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MEM to DSM: distance & flight time
Memphis (Memphis International Airport) → Des Moines (Des Moines International Airport)
491 mi
790 km · 427 nm
1h 32m
estimated nonstop flight time
Same time
time difference · heading northwest
See live MEM→DSM fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
491 miles nonstop takes roughly 1h 32m gate to gate, flying northwest. 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
- MEM — Memphis International Airport · Memphis, 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 MEM
- OLV · Olive Branch Airport12 mi away
- NQA · Millington-Memphis Airport23 mi away
- UTM · Tunica Municipal Airport33 mi away
- UOX · University Oxford Airport52 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 MEM from DSM?
The flight distance from Memphis (MEM) to Des Moines (DSM) is 491 miles (790 km, 427 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from MEM to DSM?
A nonstop flight takes about 1h 32m 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 MEM to DSM?
Nonstop service on MEM–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 32m nonstop estimate.
What is the cheapest way to fly from MEM to DSM?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on MEM–DSM that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.
Why are some MEM to DSM fares phone-only?
Consolidator contracts let us sell certain MEM–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.