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HTL to DSM: distance & flight time
Houghton Lake (Roscommon County - Blodgett Memorial Airport) → Des Moines (Des Moines International Airport)
495 mi
796 km · 430 nm
1h 33m
estimated nonstop flight time
-1h
time difference · heading west
See live HTL→DSM fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
495 miles nonstop takes roughly 1h 33m gate to gate, flying west. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 1-hour time set-back when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- HTL — Roscommon County - Blodgett Memorial Airport · Houghton Lake, United States
- DSM — Des Moines International Airport · Des Moines, 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 HTL
- GDW · Gladwin Zettel Memorial Airport29 mi away
- GLR · Gaylord Regional Airport45 mi away
- TVC · Cherry Capital Airport52 mi away
- ECA · Iosco County Airport62 mi away
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
Frequently asked questions
How far is HTL from DSM?
The flight distance from Houghton Lake (HTL) to Des Moines (DSM) is 495 miles (796 km, 430 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from HTL to DSM?
A nonstop flight takes about 1h 33m 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 HTL to DSM?
Nonstop service on HTL–DSM 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 33m nonstop estimate.
What is the time difference between Houghton Lake and Des Moines?
Des Moines is 1 hour behind Houghton Lake.
What is the cheapest way to fly from HTL to DSM?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on HTL–DSM that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.
Why are some HTL to DSM fares phone-only?
Consolidator contracts let us sell certain HTL–DSM 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.