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MKC to DSM: distance & flight time
Kansas City (Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport) → Des Moines (Des Moines International Airport)
174 mi
279 km · 151 nm
55m
estimated nonstop flight time
Same time
time difference · heading north
See live MKC→DSM fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
174 miles nonstop takes roughly 55m gate to gate, flying north. 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
- MKC — Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport · Kansas City, 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 MKC
- MCI · Kansas City International Airport14 mi away
- OJC · Johnson County Executive Airport21 mi away
- FLV · Sherman Army Air Field24 mi away
- JCI · New Century Aircenter Airport26 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 MKC from DSM?
The flight distance from Kansas City (MKC) to Des Moines (DSM) is 174 miles (279 km, 151 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from MKC to DSM?
A nonstop flight takes about 55m 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 MKC to DSM?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on MKC–DSM that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.