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RCA to DSM: distance & flight time
Rapid City (Ellsworth Air Force Base) → Des Moines (Des Moines International Airport)
511 mi
822 km · 444 nm
1h 35m
estimated nonstop flight time
+1h
time difference · heading east
See live RCA→DSM fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
511 miles nonstop takes roughly 1h 35m gate to gate, flying east. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 1-hour time gain when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- RCA — Ellsworth Air Force Base · Rapid 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 RCA
- RAP · Rapid City Regional Airport7 mi away
- SPF · Black Hills Airport-Clyde Ice Field41 mi away
- CDR · Chadron Municipal Airport90 mi away
- GCC · Gillette Campbell County Airport121 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 RCA from DSM?
The flight distance from Rapid City (RCA) to Des Moines (DSM) is 511 miles (822 km, 444 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from RCA to DSM?
A nonstop flight takes about 1h 35m 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 time difference between Rapid City and Des Moines?
Des Moines is 1 hour ahead of Rapid City.
What is the cheapest way to fly from RCA to DSM?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on RCA–DSM that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.