Downtown Phoenix skyline with the desert mountains behind. Flights from Detroit to Phoenix

Route guide

Cheap Flights from Detroit to Phoenix

Search partner fares from Detroit Metro to Phoenix Sky Harbor, and check which DTW terminal and PHX terminal your airline uses.

DTW to PHX · 1,668 mi · 4h 9m est.

DTW to PHX
1,668 miles
4h 9m nonstop (estimated)
4 airlines in our fare results

Photo: Amine Abassir, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Detroit to Phoenix flight insights

Average flight time

~4h 9m (estimated)

DTW → PHX

Cheapest cached price

$125

Checking live fares…

Prices shown may not be current. Last checked: Oct 19, 2026.

Planning a trip from Detroit to Phoenix? The average flight time on this route is ~4h 9m (estimated). The lowest fare we recorded on this route recently was $125 (last checked Oct 19, 2026); today's live fare for your dates can differ.

Detroit to Phoenix covers a straight-line distance of about 1,668 miles. Based on that distance, a nonstop flight would take approximately ~4h 9m (estimated). Actual flight time varies by airline, aircraft and routing.

Detroit to Phoenix at a glance

DTW to PHX is about 1,668 miles in a straight line. The curved line is an illustration; the route your airline flies may differ.

Route Quick Facts

Quick facts for flights from Detroit to Phoenix on Eazair
Origin	Detroit (DTW)
Destination	Phoenix (PHX)
Average Flight Time	~4h 9m (estimated)
Current Lowest Fare	$125
Fares Last Checked	Oct 19, 2026
Distance	1,668 miles (DTW to PHX)
Time in Phoenix	2 hours behind Detroit until Mar 14, 2027
Airlines in our fare results	4

Local time in Phoenix is 2 hours behind Detroit until Mar 14, 2027, then 3 hours behind Detroit. Detroit is on Eastern Time, Phoenix on Mountain Standard Time.

Flight deals from Detroit to Phoenix

Detroit Metro (DTW) to Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) is the pairing searched here, and Mesa Gateway (AZA) is another Phoenix-area airport, so check codes. On Sky Harbor's nonstop list, which is undated, Detroit is served by American, Delta, Frontier and Southwest, and schedules change. Southwest, Delta, American and United have appeared in EazAir's fare checks for this route. Delta leaves from McNamara and the other three from Evans. In Phoenix, Southwest and American land at Terminal 4, and Delta and United at Terminal 3.

Coming from Ann Arbor, Michigan Flyer and AirRide coaches run to DTW, and Michigan Flyer also serves East Lansing. Airport buses stop near Door 1 on the McNamara Departures Level and at the Evans Ground Transportation Center, so get off at the right terminal for your airline. A boarding pass reading EM means McNamara, and WE means Evans. If you need to switch, the Terminal to Terminal/Westin Shuttle also stops at the Westin Hotel entrance.

Delta and United passengers arriving at Terminal 3 find rideshare pickup on the south outer curb, except its far east end, and at the far east end of the north outer curb. Valley Metro bus Route 13 stops at the 24th Street PHX Sky Train station, near Passenger Pick-Up 9, and Route 44 at the 44th Street station. PHX says Sky Train waits average about 3.5 to 7 minutes between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m., and the train costs nothing to ride.

From 26 Sep to 16 Oct 2026, EazAir's first 4 fare checks for DTW to PHX looked for the lowest one-way economy fare for one adult, departing 30 days later. The 4 checks returned 3 different results, and the highest stayed less than one and a half times the lowest. With so few checks, treat that as a snapshot. United Basic Economy carries a personal item only, unlike Southwest, Delta and American. Search your own dates, and check the final price, bags and fare rules on the partner site before you pay.

Airports for Detroit to Phoenix flights

Departure · Detroit

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)

Eastern Time

Arrival · Phoenix

Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)

Mountain Standard Time

About Phoenix

Areas to know in Phoenix

Downtown Phoenix
Arcadia
Old Town Scottsdale

Weather in Phoenix

A desert climate with extremely hot summers; winter is mild and generally considered the most comfortable season to visit.

Detroit to Phoenix: airport and fare guide

Checked on 17 Oct 2026 against the airport, airline and transit pages listed under Sources. Airports and airlines change these details, so confirm them with your airline before you fly.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International's nonstop list (no date shown) shows Detroit (DTW) served by American, Delta, Frontier and Southwest. Schedules change, so check the stops shown with each result.

Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) in Mesa is a separate airport that also serves the Phoenix area, so check the airport code on every result.

Leaving from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)

Airline	DTW terminal
Delta	McNamara Terminal
American	Evans Terminal
United	Evans Terminal
Southwest	Evans Terminal
Other airlines	Check your boarding pass or airline app.

Detroit Air Xpress, SMART Route 125 and FAST Michigan Route 261 stop at both terminals, and SMART Route 280 at Evans only. DTW advises confirming your airline's terminal before you board.
Michigan Flyer and AirRide run to DTW from Ann Arbor, and Michigan Flyer also from East Lansing.
DTW lists checkpoints in the McNamara ticketing lobby on Level 3, on the McNamara bridge from the parking garage on Level 2, at the Westin hotel and in the Evans ticketing lobby.
DTW says access to all airline gates is through the security checkpoint areas, and CLEAR lanes are at both McNamara checkpoints.
DTW says the TSA PreCheck office is in the McNamara Terminal's domestic baggage claim area. DTW does not publish checkpoint hours.

Arriving at Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)

Airline	PHX terminal
Southwest	Terminal 4
American	Terminal 4
Delta	Terminal 3
United	Terminal 3
Other airlines	Check your boarding pass or airline app.

PHX passenger flights use Terminal 3 and Terminal 4.
The free PHX Sky Train runs 24 hours between both terminals, 24th Street, the Rental Car Center, 44th Street and East Economy parking.
In Terminal 4, any of checkpoints A to D reaches any Terminal 4 gate.

Getting from PHX	Where to board	Where it goes
PHX Sky Train	Free and runs 24 hours. Waits average about 3.5 to 7 minutes from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. From 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. waits can be 15 minutes or more.	Terminal 3, Terminal 4, 24th Street, the Rental Car Center, 44th Street and East Economy parking.
Valley Metro Rail	Ride the Sky Train to 44th Street, take the moving walkway, then go down to the 44th Street/Washington platform.	Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa.
Valley Metro buses	Route 13 at the 24th Street Sky Train station, northwest curb near Passenger Pick-Up 9. Route 44 at the 44th Street Sky Train station.	Across the Valley Metro bus network.
Rideshare	Terminal 3: the south outer curb (except its far east end) and the far east end of the north outer curb. Terminal 4: Level 1, north outer curb outside door 1, or south outer curb outside doors 2, 6 or 8.	Wherever you booked.

What the lowest fares include

Fare	Carry-on	Checked bag	Seat	Changes
Delta Main Basic	Delta says every passenger can bring one carry-on and one personal item free.	Delta charges for checked bags on domestic flights unless you qualify for a waiver, such as Medallion status or an eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express card.	Assigned after check-in. You may be able to buy a seat ahead of time for a fee.	Refunds are not allowed after the 24-hour risk-free cancellation window. Delta says a change or cancellation may be possible for a fee, with any value left as an eCredit.
American Basic Economy	Included, plus a personal item.	Not included, except for some AAdvantage status members and eligible cardmembers.	A free seat is assigned at check-in, or you can pay to choose one.	Generally not allowed. American describes a 24-hour window and some credit options on its Basic Economy page.
United Basic Economy	Not included on domestic flights. One personal item only, unless you are a MileagePlus Premier member, travel with one, or hold a qualifying MileagePlus card.	Not included; check United's bag fee calculator.	Assigned by United before boarding.	Changes may not be allowed. Refund if cancelled within 24 hours of booking, under United's 24-hour policy; after that, partial travel credit.
Southwest Basic	Southwest's policy allows one carry-on and one personal item.	Checked bag fees apply to Basic fares.	A free Standard seat is assigned at check-in. Preferred and Extra Legroom seats cost extra.	Only by upgrading to a Choice fare or higher. Cancelling at least 10 minutes before departure gives a flight credit, which for Basic expires 6 months from booking.

Based on the airlines' own pages, checked on 17 Oct 2026. Fees are left out because they change often. Check the final price, bags and fare rules on the partner site before you pay.

How EazAir measured fares on this route

EazAir's first 4 fare checks from Detroit to Phoenix ran from 26 Sep to 16 Oct 2026. For the return direction, Phoenix to Detroit, EazAir's first 5 checks ran from 28 Sep to 15 Oct 2026. Each check asked partner travel sites for the lowest one-way economy fare for one adult, departing 30 days after the check. Results can include connecting flights. The highest result was less than one and a half times the lowest. The 4 checks returned 3 different results. With only 4 checks, this cannot show a pattern. Search your own dates for current prices.

Sources

DTW: Airline directory (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
DTW: Public transportation (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
DTW: Security checkpoints (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Michigan Flyer (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Mesa Gateway Airport (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Phoenix Sky Harbor: Passenger airlines (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Phoenix Sky Harbor: PHX Sky Train (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Phoenix Sky Harbor: Security screening (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Phoenix Sky Harbor: Light rail connection (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Phoenix Sky Harbor: Ride share (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Phoenix Sky Harbor: Public transportation (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Phoenix Sky Harbor: Where we fly (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Delta: Delta Main Basic (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Delta: Fares and discounts (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Delta: Carry-on baggage (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Delta: Bags (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
American Airlines: Basic Economy (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
United: Basic Economy FAQ (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Southwest: Fare information (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Southwest: Assigned seating (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Southwest: Carry-on baggage policy (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
Southwest: Fare types and benefits (no date shown, accessed 17 Oct 2026)
EazAir fare checks for DTW to PHX, 26 Sep 2026 to 16 Oct 2026; PHX to DTW, 28 Sep 2026 to 15 Oct 2026

Frequently asked questions

Which Detroit terminal do Southwest, American and United use?

DTW lists all three at the Evans Terminal. Delta uses the McNamara Terminal. Boarding passes may show Evans as WE and McNamara as EM.

Which Sky Harbor terminal will I arrive at from Detroit?

Southwest and American use Terminal 4, while Delta and United use Terminal 3. The free PHX Sky Train runs 24 hours between them.

Can I take a bus from Sky Harbor?

Yes. Valley Metro bus Route 13 stops at the 24th Street PHX Sky Train station and Route 44 at the 44th Street station. Ride the free Sky Train to reach either stop.

Do the lowest Detroit to Phoenix fares include a carry-on?

Southwest, Delta and American include a carry-on and a personal item with their lowest fares. United Basic Economy includes one personal item only on domestic flights, with exceptions for MileagePlus Premier members, people travelling with one and qualifying cardholders.

Is Mesa Gateway part of this search?

No. The page searches Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX). Mesa Gateway Airport (AZA) in Mesa is a separate airport, so look at the code on every result.

How far is Detroit from Phoenix?

DTW and PHX are about 1668 miles apart in a straight line. Flight times vary by airline, direction and routing, so check the scheduled time shown with each result.

Airline bag fees

Baggage allowances differ significantly between fare classes (Basic/Light vs. Standard/Flex) and can change over time. Always verify the exact allowance for your specific fare with the airline before you fly.

Checked bag fees from each airline's own website
Airline	Carry-on, basic economy	1st checked bag	2nd checked bag	Source
American Airlines	Included	$45	$55	aa.com, Sep 24, 2026
United Airlines	Not included	$40	$50	united.com, Sep 24, 2026
Delta Air Lines	Included	$45	$55	delta.com, Sep 24, 2026
Southwest Airlines	Included	$45	$55	southwest.com, Oct 27, 2026
JetBlue	Included	$45	$59	jetblue.com, Sep 24, 2026
Alaska Airlines	Included	$45	$55	alaskaair.com, Sep 24, 2026
Frontier Airlines	Not included	Varies	Varies	flyfrontier.com, Sep 24, 2026
Sun Country Airlines	Not included	Varies	Varies	suncountry.com, Sep 24, 2026

Domestic US fees per bag, each way, when paid online in advance. "Varies" means the airline prices bags by route and date.

Travel tips

Arrive early for domestic flights

TSA generally recommends arriving at least 2 hours before a domestic departure, more at larger hub airports during peak travel periods.

Pack a mixed carry-on

Keep a change of clothes, chargers, and any essentials in your carry-on rather than only your checked bag, in case of a delay or a bag that doesn't arrive with you.

Ease jet lag on longer routes

On longer cross-country flights, adjusting your sleep schedule a day or two before departure and staying hydrated in flight can reduce jet lag on arrival.

Screenshot your confirmation

Save a screenshot or PDF of your booking confirmation and boarding pass before you travel, in case you lose signal or battery at the airport.

Check in online when it opens

Most airlines open online check-in 24 hours before departure. Checking in early can help with seat selection and, on some airlines, boarding group assignment.