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DSM to CGX: distance & flight time
Des Moines (Des Moines International Airport) → Chicago (Chicago Meigs Airport)
313 mi
504 km · 272 nm
1h 17m
estimated nonstop flight time
Same time
time difference · heading east
See live DSM→CGX fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
313 miles nonstop takes roughly 1h 17m gate to gate, flying east. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Both airports share the same local time, so schedules read exactly as flown.
The two airports
- DSM — Des Moines International Airport · Des Moines, United States
- CGX — Chicago Meigs Airport · Chicago, 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 CGX
- ORD · Chicago O'Hare International Airport17 mi away
- MDW · Chicago Midway International Airport9 mi away
- GYY · Gary Chicago International Airport20 mi away
- PWK · Chicago Executive Airport23 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is DSM from CGX?
The flight distance from Des Moines (DSM) to Chicago (CGX) is 313 miles (504 km, 272 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from DSM to CGX?
A nonstop flight takes about 1h 17m 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 CGX?
Nonstop service on DSM–CGX 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 17m nonstop estimate.
What is the cheapest way to fly from DSM to CGX?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on DSM–CGX that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.
Why are some DSM to CGX fares phone-only?
Consolidator contracts let us sell certain DSM–CGX 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.