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DSM to BFL: distance & flight time
Des Moines (Des Moines International Airport) → Bakersfield (Meadows Field)
1,431 mi
2,302 km · 1,243 nm
3h 35m
estimated nonstop flight time
-2h
time difference · heading west
See live DSM→BFL fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
1,431 miles nonstop takes roughly 3h 35m gate to gate, flying west. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 2-hour time set-back when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- DSM — Des Moines International Airport · Des Moines, United States
- BFL — Meadows Field · Bakersfield, 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 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
Near BFL
- MHV · Mojave Airport57 mi away
- VIS · Visalia Municipal Airport64 mi away
- WJF · General WM J Fox Airfield67 mi away
- LAX · Los Angeles International Airport109 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is DSM from BFL?
The flight distance from Des Moines (DSM) to Bakersfield (BFL) is 1,431 miles (2,302 km, 1,243 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from DSM to BFL?
A nonstop flight takes about 3h 35m 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 DSM to BFL?
Nonstop service on DSM–BFL 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 3h 35m nonstop estimate.
What is the time difference between Des Moines and Bakersfield?
Bakersfield is 2 hours behind Des Moines.
What is the cheapest way to fly from DSM to BFL?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on DSM–BFL that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.
Why are some DSM to BFL fares phone-only?
Consolidator contracts let us sell certain DSM–BFL 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.