Flight time: Detroit to Chicago
Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) → O'Hare International Airport (ORD) · short haul · intra north america
The flight from Detroit (DTW) to Chicago (ORD) takes approximately 1h 00m to 1h 25m gate-to-gate, covering 377 km (234 mi). This short-haul intra north america route uses a cruise speed of 650–750 km/h with 30–50 minutes of ground and air overhead.
- Route:
- Detroit (DTW) → Chicago (ORD)
- Distance:
- 377 km (234 mi)
- Flight time:
- 1h 00m to 1h 25m gate-to-gate
- Route type:
- short-haul, intra north america
- Cruise speed:
- 650–750 km/h
- Ground overhead:
- 30–50 minutes included
- Over water:
- No — continental
- Origin:
- Detroit Metropolitan Airport, United States (America/Detroit)
- Destination:
- O'Hare International Airport, United States (America/Chicago)
Route details
| Origin | Detroit, United States (DTW) |
| Destination | Chicago, United States (ORD) |
| Distance | 377 km (234 mi) |
| Flight time (low) | 1h 00m |
| Flight time (high) | 1h 25m |
| Route type | short-haul, intra north america |
| Cruise speed | 650–750 km/h |
| Ground overhead | 30–50 minutes |
| Over water | No — continental routing |
| Time difference | -1h (westbound) |
Distance breakdown: Detroit to Chicago
The 377-km great-circle distance between Detroit (42.21°N, 83.35°W) and Chicago (41.97°N, 87.91°W) spans 0.2° of latitude and 4.6° of longitude, trending primarily west. In miles, this is 234 mi or 204 nautical miles. The great-circle path — the shortest distance over Earth's curved surface — is calculated using the Haversine formula from the two airports' precise coordinates.
Cruise speed and flight phases
Short-haul flights like Detroit to Chicago (377 km) spend a proportionally larger amount of time climbing to and descending from cruise altitude. Aircraft typically reach an effective cruise speed of 650–750 km/h, lower than on long-haul routes where most time is spent at optimal altitude. The climb phase alone takes 15–20 minutes, during which the aircraft covers only about 150–200 km. Combined with descent and approach, the effective average speed drops significantly from the theoretical cruise speed, yielding the 1h 00m to 1h 25m estimate for this route.
Ground time and routing overhead
Our 30–50 minutes overhead allowance covers: taxi-out at DTW, takeoff and initial climb, descent and approach at ORD, and taxi-in to the gate. Taxi times at DTW are typically 5–15 minutes depending on traffic. At ORD, arrival taxi and gate assignment can add 10–20 minutes, especially during busy arrival banks. Continental air traffic corridors between Detroit and Chicago may add 3–8% beyond the great-circle distance. Standard instrument departures and arrivals at both airports use predefined routing that adds distance but ensures safe separation.
Return flight: Chicago → Detroit
The return flight from Chicago to Detroit is generally similar in duration to the outbound — typically within 10–20 minutes. Continental routes like this one are less affected by the jet stream asymmetry that makes oceanic east-west routes so uneven. The main variables affecting any difference are: prevailing winds at these latitudes (modest effect), different standard instrument departures/arrivals at each airport (minor effect), and air traffic congestion patterns that vary by time of day and direction.
Seasonal variation in flight times
On this short 377-km route, seasonal flight time variation is minimal — typically under 10 minutes. The main seasonal factor is not wind (which has less effect on short flights) but weather-related delays: winter fog, de-icing procedures, and thunderstorm diversions in summer can extend actual gate-to-gate times. DTW and ORD each have their own seasonal delay patterns that affect overall travel time more than en-route conditions.
Airport information
Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) serves Detroit, United States as a significant international airport. Flight frequency is good on major routes, with moderate taxi times. O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is a major international hub in Chicago, United States. As a tier-1 airport, it handles high traffic volumes, which means longer average taxi times but also higher flight frequency and competition that can benefit travelers on pricing.