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SDM to DTW: distance & flight time
San Diego (Brown Field Municipal Airport) → Detroit (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport)
1,947 mi
3,134 km · 1,692 nm
4h 17m
estimated nonstop flight time
+3h
time difference · heading northeast
See live SDM→DTW fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
1,947 miles nonstop takes roughly 4h 17m 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
- SDM — Brown Field Municipal 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 SDM
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 SDM from DTW?
The flight distance from San Diego (SDM) to Detroit (DTW) is 1,947 miles (3,134 km, 1,692 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from SDM to DTW?
A nonstop flight takes about 4h 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 time difference between San Diego and Detroit?
Detroit is 3 hours ahead of San Diego.
What is the cheapest way to fly from SDM to DTW?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on SDM–DTW that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.