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DET to SDM: distance & flight time
Detroit (Coleman A. Young Municipal Airport) → San Diego (Brown Field Municipal Airport)
1,967 mi
3,165 km · 1,709 nm
4h 19m
estimated nonstop flight time
-3h
time difference · heading west
See live DET→SDM fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
1,967 miles nonstop takes roughly 4h 19m gate to gate, flying west. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 3-hour time set-back when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- DET — Coleman A. Young Municipal Airport · Detroit, United States
- SDM — Brown Field Municipal Airport · San Diego, 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 DET
- DTW · Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport22 mi away
- YQG · Windsor Airport10 mi away
- MTC · Selfridge Air National Guard Base Airport17 mi away
- PTK · Oakland County International Airport27 mi away
Near SDM
Frequently asked questions
How far is DET from SDM?
The flight distance from Detroit (DET) to San Diego (SDM) is 1,967 miles (3,165 km, 1,709 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from DET to SDM?
A nonstop flight takes about 4h 19m 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 Detroit and San Diego?
San Diego is 3 hours behind Detroit.
What is the cheapest way to fly from DET to SDM?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on DET–SDM that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.