Dallas Love Field to Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport DAL → DCA
1,027 nautical miles (1,182 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 064°, about 061° magnetic at the departure end (variation 3E). At 120 knots that is 6 h 59 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 27-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:39 am EDT (08:39 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: 3,388 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
- SIGMET 3E: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 31,000 ft, moving from the west at 15 knots, until 9:55 pm CDT (02:55 UTC). Over the route from 758 to 1017 nm out.
as issued
WSUS31 KKCI 120055 MKCE WST 120055 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 3E VALID UNTIL 0255Z PA MD VA NC WV OH KY FROM 20NE APE-30SE JST-30SSE DCA-40SW ECG-70NNW HMV-20NE APE AREA TS MOV FROM 28015KT. TOPS TO FL310.
- 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 last 399 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 658 to 957 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 21,000 ft to 33,000 ft. Over the last 80 nm of the route.
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 DAL.
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 20:00–03:00 UTC · at 120 knots true airspeed
The eastbound cruising heights for this course (VFR: odd thousands plus 500 ft; above 18,000 ft the forecast levels), with the wind averaged along the line from the 12 forecast points nearest it (DAL, SHV, FSM, LIT, MEM, BNA, LOU, TYS, TRI, CRW, EKN, RIC). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3,500 ft | 240° at 10 kt | −10 kt | 130 kt | 7 h 54 min | 5:34 am EDT (09:34 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 280° at 12 kt | −11 kt | 12 °C | 131 kt | 7 h 50 min | 5:30 am EDT (09:30 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 280° at 14 kt | −12 kt | 12 °C | 132 kt | 7 h 47 min | 5:27 am EDT (09:27 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 290° at 16 kt | −13 kt | 9 °C | 133 kt | 7 h 43 min | 5:23 am EDT (09:23 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 290° at 17 kt | −12 kt | 6 °C | 132 kt | 7 h 47 min | 5:27 am EDT (09:27 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 290° at 17 kt | −12 kt | 2 °C | 132 kt | 7 h 47 min | 5:27 am EDT (09:27 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 300° at 18 kt | −12 kt | -2 °C | 132 kt | 7 h 47 min | 5:27 am EDT (09:27 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 300° at 19 kt | −12 kt | -6 °C | 132 kt | 7 h 47 min | 5:27 am EDT (09:27 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 300° at 19 kt | −12 kt | -7 °C | 132 kt | 7 h 47 min | 5:27 am EDT (09:27 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 290° at 23 kt | −17 kt | -18 °C | 137 kt | 7 h 30 min | 5:10 am EDT (09:10 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 33 kt | −27 kt | -31 °C | 147 kt | 6 h 59 min | 4:39 am EDT (08:39 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 33 kt | −26 kt | -40 °C | 146 kt | 7 h 02 min | 4:42 am EDT (08:42 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 32 kt | −25 kt | -49 °C | 145 kt | 7 h 05 min | 4:45 am EDT (08:45 UTC) |
Based on data from the 11th at 18:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 00:00 UTC for use 20:00 to 03:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAL | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 180/21 | 190/24 15° | 230/20 12° | 220/23 8° | 240/22 -5° | 230/18 -15° | 280/33 -29° | 280/36 -39° | 300/33 -52° |
| SHV | used from 100 nm out; 87 nm from the line | 190/11 | 230/19 17° | 230/26 12° | 260/15 7° | 280/16 -4° | 300/17 -15° | 300/34 -30° | 300/31 -41° | 310/42 -52° |
| FSM | used from 150 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 200/18 | 210/19 15° | 230/22 13° | 250/18 7° | 270/20 -5° | 280/24 -16° | 280/35 -30° | 290/37 -40° | 300/40 -52° |
| LIT | used from 199 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 220/12 | 250/12 17° | 250/18 12° | 260/22 6° | 310/14 -5° | 310/25 -17° | 310/40 -31° | 310/38 -41° | 310/46 -52° |
| MEM | used from 299 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 240/9 | 280/14 17° | 280/20 12° | 290/25 5° | 320/25 -6° | 330/31 -18° | 320/52 -32° | 330/58 -41° | 320/42 -50° |
| BNA | used from 449 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 280/13 | 340/34 16° | 330/38 10° | 330/44 5° | 330/39 -8° | 330/38 -19° | 320/49 -34° | 330/53 -40° | 330/35 -47° |
| LOU | used from 598 nm out; 84 nm from the line | 320/15 | 340/24 14° | 330/28 9° | 340/34 4° | 340/37 -9° | 340/42 -20° | 320/39 -35° | 320/45 -39° | 330/40 -47° |
| TYS | used from 648 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 290/19 | 310/22 11° | 330/25 7° | 330/34 3° | 320/37 -7° | 300/37 -18° | 300/37 -34° | 280/29 -39° | 270/29 -48° |
| TRI | used from 698 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 310/28 11° | 320/32 7° | 330/30 2° | 300/28 -9° | 280/34 -21° | 250/37 -31° | 240/39 -38° | 250/35 -48° | |
| CRW | used from 748 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 320/16 | 310/16 12° | 320/12 7° | 320/12 2° | 330/15 -11° | 280/11 -22° | 230/26 -30° | 240/33 -37° | 240/37 -47° |
| EKN | used from 847 nm out; 47 nm from the line | 270/18 13° | 310/5 7° | 140/7 3° | 210/16 -9° | 220/41 -20° | 210/57 -32° | 220/57 -38° | 230/49 -47° | |
| RIC | used from 947 nm out; 78 nm from the line | 190/33 | 200/29 14° | 210/31 12° | 210/38 6° | 230/42 -7° | 230/68 -16° | 220/84 -29° | 220/86 -40° | 220/81 -52° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAL Dallas, TX | departure | no report just now | 486 ft | ||||
| GVT Greenville, TX | 40 nm out, 6 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 534 ft | ||||
| DEQ De Queen, AR | 140 nm out, 12 nm north of the line | no report just now | 354 ft | ||||
| LIT Little Rock, AR | 259 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 266 ft | ||||
| NQA Millington, TN | 379 nm out, 5 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 322 ft | ||||
| MKL Jackson, TN | 429 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 434 ft | ||||
| JWN Nashville, TN | 528 nm out, 12 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 501 ft | ||||
| CPF Hazard, KY | 718 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | no report just now | 1,256 ft | ||||
| EBD Williamson, WV | 778 nm out, 1 nm south of the line | no report just now | 1,883 ft | ||||
| LWB Lewisburg, WV | 857 nm out, 15 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 2,301 ft | ||||
| HEF Washington, DC | 1007 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 192 ft | ||||
| DCA Washington, DC | destination | no report just now | 14 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,301 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At DCA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:39 am EDT (08:39 UTC)
DCA has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 9/2934 DALLAS, TX 2 nm from the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · ZFW
- 6/8646 Arlington, TX, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Friday, October 16, 2026 UTC 13 nm from the route, at the departure end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Thursday 15 October · ZFW
- 6/0708 Goodlettsville, TN, Saturday, August 1, 2026 through Sunday, August 1, 2027 UTC 6 nm from the route, 548 nm along the route · security · until 1 August · ZME
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA on the route, at the destination end · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 10 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at DAL 6:58 pm CDT (23:58 UTC), at DCA 6:34 pm EDT (22:34 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:01 pm EDT (23:01 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at DCA is before sunrise there (7:14 am EDT (11:14 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: Dallas Love Field, Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport.