Denver International to Washington Dulles International DEN → IAD
1,259 nautical miles (1,449 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 084°, about 076° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 12 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 55-knot tailwind), arriving about 12:16 pm EDT (16:16 UTC). Right now DEN is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 13 knots; IAD is marginal VFR, wind from the north-northwest (330°) at 11 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: 6,911 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 (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the first 40 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the first 10 nm of the route.
- 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 140 to 619 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, fog). Over the last 440 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 1079 to 1219 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the last 110 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 DEN.
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 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 14 forecast points nearest it (DEN, GLD, GRI, OMA, MKC, DSM, BRL, SPI, IND, CVG, CMH, 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 | 260° at 24 kt | −25 kt | 145 kt | 8 h 41 min | 1:45 pm EDT (17:45 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 270° at 22 kt | −23 kt | 16 °C | 143 kt | 8 h 48 min | 1:52 pm EDT (17:52 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 270° at 18 kt | −20 kt | 13 °C | 140 kt | 9 h | 2:04 pm EDT (18:04 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 270° at 16 kt | −17 kt | 10 °C | 137 kt | 9 h 11 min | 2:15 pm EDT (18:15 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 270° at 17 kt | −18 kt | 6 °C | 138 kt | 9 h 07 min | 2:11 pm EDT (18:11 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 270° at 19 kt | −20 kt | 2 °C | 140 kt | 9 h | 2:04 pm EDT (18:04 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 270° at 21 kt | −23 kt | -2 °C | 143 kt | 8 h 48 min | 1:52 pm EDT (17:52 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 280° at 24 kt | −25 kt | -7 °C | 145 kt | 8 h 41 min | 1:45 pm EDT (17:45 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 280° at 24 kt | −26 kt | -8 °C | 146 kt | 8 h 37 min | 1:41 pm EDT (17:41 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 270° at 31 kt | −33 kt | -20 °C | 153 kt | 8 h 14 min | 1:18 pm EDT (17:18 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 280° at 42 kt | −44 kt | -33 °C | 164 kt | 7 h 41 min | 12:45 pm EDT (16:45 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 290° at 54 kt | −55 kt | -39 °C | 175 kt | 7 h 12 min | 12:16 pm EDT (16:16 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 53 kt | −53 kt | -49 °C | 173 kt | 7 h 17 min | 12:21 pm EDT (16:21 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 270/24 11° | 230/13 5° | 230/48 -8° | 230/46 -20° | 230/63 -30° | 240/78 -36° | 240/78 -48° | ||
| GLD | used from 50 nm out; 73 nm from the line | 260/37 | 260/25 14° | 250/27 8° | 230/36 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 250/71 -30° | 260/82 -36° | 250/73 -48° | |
| GRI | used from 200 nm out; 83 nm from the line | 230/39 23° | 230/32 15° | 210/29 7° | 230/31 -8° | 230/43 -21° | 250/52 -31° | 260/59 -35° | 260/59 -46° | |
| OMA | used from 350 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 230/47 | 240/33 21° | 230/22 13° | 220/27 5° | 240/35 -8° | 250/43 -21° | 260/47 -33° | 260/59 -36° | 270/58 -46° |
| MKC | used from 450 nm out; 70 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° |
| DSM | used from 500 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 250/47 | 260/25 20° | 240/19 11° | 240/31 5° | 250/26 -9° | 260/38 -20° | 260/47 -34° | 270/58 -37° | 270/61 -47° |
| BRL | used from 549 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 250/32 | 250/19 17° | 260/15 11° | 270/16 3° | 290/23 -7° | 260/42 -20° | 270/52 -34° | 280/63 -39° | 290/64 -48° |
| SPI | used from 649 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 260/28 | 250/22 15° | 250/14 9° | 260/20 6° | 280/27 -7° | 280/34 -19° | 280/48 -32° | 280/59 -41° | 300/60 -49° |
| IND | used from 749 nm out; 73 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° |
| CVG | used from 899 nm out; 46 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° |
| CMH | used from 949 nm out; 33 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° |
| CRW | used from 1049 nm out; 67 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° |
| EKN | used from 1099 nm out; 35 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° | |
| RIC | used from 1249 nm out; 88 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° |
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 (180°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,433 ft | 2:53 am MDT (08:53 UTC) |
| RYA Wray, CO | 110 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 3,677 ft | ||||
| MCK Mc Cook, NE | 190 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,582 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| HJH Hebron, NE | 330 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 12 knots, gusting to 16 | 10+ mi | none | 1,468 ft | 08:55 UTC |
| EVU Maryville, MO | 450 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 14 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | none | 1,145 ft | 08:55 UTC |
| IRK Kirksville, MO | 559 nm out, 10 nm south of the line | reported, no category | from the south-southwest (200°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 966 ft | 08:55 UTC |
| CMI Champaign/Urbana, IL | 749 nm out, 5 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (180°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 754 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| AID Anderson, IN | 879 nm out, 13 nm north of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: fog | calm | 0.5 mi | 200 ft | 919 ft | 08:55 UTC |
| DAY Dayton, OH | 939 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: mist | from the west-southwest (240°) at 4 knots | 1 mi | 200 ft | 1,009 ft | 08:59 UTC |
| CKB Clarksburg, WV | 1129 nm out, 2 nm southwest of the line, tower | IFR Sky: a broken layer at 700 feet, overcast at 1,100 feet Weather: light rain | from the west-northwest (300°) at 3 knots | 8 mi | 700 ft | 1,223 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| MGW Morgantown, WV | 1139 nm out, 20 nm north of the line, tower | IFR Sky: overcast at 600 feet Weather: mist | calm | 3 mi | 600 ft | 1,243 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| IAD Washington, DC | destination | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,000 feet, a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 3,000 feet Weather: mist | from the north-northwest (330°) at 11 knots | 6 mi | 1,000 ft | 312 ft | 4:52 am EDT (08:52 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 IAD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:16 pm EDT (16:16 UTC)
Wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for IAD
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 12 knots, visibility 5 miles, light rain, mist, overcast at 600 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,000 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 13 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,500 feet
- From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 11 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, overcast at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 5:00 pm EDT (21:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 7 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 3 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet
The forecast for DEN, the departure
- From Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- 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
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 8 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 4 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at DEN 6:22 pm MDT (00:22 UTC), at IAD 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 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, Washington Dulles International.