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MSO to SMO: distance & flight time
Missoula (Missoula International Airport) → Santa Monica (Santa Monica Municipal Airport)
920 mi
1,481 km · 799 nm
2h 28m
estimated nonstop flight time
-1h
time difference · heading south
See live MSO→SMO fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
920 miles nonstop takes roughly 2h 28m gate to gate, flying south. 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
- MSO — Missoula International Airport · Missoula, United States
- SMO — Santa Monica Municipal Airport · Santa Monica, 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 MSO
- FCA · Glacier Park International Airport97 mi away
- BTM · Bert Mooney Airport101 mi away
- HLN · Helena Regional Airport102 mi away
- SMN · Lemhi County Airport124 mi away
Near SMO
- LAX · Los Angeles International Airport6 mi away
- HHR · Jack Northrop Field Hawthorne Municipal Airport9 mi away
- BUR · Bob Hope Airport14 mi away
- VNY · Van Nuys Airport14 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is MSO from SMO?
The flight distance from Missoula (MSO) to Santa Monica (SMO) is 920 miles (1,481 km, 799 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from MSO to SMO?
A nonstop flight takes about 2h 28m 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 MSO to SMO?
Nonstop service on MSO–SMO 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 2h 28m nonstop estimate.
What is the time difference between Missoula and Santa Monica?
Santa Monica is 1 hour behind Missoula.
What is the cheapest way to fly from MSO to SMO?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on MSO–SMO that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.
Why are some MSO to SMO fares phone-only?
Consolidator contracts let us sell certain MSO–SMO 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.