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Minneapolis to Great Falls Flight Distance

Minneapolis-St Paul International/Wold-Chamberlain Airport (MSP) to Great Falls International Airport (GTF)

Short HaulWest-Northwest (288°)Direct flights available
Primary sources · 6
  1. [1] Vincenty (1975)Direct and Inverse Solutions of Geodesics on the Ellipsoid — the iterative formula used for distance · Survey Review XXIII (176), pp. 88–93 · April 1975 https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/PUBS_LIB/inverse.pdf
  2. [2] NGA.STND.0036_1.0.0_WGS84WGS-84 reference ellipsoid (a = 6,378,137 m, 1/f = 298.257223563) · NGA Standard · July 2014 https://earth-info.nga.mil/index.php?dir=wgs84&action=wgs84
  3. [3] DESNZ 2024 conversion factorsPer-km kg CO₂e factors for the three distance bands and four cabin classes · UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero · June 2024 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greenhouse-gas-reporting-conversion-factors-2024
  4. [4] Lee et al. (2021)Effective radiative forcing of aviation — the science behind the 1.9 × CO₂ → CO₂e uplift · Atmospheric Environment 244, 117834 · January 2021 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117834
  5. [5] OpenFlightsAirport coordinates and IATA codes · openflights.org/data.php · Community-maintained https://openflights.org/data.php
  6. [6] Sack (2010)Jet-lag review — clinical chronobiology and asymmetric recovery rates · New England Journal of Medicine 362:440 · February 2010 https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMcp0909838

Loading globe...

887
Miles
1,427
Kilometers
771
Nautical miles
2h 11m
Flight time
Route Distance Scale1,427 km of 18,000 km max
0Short <1,500kmMedium <4,000kmLong <12,000kmUltra-Long

Your Route Summary

MSP
Origin
Minneapolis-St Paul International/Wold-Chamberlain Airport
Minneapolis, United States
44.8820°, -93.2218°
GTF
Destination
Great Falls International Airport
Great Falls, United States
47.4820°, -111.3710°

What This Means For Your Trip

Flight Duration: At 887 miles, this short-haul flight will take approximately 2h 11m. This is a relatively quick flight where you may not even need entertainment.

Time Adjustment: Great Falls is 1 hour behind Minneapolis. You should experience minimal jet lag.

Environmental Impact: An economy class seat produces approximately 364 kg of CO2. Consider carbon offset programs if environmental impact is a concern.

Flight Options: 1 airline serves this route, giving you options for schedule and price comparison.

Complete Flight Analysis

MetricValueCategory / Reference
Distance (Miles)887 miPrimary frequent flyer unit
Distance (Kilometers)1,427 kmInternational standard
Distance (Nautical Miles)771 nmAviation standard
Flight Time2h 11mBased on 850 km/h cruise + ground time
Route ClassificationSHORT HAULShort-haul flight (under 1,500 km)
Flight Direction288° WNWWest-Northwest
Cruising Altitude33,000 ftFL330 (10,058 m)
Time Difference-1hJet lag: none
CO2 (Economy)364 kgDEFRA 2024 factors
CO2 (Business)1055 kg2.9x economy
CO2 (First Class)1456 kg4x economy
Trees to Offset33Economy class, per passenger
Fuel per Passenger43 L~7,740 L total (180 pax)
Operating Airlines1Direct flights available

Tips for This Route

Book Early
Book 3-6 weeks ahead for competitive fares on this route.
Best Window Seat
Choose the right side for views with less sun glare on this west-northwest flight.
Adjust Your Clock
Minimal time change—no special preparation needed.
Pack Smart
Short flight—light carry-on with essentials is sufficient.
Offset Your Impact
Consider offsetting 364 kg CO2 through verified programs—equivalent to planting 33 trees.
Compare Prices
Check multiple booking sites and set price alerts for the best fares.
MSP
DEPARTURE

Minneapolis-St Paul International/Wold-Chamberlain Airport

Minneapolis, United States

IATA / ICAO
MSP / KMSP
Elevation
841 ft (256 m)
Local Time
04:26 PM
GMT-5
Coordinates
44.8820°, -93.2218°
View full airport details
GTF
ARRIVAL-1h from departure

Great Falls International Airport

Great Falls, United States

IATA / ICAO
GTF / KGTF
Elevation
3,680 ft (1122 m)
Local Time
03:26 PM
GMT-6
Coordinates
47.4820°, -111.3710°
View full airport details

Airlines Flying This Route

1 airline operate flights between Minneapolis and Great Falls.

DL
Delta Air Lines
United States

Flight Details

Cruising Altitude
33,000 ft (10,058 m)
FL330
Flight Direction
West-Northwest
Initial bearing: 288°
Route Type
Short-haul flight (under 1,500 km)
Typical Aircraft
Airbus A320Boeing 737Embraer E190
Fuel Consumption
43 L per passenger
~7,740 L total (180 passengers)
Geographic Context
Route stays within the Northern Hemisphere
Both airports are in the Northern Hemisphere. Both airports are in the Western Hemisphere.

Flight Midpoint

The geographic midpoint of this flight is located at:

Latitude
46° 32' 32.0" N
46.5422°
Longitude
102° 4' 47.9" W
-102.0800°
Halfway Point
444 mi
66 min into flight

Carbon Emissions by Cabin Class

CO2 emissions vary by cabin class due to seat space allocation. Based on DEFRA 2024 emission factors.

Economy
364 kg
CO2e: 691 kg
Premium Economy
582 kg
CO2e: 1106 kg
Business
1055 kg
CO2e: 2005 kg
First Class
1456 kg
CO2e: 2766 kg
Carbon Offset
To offset an economy class seat, plant approximately 33 trees.Equivalent to 0.7 months of average person's carbon footprint

Jet Lag & Travel Tips

Jet Lag Severity
none
Time Zone Change
1 hour back
Flying westward
Tips for This Journey
  • Minimal time difference - jet lag unlikely

Seat Recommendations

Best Window for Views
right Side
Sun will be on the left (south) side during daytime
Recommendation
Right window for views away from sun glare, left for warmth

Distance in Perspective

1
3.6% of Earth's circumference
2
269 flights of this distance would reach the Moon
3
Comparable to New York to Miami (1,756 km)
4
1.2 hours at the speed of sound

Distance & Speed Reference

MeasurementValue
Statute Miles887 mi
Kilometers1,427 km
Nautical Miles771 nm
Meters1,427,000 m
Feet4,683,360 ft
Flight Time (850 km/h)2h 11m
Driving Time (80 km/h avg)18 hours

Travel Speed Comparison

How long would it take to cover the 1,427 km between Minneapolis and Great Falls at different speeds?

ModeSpeedTime
Commercial Jet850 km/h2h 11m
Turboprop Aircraft500 km/h2h 51m
Bullet Train320 km/h4h 28m
Car (highway)100 km/h14h 16m
Walking5 km/h285h (12 days)
Speed of Sound1,235 km/h1h 9m

Round Trip Summary

1,774
total miles
2,854
total km
4h 22m
total flight time
728
kg CO2 (economy)
View Return Flight: GTF to MSP

Quick Facts

Distance887 mi
Flight Time2h 11m
Route Typeshort haul
DirectionWNW
AltitudeFL330
Time Diff-1h
CO2 (Economy)364 kg
Airlines1

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Minneapolis from Great Falls?

The flight distance from Minneapolis-St Paul International/Wold-Chamberlain Airport (MSP) to Great Falls International Airport (GTF) is 887 miles (1,427 km). This is the great circle distance calculated using the Vincenty formula.

How long is the flight?

A direct flight takes approximately 2h 11m. This is a short-haul flight typically cruising at 33,000 feet (FL330).

What is the time difference?

Great Falls is 1 hour behind Minneapolis.

What airlines fly this route?

1 airline operate this route: Delta Air Lines.

What is the carbon footprint?

Economy class: 364 kg CO2 per passenger. Business class: 1055 kg. First class: 1456 kg. Offset with ~33 trees.

Which seat side is best?

For this West-Northwest flight, the right side offers the best views away from sun glare.

Can I drive from Minneapolis to Great Falls instead of flying?

While driving is technically possible at 1,427 km, it would take approximately 18 hours of non-stop driving. Flying saves you significant time, reducing travel to just 2h 11m.

What aircraft typically fly this route?

This short-haul route is typically served by Airbus A320, Boeing 737, Embraer E190 aircraft. These are narrow-body aircraft designed for efficient short-distance travel.

How can I offset the carbon from this flight?

An economy class seat on this route produces 364 kg CO2. You can offset this by planting approximately 33 trees, purchasing verified carbon credits through programs like Gold Standard or Verra, or supporting renewable energy projects. Many airlines also offer built-in carbon offset options during booking.

External Resources & References

Learn more about the airports, aviation data, and carbon emissions methodology used in this calculation.

Dig deeper on this route