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YOW to DSM: distance & flight time
Ottawa (Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport) → Des Moines (Des Moines International Airport)
938 mi
1,509 km · 815 nm
2h 30m
estimated nonstop flight time
-1h
time difference · heading west
See live YOW→DSM fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
938 miles nonstop takes roughly 2h 30m gate to gate, flying west. 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
- YOW — Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport · Ottawa, Canada
- 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 YOW
- YRO · Ottawa / Rockcliffe Airport10 mi away
- YND · Ottawa / Gatineau Airport15 mi away
- YSH · Smiths Falls-Montague (Russ Beach) Airport29 mi away
- OGS · Ogdensburg International Airport45 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 YOW from DSM?
The flight distance from Ottawa (YOW) to Des Moines (DSM) is 938 miles (1,509 km, 815 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from YOW to DSM?
A nonstop flight takes about 2h 30m 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 Ottawa and Des Moines?
Des Moines is 1 hour behind Ottawa.
What is the cheapest way to fly from YOW to DSM?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on YOW–DSM that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.