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DSM to LEX: distance & flight time
Des Moines (Des Moines International Airport) → Lexington KY (Blue Grass Airport)
538 mi
866 km · 467 nm
1h 38m
estimated nonstop flight time
+1h
time difference · heading southeast
See live DSM→LEX fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
538 miles nonstop takes roughly 1h 38m 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
- DSM — Des Moines International Airport · Des Moines, United States
- LEX — Blue Grass Airport · Lexington KY, 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 LEX
- FFT · Capital City Airport19 mi away
- LOU · Bowman Field59 mi away
- SDF · Louisville International Standiford Field62 mi away
- SME · Lake Cumberland Regional Airport68 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is DSM from LEX?
The flight distance from Des Moines (DSM) to Lexington KY (LEX) is 538 miles (866 km, 467 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from DSM to LEX?
A nonstop flight takes about 1h 38m 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 Des Moines and Lexington KY?
Lexington KY is 1 hour ahead of Des Moines.
What is the cheapest way to fly from DSM to LEX?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on DSM–LEX that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.