Visiting the Maldives is a bucket list-worthy trip, but how long is a flight to the Maldives from the US?
See average flight and layover times from airports in different US cities along with travel tips and booking pointers in our guide to Maldives travel times from the US.
How Long Is a Flight to the Maldives From the US?
Situated Southwest of India and Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives is a famous chain of islands filled with tropical scenery that looks a lot like paradise here on Earth.
White sand and lush greenery surrounded by the blue ocean, islands dotted with luxe resorts and overwater bungalows, and tropical weather that rarely gets below 80F make the Maldives truly special.
It doesn’t take much to “sell” a trip to these idyllic islands – you have every reason in the world to go. But how long is a flight to the Maldives from the US?
The trip is a long one, where you’ll spend roughly 26 hours on the plane on average before touching down in this oasis in the ocean.
The shortest flights we found to the Maldives departed from New York City and were up to 6 hours shorter than flying from other airports in the US.
The longest flights to the Maldives from the US in our analysis overall were from Miami, Florida.
Flights from Seattle weren’t much shorter, and in the case of 1-stop flights, they were actually the longest.
Below, we’ll show you how long a flight to the Maldives takes on average when you’re flying routes with 1-3 stops.
We’ve selected 4 cities around the US to give you an idea of average flight times from different departure airports.
We’ll also look at average layover times on flights to the Maldives and tips to enjoy your island journey to the max!
How Long Is a Flight to the Maldives With 1 Stop?
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- Seattle to Maldives w/1 stop: 24h 10m+
- New York to Maldives w/1 stop: 18h 15m+
- Chicago to Maldives w/1 stop: 23h 40m+
- Miami to Maldives w/1 stop: 23h 30m+
Flights to the Maldives from the US with 1 stop take about 22 hours and 34 minutes on average. The shortest 1-stop flights depart from New York City and take about 18 hours and 15 minutes.
Flying out of Seattle, Chicago, or Miami will take a few hours more, from 23 hours and 30 minutes (Miami) to 24 hours and 10 minutes (Seattle).
The average layover on a 1-stop flight from the US to the Maldives takes about 5 hours (4 hours and 59 minutes). Many are much shorter, around an hour and 25 minutes to 2 hours long.
We also found layovers as long as 13 hours and 50 minutes on 1-stop flights to the Maldives from the US, meaning you’ll be in the airport overnight waiting for your connecting flight.
Pay close attention to the planned flight route and layovers before booking to avoid these overnight stops! Most travelers find it’s worth paying a little more for a flight with shorter stops.
How Long Is a Flight to the Maldives With 2 Stops?
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- Seattle to Maldives w/2 stops: 23h 10m+
- New York to Maldives w/2 stops: 21h+
- Chicago to Maldives w/2 stops: 22h+
- Miami to Maldives w/2 stops: 23h 45m+
Flights to the Maldives from the US with 2 stops take around 22 hours and 29 minutes on average. The shortest 2-stop flights to the Maldives take about 21 hours and depart from New York City.
Maldives flights from Chicago take about an hour longer (22 hours), while 2-stop flights out of Seattle and Miami are just over 23 hours long.
Oddly enough, we found that 2-stop flights to the Maldives from Seattle were actually about an hour shorter than 1-stop flights from Seattle in multiple searches.
It’s another great reason to pay attention while you browse flights and always sort by duration if you’re looking for the shortest flight and don’t mind an additional stop or two!
Layovers on 2-stop flights to the Maldives from the US can be as long as 15 hours or as short as an hour and 5 minutes. Overall, layovers take about 4 hours and 50 minutes on average for 2-stop flights to the Maldives.
Since you’ll have 2 stops, you might end up with one very short layover and one much longer stop (even overnight on some flights).
How Long Is a Flight to the Maldives With 3 Stops?
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- Seattle to Maldives w/3 stops: 33h 10m+
- New York to Maldives w/3 stops: 31h 30m+
- Chicago to Maldives w/3 stops: 32h 55m+
- Miami to Maldives w/3 stops: 33h 24m+
Overall, 3-stop flights to the Maldives from the US take about 32 hours and 45 minutes. The shortest flight to the Maldives from the US with 3 stops departs from New York City (31 hours and 30 minutes).
Flights from Chicago take about an hour and 25 minutes longer than flights out of NYC (32 hours and 55 minutes), while flights from Seattle and Miami are longer (over 33 hours long).
The average layover is about 9 hours and 6 minutes on 3-stop flights to the Maldives from the US. You’ll usually have one long layover with 1-2 shorter stops around 1-3 hours long.
Layovers on flights to the Maldives from the US with 3 stops were as long as 30 hours and 16 minutes in our analysis.
These overnight stops aren’t the norm, however, and flights may have layovers as short as 30 minutes on 3-stop flight routes to the Maldives.
When you’re browsing flights, make sure to pick options with layovers that are long enough to give you time to clear customs and board the connecting flight (it can take an hour or more in some cases).
Can You Fly Direct to the Maldives?
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Since flights to the Maldives take anywhere from 18 hours and 15 minutes to 33+ hours with stops, you’re probably hoping you can just fly direct to the Maldives.
Unfortunately, there are no direct flights to the Maldives from the United States at this time.
This could be a profitability issue with airlines not making enough money on nonstop routes to the Maldives from the US. Or it could be reduced traveler demand.
The only countries you can fly direct to the Maldives from right now are located in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
You can fly direct to the Maldives from these European countries:
- Austria
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Poland
- Switzerland
- UK (Nov.-Mar. only)
Nonstop flights to the Maldives are available in these Asian countries:
- Bangladesh
- China
- India
- Kazakhstan
- Malaysia
- Singapore
- Sri Lanka
- Russia
- Thailand
You can also fly direct to the Maldives from the following Middle Eastern countries:
- Bahrain
- Kuwait
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Turkey
- United Arab Emirates
If you’ll be departing from a United States airport, you’ll have to choose a flight with 1-3 (or even 4) stops to get to the Maldives.
Things to Consider
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Flights to the Maldives might be 18+ hours long, but it’s a time investment you’ll be glad to make in exchange for the beauty and scenery of these secluded islands!
Here are a few things to keep in mind while you plan your trip and to make the most of your Maldivian journey.
- Flights from New York are shorter. If you’re near New York City, you’re in luck – 1-stop flights to the Maldives were almost 6 hours shorter than flights from Seattle, Chicago, and Miami in our analysis. It’s worth a quick road trip to fly from NYC if you can. You can spend less time – about 5 hours and 55 minutes less – on the plane!
- Always sort by duration. If you’re using Google Flights to find your flight to the Maldives, try sorting by duration instead of best flights or price. This will show you the shortest overall flights available. Sometimes, the shortest flight option isn’t the one with fewer stops!
- Know the best time to go. The islands are gorgeous and perfect for a visit any time of year, but the tropical monsoon climate means it’s very rainy between May and November. The best time to visit the Maldives is between January and April during the dry season for warm weather and low humidity.
- Find cheaper flights to the Maldives. Long flights are more expensive to begin with and the cost of a trip to the Maldives is far from cheap (around $8,600 per person for a 7-day trip). If you want to save money, utilize a few hacks to find cheap flights. By switching the day you book and fly or browsing flights in incognito mode, you can save hundreds.
- Dress modestly in public. Unless you’re visiting a private resort island in the Maldives, you’ll want to adhere to local customs and choose modest clothing when you’re out in public. As an Islamic country, Maldivians appreciate when visitors cover up and don’t walk around in tank tops or swim suits (especially if visiting a mosque).
Frequently Asked Questions
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Travelers who wonder “How long is a flight to the Maldives?” tend to have a few related questions about getting to this tropical chain of islands.
Check out the most frequently asked questions below to satisfy your curiosity and learn more!
How long does it take to fly from the US to the Maldives?
It takes about 26 hours to fly from the US to the Maldives on average when you consider flights with 1-3 stops. Flights to the Maldives with 1 stop take about 22 hours and 30 minutes on average.
The flight time to the Maldives is much longer when you’re coming from certain US cities, like Seattle or Miami. If you choose a flight with 3 stops, you might spend 33+ hours on the plane overall.
Can you fly direct from the USA to the Maldives?
No, you can’t fly direct from the USA to the Maldives at this time. Nonstop flights aren’t offered by any airlines in the US, but flights with 1 stop are available from most airlines and aren’t much longer than nonstop flights.
Plus, flights with at least one stop give you a little time to stretch your legs and get off the plane - perfect for a longer duration flight like one to the Maldives!
Do you fly straight to Maldives?
It depends on where you’re flying from. If you’re departing from a US airport, you won’t fly straight to the Maldives.
Instead, you’ll make 1-3 stops along the route before arriving in the main international airport in the capital, Male. Direct flights to the Maldives are offered in many European, Asian, and Middle Eastern countries.
How many hours are flights to Maldives?
Flights to the Maldives from the US can be as short as 18 hours and 15 minutes to 33 hours and 24 minutes or more. On average, flights to the Maldives from the US take about 26 hours.
The total flight time depends on the airport you depart from, the number of stops on your itinerary, and the duration of each stop.
Is the Maldives worth the travel time?
The Maldives can be worth the long travel time (18-33 hours!) if you’re planning on staying at a luxury resort. If you’ll be minding a strict budget, you might find that a trip to the Maldives is a little lackluster for the expense and long travel time.
If you can afford a stay on a private resort island, booking a resort with lots of luxury amenities, and upgrading your plane tickets to business or first class for a comfier journey, you’ll find that the Maldives is well worth the long trip.
So, How Long Is a Flight to the Maldives Overall?
Overall, the average flight to the Maldives with 1-3 stops from the US takes about 25 hours and 56 minutes. The shortest flights to the Maldives depart from New York with 1 stop (about 18 hours and 15 minutes).
But we’ve seen how the shortest flights aren’t always the ones with fewer stops – in this analysis, some flights with 2 stops were a bit shorter than 1-stop flights to the Maldives!
If long layovers are a deal-breaker for you, it’s good to know the average duration of stops on flights to the Maldives. The average layover on flights to the Maldives from the US take about 6 hours and 18 minutes each.
Note that you’ll find some stops as short as 30 minutes and others as long as 30+ hours.
Don’t let this come as a surprise – pay close attention to the route details when you’re browsing to avoid overnight layovers.
While the flight is pretty long and you’ll have to deal with a stop (or 3) on the way, the hassle of getting to the Maldives will be well worth it once you touch down in paradise.