstop flight time
+2h
time difference · heading northeast
See live CLD→DSM fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
1,416 miles nonstop takes roughly 3h 33m gate to gate, flying northeast. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 2-hour time gain when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- CLD — Mc Clellan-Palomar Airport · Carlsbad, 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 CLD
- SAN · San Diego International Airport28 mi away
- OCN · Oceanside Municipal Airport7 mi away
- NKX · Miramar Marine Corps Air Station - Mitscher Field20 mi away
- SEE · Gillespie Field27 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 CLD from DSM?
The flight distance from Carlsbad (CLD) to Des Moines (DSM) is 1,416 miles (2,278 km, 1,230 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from CLD to DSM?
A nonstop flight takes about 3h 33m gate to gate. Actual time varies with winds, routing and season — eastbound transatlantic flights, for example, are usually faster than the return.
What is the time difference between Carlsbad and Des Moines?
Des Moines is 2 hours ahead of Carlsbad.
What is the cheapest way to fly from CLD to DSM?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on CLD–DSM that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.