DTW to LAX: Distance and Flight Time
The distance from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is 3,178 km (1,975 mi). A typical nonstop flight covers it in about 4h 30m, heading west. The distance is the same in either direction (LAX to DTW).
How far is it from Detroit to Los Angeles?
The great-circle distance between Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is 3,178 km (1,975 mi, 1,716 nautical miles). That is the straight-line distance; a real flight is a little longer because of air-traffic routing.
How long is the flight from DTW to LAX?
A nonstop flight typically takes about 4h 30m. This is an estimate from the distance; actual block times depend on the aircraft, winds and the exact routing. LAX is roughly west of DTW.
How is the DTW to LAX route written in code?
The pair is written DTW-LAX in IATA codes and KDTW-KLAX in ICAO codes, the form used on a flight plan. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is DTW (KDTW), Los Angeles International Airport is LAX (KLAX).
| DTW | LAX | |
|---|---|---|
| Airport | Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport | Los Angeles International Airport |
| ICAO code | KDTW | KLAX |
| Country | United States | United States |
| Elevation | 645 ft | 125 ft |
| Rank by connections | #59 | #7 |
Both ICAO codes start with K, the prefix ICAO assigns to the contiguous United States, so this is a route inside one ICAO region. How ICAO prefixes are laid out.
LAX sits 520 ft (158 m) lower than DTW, which is a real difference in air density on takeoff.
Airlines flying DTW to LAX
2 airlines appear on this route in the open route dataset, 2 of them still listed as active. Each row gives the IATA code, the ICAO code and the radio callsign, which is what an air traffic controller hears:
| IATA | Airline | ICAO | Callsign | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DL | Delta Air Lines | DAL | Delta | Active |
| NK | Spirit Airlines | NKS | Spirit Wings | Active |
A further 1 carrier sell this pair as a codeshare without operating it: FL.
Route and carrier data comes from the OpenFlights open dataset, regenerated here on . It is a historical snapshot of scheduled connections, not a live schedule, and it includes codeshare listings, so some carriers shown may no longer operate the route or exist. How we build this · Data and sources.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Detroit from Los Angeles?
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) are 3,178 km (1,975 mi, 1,716 nautical miles) apart in a straight line.
How long is the flight from DTW to LAX?
A typical nonstop flight between DTW and LAX takes about 4h 30m. Actual times vary with aircraft type, winds and routing.
What direction is LAX from DTW?
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) lies roughly west of Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW).
Which airlines fly DTW to LAX?
2 airlines appear on the DTW-LAX route in the open dataset, including Delta Air Lines, Spirit Airlines.
Related routes
Other routes from Detroit (DTW):
Other routes from Los Angeles (LAX):
DTW airport code · LAX airport code · Busiest airports worldwide