Plan a flight · Mon 2:06 am MDT (08:06 UTC)

Denver International to Fairbanks International DEN → FAI

2,107 nautical miles (2,425 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 330°, about 322° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 16 h 43 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 6-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:49 pm AKDT (00:49 UTC). 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: 253 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 240 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 42,000 ft. Over the first 250 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 280 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Over the route from 160 to 210 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 240 to 559 nm out.
AIRMET SIERRA 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 250 to 649 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 250 to 419 nm out.
AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 429 to 649 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Near the route, 619 nm along 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 DEN.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

B737 at 18,000 ft, 7 nm east, 1:24 am MDT (07:24 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: FL180-130. At the departure end, 7 nm east 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
B38M at 30,000 ft, 18 nm southwest, 11:45 pm MDT (05:45 UTC): moderate chop turbulence. 190 nm along the route, 18 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
RIW UA /OV BOY126080/TM 0545/FL300/TP B38M/TB CONS MOD CHOP /ZLC
```
Report
a routine report filed through RIW
Where
80 nm southeast (126°) of BOY
Time
05:45 UTC
Height
at 30,000 ft
Aircraft
B38M
Turbulence
continuous moderate chop zlc
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
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
A20N at 25,000 ft, 44 nm southwest, 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, 44 nm southwest 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
E73L descending, 49 nm southwest, 12:20 am MDT (06:20 UTC): remarks: breaking action good broke out about 600FT above ground. 449 nm along the route, 49 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0620/FLDURD/TP E73L/RM BREAKING ACTION GOOD. BROKE OUT ABOUT 600FT AGL
```
Report
a routine report filed through BZN
Where
over BZN
Time
06:20 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
E73L
Remarks
breaking action good broke out about 600FT above ground
B737 , 49 nm southwest, 11:31 pm MDT (05:31 UTC): remarks: saw the light at 500FT braking good no icing. 449 nm along the route, 49 nm southwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
BZN UA /OV BZN/TM 0531/FLBURD/TP B737/RM SAW THE LIGHT AT 500FT. BRAKING GOOD. NEG ICING
```
Report
a routine report filed through BZN
Where
over BZN
Time
05:31 UTC
Height
at BURD
Aircraft
B737
Remarks
saw the light at 500FT braking good no icing
BE20 at 12,000 ft, 4 nm west, 12:45 am MDT (06:45 UTC): light chop turbulence from 10,000 ft to 12,000 ft, no icing, remarks: during the descent 5M fna for runway 02L ais at 2,500 ft fai approach akfss. At the destination end, 4 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
FAI UA /OV FAI /TM 0645 /FL120 /TP BE20 /TB LGT CHOP 120-100 /IC NEG /RM DURD 5M FNA FOR RWY02L AIS 025 FAI APCH AKFSS
```
Report
a routine report filed through FAI
Where
over FAI
Time
06:45 UTC
Height
at 12,000 ft
Aircraft
BE20
Turbulence
light chop from 12,000 ft to 10,000 ft
Icing
none
Remarks
during the descent 5M fna for runway 02L ais at 2,500 ft fai approach akfss

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 8 forecast points nearest it (DEN, BFF, LND, BIL, GTF, GPI, GEG, SEA). 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	070° at 11 kt	−4 kt	-4 °C	124 kt	17 h	5:06 pm AKDT (01:06 UTC)
6,500 ft	070° at 12 kt	−4 kt	-2 °C	124 kt	17 h	5:06 pm AKDT (01:06 UTC)
8,500 ft	080° at 7 kt	−6 kt	-3 °C	126 kt	16 h 43 min	4:49 pm AKDT (00:49 UTC)
10,500 ft	060° at 8 kt	−4 kt	-4 °C	124 kt	17 h	5:06 pm AKDT (01:06 UTC)
12,500 ft	030° at 10 kt	−1 kt	-6 °C	121 kt	17 h 25 min	5:31 pm AKDT (01:31 UTC)
14,500 ft	020° at 12 kt	+2 kt	-9 °C	118 kt	17 h 51 min	5:57 pm AKDT (01:57 UTC)
16,500 ft	360° at 15 kt	+5 kt	-12 °C	115 kt	18 h 19 min	6:25 pm AKDT (02:25 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	360° at 17 kt	+7 kt	-15 °C	113 kt	18 h 39 min	6:45 pm AKDT (02:45 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	360° at 15 kt	+4 kt	-26 °C	116 kt	18 h 10 min	6:16 pm AKDT (02:16 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	320° at 18 kt	+10 kt	-38 °C	110 kt	19 h 09 min	7:15 pm AKDT (03:15 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	300° at 20 kt	+12 kt	-43 °C	108 kt	19 h 31 min	7:37 pm AKDT (03:37 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	250° at 26 kt	+5 kt	-43 °C	115 kt	18 h 19 min	6:25 pm AKDT (02:25 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°
BFF	used from 100 nm out; 112 nm from the line		180/28	220/33 15°	210/31 7°	230/32 -9°	220/41 -21°	220/40 -33°	240/47 -36°	250/54 -46°
LND	used from 150 nm out; 95 nm from the line			200/23 6°	220/31 1°	220/39 -11°	230/39 -23°	220/51 -28°	220/66 -37°	230/68 -45°
BIL	used from 300 nm out; 81 nm from the line		080/13	180/9 -2°	210/38 0°	220/51 -11°	210/46 -22°	210/58 -35°	230/73 -39°	230/72 -45°
GTF	used from 449 nm out; 67 nm from the line		070/11	080/15 -7°	110/19 -9°	190/25 -14°	200/34 -23°	200/54 -39°	220/66 -40°	220/77 -44°
GPI	used from 599 nm out; 67 nm from the line		070/19 -5°	100/16 -7°	080/10 -8°	130/8 -19°	170/37 -28°	200/50 -40°	210/43 -40°	220/41 -42°
GEG	used from 999 nm out; 376 nm from the line		080/16 -2°	050/17 -7°	080/9 -10°	190/33 -21°	180/31 -32°	L/V -35°	L/V -37°	270/8 -40°
SEA	used from 1099 nm out; 457 nm from the line	050/7	050/11 1°	050/12 -5°	030/31 -7°	010/61 -15°	010/69 -26°	360/73 -40°	360/62 -47°	330/21 -43°

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	Elevation
DEN Denver, CO	departure	no report just now	5,433 ft
FNL Fort Collins/Loveland, CO	40 nm out, 5 nm east of the line, tower	no report just now	5,020 ft
RED Red Lodge, MT	379 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line	no report just now	5,762 ft
GTF Great Falls, MT	539 nm out, 3 nm north of the line, tower	no report just now	3,680 ft
CZPC Pincher Creek,	699 nm out, 11 nm west of the line	no report just now	3,903 ft
CYZW Teslin,	1608 nm out, 24 nm southwest of the line	no report just now	2,313 ft
6K8 Tok, AK	1947 nm out, 24 nm southwest of the line	no report just now	1,642 ft
FAI Fairbanks, AK	destination	no report just now	439 ft

The highest airport on this list sits at 5,762 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.

At FAI when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:49 pm AKDT (00:49 UTC)

FAI has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

6/8911 DENVER, CO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 4 nm from the route, at the departure end · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZDV

Daylight

Sunset at DEN 6:22 pm MDT (00:22 UTC), at FAI 6:36 pm AKDT (02:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:25 pm AKDT (03:25 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

Radar now, the southern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the northern Rockies · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, Alaska · loop National Weather Service

Radar, the whole country · loop National Weather Service

Surface analysis now Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 12 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

Forecast chart, 24 hours ahead Weather Prediction Center

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, Fairbanks International.