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DSM to YOW: distance & flight time
Des Moines (Des Moines International Airport) → Ottawa (Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport)
938 mi
1,509 km · 815 nm
2h 30m
estimated nonstop flight time
+1h
time difference · heading east
See live DSM→YOW fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
938 miles nonstop takes roughly 2h 30m gate to gate, flying east. 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
- YOW — Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport · Ottawa, Canada
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 YOW
- YRO · Ottawa / Rockcliffe Airport10 mi away
- YND · Ottawa / Gatineau Airport15 mi away
- YSH · Smiths Falls-Montague (Russ Beach) Airport29 mi away
- OGS · Ogdensburg International Airport45 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is DSM from YOW?
The flight distance from Des Moines (DSM) to Ottawa (YOW) is 938 miles (1,509 km, 815 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from DSM to YOW?
A nonstop flight takes about 2h 30m 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 YOW?
Nonstop service on DSM–YOW 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 2h 30m nonstop estimate.
What is the time difference between Des Moines and Ottawa?
Ottawa is 1 hour ahead of Des Moines.
What is the cheapest way to fly from DSM to YOW?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on DSM–YOW that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.
Why are some DSM to YOW fares phone-only?
Consolidator contracts let us sell certain DSM–YOW 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.