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SAN to DTW: distance & flight time
San Diego (San Diego International Airport) → Detroit (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport)
1,952 mi
3,142 km · 1,697 nm
4h 18m
estimated nonstop flight time
+3h
time difference · heading northeast
See live SAN→DTW fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
1,952 miles nonstop takes roughly 4h 18m gate to gate, flying northeast. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 3-hour time gain when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- SAN — San Diego International Airport · San Diego, United States
- DTW — Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport · Detroit, 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 SAN
Near DTW
- YIP · Willow Run Airport9 mi away
- ARB · Ann Arbor Municipal Airport20 mi away
- YQG · Windsor Airport21 mi away
- DET · Coleman A. Young Municipal Airport22 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is SAN from DTW?
The flight distance from San Diego (SAN) to Detroit (DTW) is 1,952 miles (3,142 km, 1,697 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from SAN to DTW?
A nonstop flight takes about 4h 18m 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 San Diego and Detroit?
Detroit is 3 hours ahead of San Diego.
What is the cheapest way to fly from SAN to DTW?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on SAN–DTW that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.