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SQL to DTW: distance & flight time
San Carlos (San Carlos Airport) → Detroit (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport)
2,070 mi
3,331 km · 1,799 nm
4h 32m
estimated nonstop flight time
+3h
time difference · heading east
See live SQL→DTW fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
2,070 miles nonstop takes roughly 4h 32m gate to gate, flying east. 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
- SQL — San Carlos Airport · San Carlos, 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 SQL
- SFO · San Francisco International Airport10 mi away
- PAO · Palo Alto Airport of Santa Clara County8 mi away
- HWD · Hayward Executive Airport12 mi away
- NUQ · Moffett Federal Airfield13 mi away
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 SQL from DTW?
The flight distance from San Carlos (SQL) to Detroit (DTW) is 2,070 miles (3,331 km, 1,799 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from SQL to DTW?
A nonstop flight takes about 4h 32m 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 SQL to DTW?
Nonstop service on SQL–DTW 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 4h 32m nonstop estimate.
What is the time difference between San Carlos and Detroit?
Detroit is 3 hours ahead of San Carlos.
What is the cheapest way to fly from SQL to DTW?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on SQL–DTW that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.
Why are some SQL to DTW fares phone-only?
Consolidator contracts let us sell certain SQL–DTW 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.