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CMI to CAE: distance & flight time
Champaign (University of Illinois Willard Airport) → Columbia (Columbia Metropolitan Airport)
577 mi
929 km · 502 nm
1h 43m
estimated nonstop flight time
+1h
time difference · heading southeast
See live CMI→CAE fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
577 miles nonstop takes roughly 1h 43m gate to gate, flying southeast. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 1-hour time gain when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- CMI — University of Illinois Willard Airport · Champaign, United States
- CAE — Columbia Metropolitan Airport · Columbia, 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 CMI
Near CAE
- CUB · Jim Hamilton L.B. Owens Airport7 mi away
- MMT · Mc Entire Joint National Guard Base18 mi away
- SSC · Shaw Air Force Base37 mi away
- OGB · Orangeburg Municipal Airport37 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is CMI from CAE?
The flight distance from Champaign (CMI) to Columbia (CAE) is 577 miles (929 km, 502 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from CMI to CAE?
A nonstop flight takes about 1h 43m 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 Champaign and Columbia?
Columbia is 1 hour ahead of Champaign.
What is the cheapest way to fly from CMI to CAE?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on CMI–CAE that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.