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MKE to DSM: distance & flight time
Milwaukee (General Mitchell International Airport) → Des Moines (Des Moines International Airport)
311 mi
500 km · 270 nm
1h 17m
estimated nonstop flight time
Same time
time difference · heading west
See live MKE→DSM fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
311 miles nonstop takes roughly 1h 17m gate to gate, flying west. 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
- MKE — General Mitchell International Airport · Milwaukee, 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 MKE
- MWC · Lawrence J Timmerman Airport13 mi away
- RAC · John H Batten Airport14 mi away
- ENW · Kenosha Regional Airport24 mi away
- ORD · Chicago O'Hare International Airport67 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 MKE from DSM?
The flight distance from Milwaukee (MKE) to Des Moines (DSM) is 311 miles (500 km, 270 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from MKE to DSM?
A nonstop flight takes about 1h 17m 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 MKE to DSM?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on MKE–DSM that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.