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LNK to DSM: distance & flight time
Lincoln (Lincoln Airport) → Des Moines (Des Moines International Airport)
168 mi
270 km · 146 nm
54m
estimated nonstop flight time
Same time
time difference · heading east
See live LNK→DSM fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
168 miles nonstop takes roughly 54m gate to gate, flying east. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Both airports share the same local time, so schedules read exactly as flown.
The two airports
- LNK — Lincoln Airport · Lincoln, 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 LNK
- FET · Fremont Municipal Airport43 mi away
- OFF · Offutt Air Force Base48 mi away
- OMA · Eppley Airfield55 mi away
- CBF · Council Bluffs Municipal Airport59 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 LNK from DSM?
The flight distance from Lincoln (LNK) to Des Moines (DSM) is 168 miles (270 km, 146 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from LNK to DSM?
A nonstop flight takes about 54m 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 cheapest way to fly from LNK to DSM?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on LNK–DSM that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.