Brainerd, Minnesota

Private charter · DSM → BRD

Des Moines to Brainerd

337 miles, about 1 hr 55 min in a Cirrus SR20. One price for the whole airplane.

Photo: McGhiever · CC BY-SA 4.0

Price your flight from Des Moines to Brainerd

Trip type
1

Times are local to each departure airport.

The trip

Des Moines to Brainerd, door to door faster.

Trade about 7½ hours on the road for about 1 hr 55 min in the air. Littlebird flies you direct from Des Moines International Airport in Des Moines to Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport in Brainerd, 337 miles in a Cirrus SR20. You get the whole airplane for one price, with every fee and tax shown before you book.

Distance
337 mi
Flight
1 hr 55 min
Driving
7½ hours
Passengers
Up to 5
DSMDes MoinesBRDBrainerd
DSM → BRD337 miles direct

Flight time by aircraft

  • Cirrus SR20 · up to 3 passengers1 hr 55 min
  • Cirrus Vision Jet · up to 5 passengers1 hr 5 min

Planned times in the air. Your quote shows exact departure and arrival times.

Departing Des Moines

Airports in Des Moines

  • DSM

    Major airport

    Des Moines International Airport

    Des Moines · KDSM

    From downtown
    4 mi
    Longest runway
    9,004 ft

  • KIKV

    Regional airport

    Ankeny Regional Airport

    Ankeny

    From downtown
    8 mi
    Longest runway
    5,500 ft

  • AMW

    Regional airport

    Ames Municipal Airport

    Ames · KAMW

    From downtown
    28 mi
    Longest runway
    5,701 ft

Arriving Brainerd

Airports in Brainerd

  • BRD

    Commercial airport

    Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport

    Brainerd · KBRD

    From downtown
    5 mi
    Longest runway
    7,100 ft

  • KPWC

    Regional airport

    Pine River Regional Airport

    Pine River

    From downtown
    27 mi
    Longest runway
    3,000 ft

  • KAIT

    Regional airport

    Aitkin Municipal Airport Steve Kurtz Field

    Aitkin

    From downtown
    28 mi
    Longest runway
    4,000 ft

  • KSAZ

    Regional airport

    Staples Municipal Airport

    Staples

    From downtown
    29 mi
    Longest runway
    3,305 ft

  • KLXL

    Regional airport

    Little Falls-Morrison County-Lindbergh field

    Little Falls

    From downtown
    29 mi
    Longest runway
    4,010 ft

When you land

Things to do in Brainerd

Brainerd is the hub of the Brainerd Lakes area, one of Minnesota’s classic summer destinations, with hundreds of lakes, family resorts and lake homes spread through the pine forests of central Minnesota. Gull Lake and the Whitefish Chain are lined with cabins and homes, many of them second homes for families from the Twin Cities and beyond, and resorts like Grand View Lodge and Madden’s have welcomed vacationers for generations. Tourism, construction, healthcare and real estate drive the local economy.

  1. 01

    Gull Lake

    One of the area’s largest lakes is ringed with resorts, restaurants and lake homes, popular for boating, fishing and summer weekends on the water.

  2. 02

    Whitefish Chain of Lakes

    Near Crosslake, a series of connected lakes offers miles of boating, with waterfront restaurants and bars reachable by boat.

  3. 03

    Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area

    Near Crosby and Ironton, former iron mine pits have become clear lakes surrounded by miles of acclaimed mountain biking trails.

  4. 04

    Brainerd International Raceway

    This racetrack north of Brainerd hosts drag racing, road racing and the NHRA Lucas Oil Nationals each August.

  5. 05

    Paul Bunyan State Trail

    One of the longest paved rail-trails in the country runs north from Crow Wing State Park through Brainerd and lake country toward Bemidji.

  6. 06

    Crow Wing State Park

    Where the Crow Wing and Mississippi rivers meet, the park preserves the site of a former fur-trading town, with trails, a historic house and canoeing.

Explore Brainerd charter

Questions

Des Moines to Brainerd flights

How long is a private flight from Des Moines to Brainerd?

About 1 hr 55 min in a Cirrus SR20, for 337 miles direct. Driving the same trip takes about 7½ hours.

Which airports do flights from Des Moines to Brainerd use?

You can depart from Des Moines International Airport (DSM), Ankeny Regional Airport (KIKV), or Ames Municipal Airport (AMW) and arrive at Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport (BRD), Pine River Regional Airport (KPWC), or Aitkin Municipal Airport Steve Kurtz Field (KAIT). Pick whichever is closest to where you're starting and where you're headed.

How much does a private charter from Des Moines to Brainerd cost?

The price depends on the date, departure time, aircraft and where the airplane is positioned. Enter your trip above to see an instant price for the whole airplane, with every tax and fee included.

Can I book a round trip between Des Moines and Brainerd?

Yes. Choose round trip when you search, and pick your return date and time. Flights from Brainerd back to Des Moines are priced the same way.

Return flight

Brainerd to Des Moines

More flights from Des Moines

More flights to Brainerd

Explore Des Moines private charter and Brainerd private charter, airports and things to do. Arriving at Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport (BRD).

Des Moines to Brainerd, on your schedule

Choose your departure time and see an instant price for the whole airplane. Bring up to 5 passengers for the same price.

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