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DTW to SAN: distance & flight time
Detroit (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport) → San Diego (San Diego International Airport)
1,952 mi
3,142 km · 1,697 nm
4h 18m
estimated nonstop flight time
-3h
time difference · heading west
See live DTW→SAN fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
1,952 miles nonstop takes roughly 4h 18m gate to gate, flying west. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 3-hour time set-back when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- DTW — Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport · Detroit, United States
- SAN — San Diego International Airport · San Diego, 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 DTW
- YIP · Willow Run Airport9 mi away
- ARB · Ann Arbor Municipal Airport20 mi away
- YQG · Windsor Airport21 mi away
- DET · Coleman A. Young Municipal Airport22 mi away
Near SAN
Frequently asked questions
How far is DTW from SAN?
The flight distance from Detroit (DTW) to San Diego (SAN) is 1,952 miles (3,142 km, 1,697 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from DTW to SAN?
A nonstop flight takes about 4h 18m 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 Detroit and San Diego?
San Diego is 3 hours behind Detroit.
What is the cheapest way to fly from DTW to SAN?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on DTW–SAN that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.