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DSM to SDU: distance & flight time
Des Moines (Des Moines International Airport) → Rio De Janeiro (Santos Dumont Airport)
5,500 mi
8,852 km · 4,779 nm
11h 15m
estimated nonstop flight time
+2h
time difference · heading southeast
See live DSM→SDU fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
5,500 miles nonstop takes roughly 11h 15m gate to gate, flying southeast. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 2-hour time gain when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- DSM — Des Moines International Airport · Des Moines, United States
- SDU — Santos Dumont Airport · Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
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 SDU
- GIG · Rio Galeão – Tom Jobim International Airport9 mi away
- QNV · Aeroclube Airport22 mi away
- SNZ · Santa Cruz Air Force Base35 mi away
- CFB · Cabo Frio Airport69 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is DSM from SDU?
The flight distance from Des Moines (DSM) to Rio De Janeiro (SDU) is 5,500 miles (8,852 km, 4,779 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from DSM to SDU?
A nonstop flight takes about 11h 15m 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 Rio De Janeiro?
Rio De Janeiro is 2 hours ahead of Des Moines.
What is the cheapest way to fly from DSM to SDU?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on DSM–SDU that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.