Direct flights from Detroit (DTW) to San Diego (SAN): 7 nonstop departures observed each week across 1 airline. 68% of the last 25 operated flights arrived within 15 minutes of schedule. The median arrival is 3 minutes early. No cancellations were recorded across the 25 tracked flights. The nonstop covers 3,142 km, an estimated 4 hours 32 minutes in the air. Measured by Pro Flight Search from live flight boards at Detroit and San Diego. Updated 17 August 2026 at 10:03 UTC.
DTWDetroitheavy · +33
SANSan Diegodisrupted · +73
3,142 km · ~4h 32m est.
dep bank 08:35–20:357x weekly
Runs mixed · 1 airline · 7x weekly · nonstop
68% on time
of the last 25 operated DTW → SAN flights arrived within 15 minutes
Pro Flight Search tracks every published board update for nonstop DTW to SAN flights: schedules, estimates, gate pushes and actual departures. The verdict above comes from operated flights, so it reflects what this route does rather than what the timetable promises. Fares link straight to the operating airline with no markups.
High disruption likely. The arrival side at SAN is the weaker end, route health score 29/100. The airports section above carries the live status and delay window at both ends.
Morning or evening flight on DTW–SAN?
Operators schedule morning departures around 08:35 and evening departures around 20:35 from DTW. Earlier flights typically land before destination-airport delays accumulate later in the day; check the SAN delay card to confirm conditions when you'd arrive.
How long is the flight from DTW to SAN?
Great-circle distance is 3,142 km. With typical jet cruise speed plus taxi, climb and descent, expect roughly 252–299 min gate-to-gate on this route.
How often does DTW–SAN fly?
Delta Air Lines runs the route with about 25 flights a week (daily). Since one carrier owns the route, a single disruption tends to ripple through the day.