Nonstop flight route between Des Moines, Iowa, United States and Norfolk, Virginia (near Virginia Beach and Williamsburg), United States:
Departure Airport:

Arrival Airport:

Distance from DSM to ORF:
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- About this route
- DSM Airport Information
- ORF Airport Information
- Facts about DSM
- Facts about ORF
- Map of Nearest Airports to DSM
- List of Nearest Airports to DSM
- Map of Furthest Airports from DSM
- List of Furthest Airports from DSM
- Map of Nearest Airports to ORF
- List of Nearest Airports to ORF
- Map of Furthest Airports from ORF
- List of Furthest Airports from ORF
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Des Moines International Airport (DSM), Des Moines, Iowa, United States and Norfolk International Airport (ORF), Norfolk, Virginia (near Virginia Beach and Williamsburg), United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 986 miles (or 1,587 kilometers).
A Great Circle is the shortest distance between 2 points on a sphere. Because most world maps are flat (but the Earth is round), the route of the shortest distance between 2 points on the Earth will often appear curved when viewed on a flat map, especially for long distances. If you were to simply draw a straight line on a flat map and measure a very long distance, it would likely be much further than if you were to lay a string between those two points on a globe. Because of the relatively short distance between Des Moines International Airport and Norfolk International Airport, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.
Departure Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | DSM / KDSM |
Airport Name: | Des Moines International Airport |
Location: | Des Moines, Iowa, United States |
GPS Coordinates: | 41°32'2"N by 93°39'47"W |
Area Served: | Des Moines, Iowa |
Operator/Owner: | City of Des Moines |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 958 feet (292 meters) |
# of Runways: | 2 |
View all routes: | Routes from DSM |
More Information: | DSM Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
IATA / ICAO Codes: | ORF / KORF |
Airport Name: | Norfolk International Airport |
Location: | Norfolk, Virginia (near Virginia Beach and Williamsburg), United States |
GPS Coordinates: | 36°53'40"N by 76°12'3"W |
Area Served: | Norfolk, Virginia |
Operator/Owner: | City of Norfolk |
Airport Type: | Public |
Elevation: | 27 feet (8 meters) |
# of Runways: | 2 |
View all routes: | Routes from ORF |
More Information: | ORF Maps & Info |
Facts about Des Moines International Airport (DSM):
- Because of Des Moines International Airport's relatively low elevation of 958 feet, planes can take off or land at Des Moines International Airport at a lower air speed than at airports located at a higher elevation. This is because the air density is higher closer to sea level than it would otherwise be at higher elevations.
- The airport was originally governed by the City of Des Moines' Parks Department.
- During the 1920s the Des Moines area had several small private airports for general aviation and airmail.
- Interior renovation work began in 2009 on the airport and concluded in 2010.
- Des Moines International Airport (DSM) has 2 runways.
- The furthest airport from Des Moines International Airport (DSM) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 10,789 miles (17,363 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- The closest airport to Des Moines International Airport (DSM) is Ankeny Regional Airport (IKV), which is located only 12 miles (19 kilometers) NNE of DSM.
Facts about Norfolk International Airport (ORF):
- Because of Norfolk International Airport's relatively low elevation of 27 feet, planes can take off or land at Norfolk International Airport at a lower air speed than at airports located at a higher elevation. This is because the air density is higher closer to sea level than it would otherwise be at higher elevations.
- The airport's largest capital improvement project, Arrival 2002, was completed in June 2002.
- With World War II, Norfolk Municipal Airport became a vital resource to the war effort.
- The closest airport to Norfolk International Airport (ORF) is Naval Station Norfolk (NGU), which is located only 7 miles (11 kilometers) WNW of ORF.
- In 2013, Norfolk International Airport will recognize and celebrate its 75th anniversary of offering air travel services to passengers.
- The furthest airport from Norfolk International Airport (ORF) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,769 miles (18,940 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- Norfolk International Airport covers an area of 1,300 acres at an elevation of 27 feet above mean sea level.
- Approximately 70 million pounds of air cargo are presently shipped in and out of Norfolk International Airport each year.
- Norfolk International Airport (ORF) has 2 runways.