Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport to Dallas-Fort Worth International DCA → DFW
1,034 nautical miles (1,190 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 256°, about 267° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11W). At 120 knots that is 9 h 14 min at the quickest height in today's winds (12,500 ft, a 8-knot headwind), arriving about 12:19 pm CDT (17:19 UTC). Right now DCA is IFR, wind from the northwest (320°) at 10 knots; DFW is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 13 knots. 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: 6,361 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 SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist, fog). Over the first 467 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 10,000 ft. Over the first 179 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 70 to 328 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 DCA.
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 02:00–09:00 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 11 forecast points nearest it (RIC, EKN, CRW, TRI, TYS, BNA, MEM, LIT, FSM, SHV, DAL). 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 | 280° at 13 kt | +11 kt | 12 °C | 109 kt | 9 h 29 min | 12:34 pm CDT (17:34 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 300° at 14 kt | +10 kt | 14 °C | 110 kt | 9 h 24 min | 12:29 pm CDT (17:29 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 300° at 16 kt | +11 kt | 11 °C | 109 kt | 9 h 29 min | 12:34 pm CDT (17:34 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 310° at 16 kt | +9 kt | 8 °C | 111 kt | 9 h 19 min | 12:24 pm CDT (17:24 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 310° at 15 kt | +8 kt | 4 °C | 112 kt | 9 h 14 min | 12:19 pm CDT (17:19 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 310° at 16 kt | +8 kt | 0 °C | 112 kt | 9 h 14 min | 12:19 pm CDT (17:19 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 310° at 18 kt | +9 kt | -4 °C | 111 kt | 9 h 19 min | 12:24 pm CDT (17:24 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 310° at 18 kt | +10 kt | -7 °C | 110 kt | 9 h 24 min | 12:29 pm CDT (17:29 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 310° at 23 kt | +13 kt | -18 °C | 107 kt | 9 h 40 min | 12:45 pm CDT (17:45 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 310° at 36 kt | +19 kt | -32 °C | 101 kt | 10 h 14 min | 1:19 pm CDT (18:19 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 42 kt | +25 kt | -40 °C | 95 kt | 10 h 53 min | 1:58 pm CDT (18:58 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 310° at 38 kt | +19 kt | -50 °C | 101 kt | 10 h 14 min | 1:19 pm CDT (18:19 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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; 75 nm from the line | 270/23 | 280/19 11° | 270/18 8° | 240/22 4° | 230/39 -7° | 220/55 -18° | 220/75 -30° | 230/83 -39° | 230/64 -50° |
| EKN | used from 50 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 330/21 12° | 330/25 7° | 350/22 2° | 330/24 -10° | 310/27 -21° | 320/33 -35° | 290/31 -39° | 290/34 -47° | |
| CRW | used from 149 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 330/20 | 330/23 11° | 340/25 8° | 340/21 2° | 340/33 -9° | 340/41 -20° | 330/42 -35° | 320/44 -39° | 320/43 -47° |
| TRI | used from 298 nm out; 78 nm from the line | 330/22 11° | 330/29 7° | 330/32 3° | 330/36 -8° | 320/34 -19° | 320/36 -34° | 320/43 -39° | 320/46 -47° | |
| TYS | used from 348 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 320/20 | 340/18 11° | 340/32 9° | 340/36 4° | 330/37 -7° | 330/38 -19° | 330/50 -34° | 330/53 -38° | 330/44 -48° |
| BNA | used from 398 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 310/20 | 340/20 17° | 330/24 10° | 340/22 5° | 330/26 -6° | 340/29 -18° | 330/52 -33° | 320/62 -41° | 340/45 -50° |
| MEM | used from 597 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 230/19 | 260/16 15° | 270/17 12° | 300/13 6° | 300/15 -5° | 300/26 -18° | 300/34 -32° | 300/41 -40° | 310/46 -52° |
| LIT | used from 696 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 220/21 | 230/17 16° | 250/24 12° | 260/15 7° | 260/13 -5° | 280/25 -16° | 290/35 -30° | 300/42 -40° | 300/40 -52° |
| FSM | used from 845 nm out; 78 nm from the line | 210/27 | 250/23 16° | 250/20 13° | 240/17 8° | 250/18 -6° | 260/31 -16° | 280/42 -30° | 280/44 -40° | 290/38 -51° |
| SHV | used from 895 nm out; 95 nm from the line | 200/18 | 230/24 18° | 230/24 12° | 240/14 8° | 260/12 -4° | 240/11 -15° | 300/31 -29° | 300/32 -40° | 300/36 -52° |
| DAL | used from 944 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 190/29 | 220/23 17° | 220/17 13° | 250/18 8° | 230/18 -5° | 240/18 -15° | 270/34 -29° | 280/33 -39° | 300/36 -51° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DCA Washington, DC | departure | IFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: light drizzle, mist | from the northwest (320°) at 10 knots | 2.5 mi | 1,100 ft | 14 ft | 3:52 am EDT (07:52 UTC) |
| HEF Washington, DC | 20 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,100 feet, a broken layer at 1,700 feet, overcast at 3,200 feet Weather: rain | from the north-northwest (330°) at 7 knots | 3 mi | 1,100 ft | 192 ft | 07:56 UTC |
| LWB Lewisburg, WV | 169 nm out, 16 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,900 feet | from the west (280°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 1,900 ft | 2,301 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| EBD Williamson, WV | 249 nm out, 3 nm south of the line | no report just now | 1,883 ft | ||||
| SME Somerset, KY | 378 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 400 feet Weather: mist | calm | 5 mi | 400 ft | 927 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| JWN Nashville, TN | 497 nm out, 15 nm southeast of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.25 mi | 200 ft | 501 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| MKL Jackson, TN | 597 nm out, 13 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 434 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| NQA Millington, TN | 646 nm out, 10 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (130°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 322 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| LIT Little Rock, AR | 766 nm out, 4 nm west of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 266 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| LBR Clarksville, TX | 925 nm out, 5 nm south of the line | no report just now | 440 ft | ||||
| TKI Dallas, TX | 1004 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 588 ft | 07:53 UTC |
| DFW Dallas-Fort Worth, TX | destination | VFR | from the south (180°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 606 ft | 2:53 am CDT (07:53 UTC) |
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 DFW when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:19 pm CDT (17:19 UTC)
Wind from the south at 12 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for DFW
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
The forecast for DCA, the departure
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north at 8 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 900 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,200 feet
- From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 3:00 pm EDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA on the route, at the departure end · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 10 nm from the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
- 6/0708 Goodlettsville, TN, Saturday, August 1, 2026 through Sunday, August 1, 2027 UTC 9 nm from the route, 487 nm along the route · security · until 1 August · ZME
- 9/2934 DALLAS, TX 4 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · ZFW
- 6/8646 Arlington, TX, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Friday, October 16, 2026 UTC 8 nm from the route, at the destination end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Thursday 15 October · ZFW
Daylight
Sunset at DCA 6:34 pm EDT (22:34 UTC), at DFW 6:58 pm CDT (23:58 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:23 pm CDT (00:23 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: Ronald Reagan Washington Ntl Airport, Dallas-Fort Worth International.