Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall to San Diego International BWI → SAN
1,990 nautical miles (2,290 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 272°, about 283° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 19 h 31 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 18-knot headwind), arriving about 2:35 am PDT (09:35 UTC), after sunset at the destination. For planning, not a briefing: the legal preflight briefing comes from Flight Service (1-800-WX-BRIEF) or the FAA's own tools. Airlines fly this pair: 2,286 flights in the DOT's last twelve reported months, the route's page.
The route the straight line, the warnings crossed, restrictions, pilot reports and the airports along the way · click a mark for its words
Green, blue, red and purple airport dots are the flying conditions reported there now (VFR, marginal VFR, IFR, low IFR); grey means no report. Red areas are SIGMETs, orange areas AIRMETs, hatched red areas temporary flight restrictions. Map tiles: OpenFreeMap, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Warnings the route crosses SIGMETs and AIRMETs whose area the line passes through or comes within 25 nm of
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the route from 40 to 139 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 60 to 229 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 119 to 348 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: low-level wind shear (due to air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more below 2,000 ft above the ground). Over the route from 706 to 1055 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the route from 1264 to 1701 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 1333 to 1413 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1522 to 1771 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 1572 to 1731 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1682 to 1761 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 1871 to 1980 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1950 to 1980 nm out.
A SIGMET warns of weather hazardous to all aircraft; an AIRMET of weather that matters to small aircraft and to flying without instruments. "From 60 to 180 nm out" is measured along the route from BWI.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
Not fetched just now.
Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 08:00–15:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed
The westbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: even thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 21 forecast points nearest it (RIC, EKN, CRW, CMH, CVG, LOU, IND, EVV, STL, COU, MKC, ICT, GAG, GCK, TCC, ALS, ABQ, FMN, PRC, BLH, SAN). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,500 ft | 260° at 21 kt | +22 kt | 17 °C | 98 kt | 20 h 18 min | 3:22 am PDT (10:22 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 260° at 18 kt | +19 kt | 15 °C | 101 kt | 19 h 42 min | 2:46 am PDT (09:46 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 240° at 17 kt | +18 kt | 10 °C | 102 kt | 19 h 31 min | 2:35 am PDT (09:35 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | +20 kt | 6 °C | 100 kt | 19 h 54 min | 2:58 am PDT (09:58 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | +23 kt | 2 °C | 97 kt | 20 h 31 min | 3:35 am PDT (10:35 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 250° at 25 kt | +27 kt | -1 °C | 93 kt | 21 h 24 min | 4:28 am PDT (11:28 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 250° at 29 kt | +30 kt | -5 °C | 90 kt | 22 h 07 min | 5:11 am PDT (12:11 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 31 kt | +33 kt | -8 °C | 87 kt | 22 h 52 min | 5:56 am PDT (12:56 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 39 kt | +41 kt | -20 °C | 79 kt | 25 h 11 min | 8:15 am PDT (15:15 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 53 kt | +57 kt | -30 °C | 63 kt | 31 h 35 min | 2:39 pm PDT (21:39 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 57 kt | +61 kt | -38 °C | 59 kt | 33 h 44 min | 4:48 pm PDT (23:48 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 53 kt | +57 kt | -48 °C | 63 kt | 31 h 35 min | 2:39 pm PDT (21:39 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 UTC; temperatures above 24,000 ft are below zero. Heights are above sea level; a height is left out when the forecast has no wind for it over most of the line (the ground is higher). Ground speed is the airspeed less the headwind; the time en route is for the straight line and ignores climb, descent and routing around weather.
The forecast points as issued
| Point | From | 3,000 | 6,000 | 9,000 | 12,000 | 18,000 | 24,000 | 30,000 | 34,000 | 39,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIC | used from 0 nm out; 101 nm from the line | 350/34 | 340/27 12° | 340/36 8° | 330/31 3° | 310/32 -9° | 320/34 -21° | 300/37 -34° | 290/37 -39° | 290/42 -46° |
| EKN | used from 50 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 330/20 10° | 350/29 7° | 340/32 2° | 340/44 -8° | 350/50 -21° | 350/63 -35° | 340/69 -40° | 330/42 -50° | |
| CRW | used from 199 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 320/17 | 340/23 12° | 340/32 8° | 340/35 4° | 330/40 -7° | 340/45 -20° | 340/57 -34° | 340/64 -42° | 320/38 -50° |
| CMH | used from 249 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 320/12 | 340/26 15° | 340/22 9° | 320/24 3° | 320/32 -7° | 320/36 -20° | 330/42 -35° | 320/59 -44° | 320/57 -50° |
| CVG | used from 299 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 300/19 | 310/23 15° | 320/20 9° | 310/18 3° | 300/26 -6° | 290/36 -19° | 310/32 -34° | 310/53 -43° | 310/61 -51° |
| LOU | used from 398 nm out; 48 nm from the line | 300/16 | 310/19 15° | 310/17 9° | 300/15 4° | 300/26 -6° | 280/34 -19° | 290/30 -34° | 310/49 -42° | 310/58 -51° |
| IND | used from 448 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 270/22 | 290/19 15° | 270/19 8° | 270/18 4° | 290/28 -7° | 280/35 -20° | 270/37 -34° | 300/51 -42° | 300/61 -51° |
| EVV | used from 498 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 270/25 | 290/17 15° | 260/10 8° | 270/16 5° | 280/29 -6° | 280/33 -19° | 290/38 -33° | 300/53 -41° | 310/54 -51° |
| STL | used from 547 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 250/26 | 240/21 15° | 240/22 11° | 250/23 6° | 270/28 -7° | 260/30 -19° | 280/52 -31° | 280/57 -40° | 300/57 -49° |
| COU | used from 697 nm out; 21 nm from the line | 250/36 | 260/14 16° | 250/5 12° | 260/12 6° | 260/24 -7° | 260/35 -19° | 280/58 -31° | 280/62 -40° | 290/60 -49° |
| MKC | used from 796 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 240/49 | 240/21 20° | 220/19 13° | 230/21 6° | 260/26 -7° | 250/37 -19° | 270/66 -31° | 270/65 -38° | 280/60 -48° |
| ICT | used from 896 nm out; 59 nm from the line | 230/45 | 240/33 21° | 230/23 14° | 230/22 7° | 240/29 -7° | 240/36 -20° | 260/78 -29° | 270/69 -36° | 270/56 -49° |
| GAG | used from 1045 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 240/35 22° | 240/27 14° | 230/25 6° | 240/38 -7° | 230/44 -19° | 250/73 -28° | 270/66 -37° | 270/58 -49° | |
| GCK | used from 1095 nm out; 44 nm from the line | 240/40 22° | 240/40 14° | 240/38 7° | 230/39 -7° | 230/45 -20° | 250/73 -28° | 260/74 -36° | 260/64 -49° | |
| TCC | used from 1244 nm out; 89 nm from the line | 240/20 | 230/22 13° | 230/27 6° | 230/40 -7° | 240/55 -18° | 240/74 -27° | 240/68 -37° | 250/64 -49° | |
| ALS | used from 1343 nm out; 78 nm from the line | 240/35 3° | 230/54 -9° | 240/66 -19° | 230/85 -26° | 240/87 -34° | 240/70 -47° | |||
| ABQ | used from 1393 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 220/19 9° | 220/35 3° | 230/50 -8° | 240/64 -19° | 230/83 -26° | 230/85 -36° | 230/80 -48° | ||
| FMN | used from 1493 nm out; 76 nm from the line | 220/16 6° | 220/39 1° | 220/50 -10° | 230/67 -23° | 230/94 -29° | 230/102 -35° | 230/90 -46° | ||
| PRC | used from 1592 nm out; 111 nm from the line | 200/37 6° | 200/35 0° | 220/60 -11° | 220/71 -20° | 220/88 -29° | 220/98 -35° | 220/94 -45° | ||
| BLH | used from 1791 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 240/19 | 210/20 10° | 200/27 4° | 210/34 -2° | 220/59 -10° | 220/67 -20° | 220/75 -29° | 230/78 -38° | 220/90 -47° |
| SAN | used from 1940 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 240/10 | 220/19 6° | 230/26 2° | 230/29 -3° | 230/43 -11° | 220/61 -20° | 220/72 -29° | 220/75 -38° | 220/71 -48° |
The weather now: both ends and the airports along the way public airports with a weather report within 25 nm of the line, one for each stretch
| Airport | Where | Conditions | Wind | Visibility | Ceiling | Elevation | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BWI Baltimore, MD | departure | no report just now | 143 ft | ||||
| JYO Leesburg, VA | 40 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 389 ft | ||||
| LUK Cincinnati, OH | 358 nm out, 3 nm west of the line, tower | no report just now | 481 ft | ||||
| BMG Bloomington, IN | 468 nm out, 12 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 845 ft | ||||
| SUS St Louis, MO | 657 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 463 ft | ||||
| BEC Wichita, KS | 965 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,408 ft | ||||
| EHA Elkhart, KS | 1194 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 3,621 ft | ||||
| AXX Angel Fire, NM | 1363 nm out, 11 nm north of the line | no report just now | 8,379 ft | ||||
| SAF Santa Fe, NM | 1413 nm out, 24 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 6,348 ft | ||||
| PRC Prescott, AZ | 1721 nm out, 20 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,045 ft | ||||
| RNM Ramona, CA | 1970 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,394 ft | ||||
| SAN San Diego, CA | destination | no report just now | 16 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 8,379 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SAN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 2:35 am PDT (09:35 UTC)
SAN has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8800 Baltimore, MD, Saturday, October 17, 2026 through Sunday, October 18, 2026 UTC 6 nm from the route, at the departure end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Saturday 17 October · ZDC
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 5 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 3 nm from the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
- 6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local on the route, 368 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
- 6/4812 El Centro, CA, Wednesday, July 15, 2026 through Tuesday, July 13, 2027 Local 4 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 13 July · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at BWI 6:32 pm EDT (22:32 UTC), at SAN 6:18 pm PDT (01:18 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:43 pm PDT (01:43 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SAN is before sunrise there (6:51 am PDT (13:51 UTC)).
Each restriction opens the FAA's own page with the exact area, heights and times. Ordinary notices to air missions (closed runways, lights out) are not shown: the FAA's notice search is not open to sites like this one at this time.
Radar and forecast charts for the regions crossed government pictures, the latest each time the page loads
Sources: the Aviation Weather Center's data service (SIGMETs, AIRMETs, graphical AIRMETs, pilot reports, winds and temperatures aloft, observations and terminal forecasts), the National Weather Service radar, the Weather Prediction Center's charts, the FAA's temporary flight restriction list and shapes, and the FAA's airport file for the positions, elevations and magnetic variation. Fetched when the page is viewed and kept a few minutes. Each leg is the straight line between its two airports; airways, terrain and airspace are not considered. The airports in detail: Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall, San Diego International.