Denver International to St. Louis Downtown Airport DEN → CPS
679 nautical miles (781 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 092°, about 084° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 55 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 53-knot tailwind), arriving about 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DEN is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 20 knots; CPS is VFR, wind calm. 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: 10 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 1W: 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 first 0 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 42,000 ft. Over the first 50 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 80 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: 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 130 to 599 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 DEN.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B737 at 18,000 ft, 47 nm northwest, 1:24 am MDT (07:24 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: FL180-130. At the departure end, 47 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN330050/TM 0724/FL180/TP B737/TB MOD/RM FL180-130
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 50 nm northwest (330°) of DEN
- Time
- 07:24 UTC
- Height
- at 18,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- FL180-130
- B737 descending, 3 nm south, 1:10 am MDT (07:10 UTC): remarks: smooth. At the departure end, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0710/FLDURD/TP B737/RM SMOOTH
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 07:10 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B737
- Remarks
- smooth
- A20N at 25,000 ft, 45 nm west, 12:19 am MDT (06:19 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 26,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-06. At the departure end, 45 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN250045/TM 0619/FL250/TP A20N/TB OCNL LGT CHOP BLO 260/RM DURC. ZDVWC-06
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 45 nm west (250°) of DEN
- Time
- 06:19 UTC
- Height
- at 25,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A20N
- Turbulence
- occasional light chop below 26,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb ZDVWC-06
- B738 descending, 3 nm south, 12:15 am MDT (06:15 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the departure end, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0615/FLDURD/TP B738/TB LGT CHOP
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 06:15 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B738
- Turbulence
- light chop
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 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 6 forecast points nearest it (DEN, GLD, SLN, MKC, COU, STL). 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 | 220° at 40 kt | −22 kt | 142 kt | 4 h 47 min | 7:52 am CDT (12:52 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 230° at 38 kt | −28 kt | 148 kt | 4 h 35 min | 7:40 am CDT (12:40 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 31 kt | −24 kt | 15 °C | 144 kt | 4 h 43 min | 7:48 am CDT (12:48 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 25 kt | −20 kt | 12 °C | 140 kt | 4 h 51 min | 7:56 am CDT (12:56 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | −16 kt | 8 °C | 136 kt | 5 h | 8:05 am CDT (13:05 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 20 kt | −16 kt | 3 °C | 136 kt | 5 h | 8:05 am CDT (13:05 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 240° at 21 kt | −18 kt | -1 °C | 138 kt | 4 h 55 min | 8:00 am CDT (13:00 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 250° at 23 kt | −20 kt | -6 °C | 140 kt | 4 h 51 min | 7:56 am CDT (12:56 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 23 kt | −21 kt | -7 °C | 141 kt | 4 h 49 min | 7:54 am CDT (12:54 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 31 kt | −25 kt | -19 °C | 145 kt | 4 h 41 min | 7:46 am CDT (12:46 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 52 kt | −47 kt | -30 °C | 167 kt | 4 h 04 min | 7:09 am CDT (12:09 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 55 kt | −52 kt | -38 °C | 172 kt | 3 h 57 min | 7:02 am CDT (12:02 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 54 kt | −53 kt | -49 °C | 173 kt | 3 h 55 min | 7:00 am CDT (12:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 240/21 14° | 250/44 6° | 220/49 -8° | 220/49 -21° | 230/54 -30° | 240/57 -35° | 240/49 -45° | ||
| GLD | used from 50 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 230/49 | 230/42 15° | 220/26 8° | 240/18 -7° | 230/27 -21° | 240/62 -30° | 240/61 -35° | 250/57 -47° | |
| SLN | used from 250 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 210/53 | 230/41 20° | 240/26 14° | 230/16 8° | 240/25 -7° | 240/35 -19° | 250/61 -30° | 260/65 -38° | 260/56 -49° |
| MKC | used from 399 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/28 18° | 250/18 13° | 240/12 6° | 280/24 -6° | 240/34 -18° | 260/47 -30° | 260/51 -40° | 270/58 -50° |
| COU | used from 549 nm out; 8 nm from the line | 230/31 | 230/30 15° | 260/16 11° | 270/14 6° | 260/24 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 270/37 -32° | 280/49 -41° | 290/56 -51° |
| STL | used from 649 nm out; 9 nm from the line | 250/24 | 250/24 16° | 260/23 9° | 270/16 6° | 260/25 -6° | 270/29 -19° | 290/34 -33° | 290/48 -41° | 290/54 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN Denver, CO | departure | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 20 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,433 ft | 1:53 am MDT (07:53 UTC) |
| SYF St Francis, KS | 130 nm out, 3 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 11 knots, gusting to 18 | 10+ mi | none | 3,429 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| ADT Atwood, KS | 170 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 16 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,990 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| PHG Phillipsburg, KS | 250 nm out, 8 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,910 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| CNK Concordia, KS | 330 nm out, 7 nm northwest of the line | VFR Weather: light rain | from the south (190°) at 16 knots, gusting to 28 | 10+ mi | none | 1,488 ft | 07:55 UTC |
| MHK Manhattan, KS | 369 nm out, 15 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,066 ft | 07:52 UTC |
| MKC Kansas City, MO | 469 nm out, 2 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 756 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| HIG Higginsville, MO | 509 nm out, 2 nm east of the line | no report just now | 840 ft | ||||
| COU Columbia, MO | 579 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 889 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| SUS St Louis, MO | 659 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 463 ft | 07:54 UTC |
| CPS Cahokia/St Louis, IL | destination | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 412 ft | 2:53 am CDT (07:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 5,433 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At CPS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC)
Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for CPS
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am CDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for DEN, the departure
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 15 knots, gusting to 25, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 14,000 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 22,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 4:00 pm MDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the south at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 15,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 pm MDT (05:00 UTC): wind from the north at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 3,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8911 DENVER, CO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 8 nm from the route, at the departure end · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZDV
- 6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 16 nm from the route, 579 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC
Daylight
Sunset at DEN 6:22 pm MDT (00:22 UTC), at CPS 6:27 pm CDT (23:27 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:53 pm CDT (23:53 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at CPS is before sunrise there (7:06 am CDT (12:06 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: Denver International, St. Louis Downtown Airport.