Denver International to Raleigh-Durham International DEN → RDU
1,245 nautical miles (1,433 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 093°, about 085° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 38 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 43-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:52 am EDT (08:52 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DEN is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 13 knots; RDU is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) 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: 3,465 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 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the first 90 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 20 nm of the route.
- 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 route from 927 to 1066 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 976 to 1156 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 7,000 ft. Over the route from 1076 to 1166 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
- BCS3 at 24,000 ft, 42 nm northwest, 5:28 pm MDT (23:28 UTC): moderate turbulence from 22,000 ft to 24,000 ft, remarks: during the descent. At the departure end, 42 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN320045/TM 2328/FL240/TP BCS3/TB MOD 240-220/RM DURD
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 45 nm northwest (320°) of DEN
- Time
- 23:28 UTC
- Height
- at 24,000 ft
- Aircraft
- BCS3
- Turbulence
- moderate from 24,000 ft to 22,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the descent
- GLF5 at 45,000 ft, 38 nm south, 4:44 pm MDT (22:44 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-46. At the departure end, 38 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
COS UA /OV COS350025/TM 2244/FL450/TP GLF5/TB MOD /RM ZDVWC-46
- Report
- a routine report filed through COS
- Where
- 25 nm north (350°) of COS
- Time
- 22:44 UTC
- Height
- at 45,000 ft
- Aircraft
- GLF5
- Turbulence
- moderate
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-46
- A21N at 32,000 ft, 26 nm north, 5:42 pm MDT (23:42 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-61. At the departure end, 26 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
AKO UA /OV AKO270030/TM 2342/FL320/TP A21N/TB INTMT MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-61
- Report
- a routine report filed through AKO
- Where
- 30 nm west (270°) of AKO
- Time
- 23:42 UTC
- Height
- at 32,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A21N
- Turbulence
- intermittent moderate chop
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-61
- UAL2199 at 35,000 ft, 18 nm north, 5:31 pm MDT (23:31 UTC): moderate chop turbulence, wind 247° at 79 knots. At the departure end, 18 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
ARP UAL2199 4007N 10337W 2331 F350 247/079KT TB MOD CHOP IC
- Report
- a routine report filed through ARP
- A321 at 30,000 ft, 6 nm northwest, 5:45 pm MDT (23:45 UTC): moderate turbulence. 1026 nm along the route, 6 nm northwest of the line.
as filed, and in English
IND UA /OV AZQ170020/TM 2345/FL300/TP A321/TB MOD
- Report
- a routine report filed through IND
- Where
- 20 nm south (170°) of AZQ
- Time
- 23:45 UTC
- Height
- at 30,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- moderate
- PA46 at 23,000 ft, 15 nm south, 5:28 pm MDT (23:28 UTC): moderate chop turbulence from 22,000 ft to 23,000 ft, remarks: ZTLFD-44. 1086 nm along the route, 15 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
TRI UA /OV HMV090010/TM 2328/FL230/TP PA46/TB LGT- MOD CHOP 230-220/RM ZTLFD-44
- Report
- a routine report filed through TRI
- Where
- 10 nm east (090°) of HMV
- Time
- 23:28 UTC
- Height
- at 23,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PA46
- Turbulence
- light moderate chop from 23,000 ft to 22,000 ft
- Remarks
- ZTLFD-44
- GLF6 at 40,000 ft, 44 nm south, 6:48 pm MDT (00:48 UTC): light to moderate chop turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-46. At the departure end, 44 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
COS UA /OV COS340020/TM 0048/FL400/TP GLF6/TB LGT-MOD CHOP/RM ZDVWC-46
- Report
- a routine report filed through COS
- Where
- 20 nm north (340°) of COS
- Time
- 00:48 UTC
- Height
- at 40,000 ft
- Aircraft
- GLF6
- Turbulence
- light to moderate chop
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-46
- A321 descending, 3 nm south, 6:26 pm MDT (00:26 UTC): no turbulence up to 10,000 ft. At the departure end, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0026/FLDURD/TP A321/TB NEG BLO 100
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 00:26 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- A321
- Turbulence
- no below 10,000 ft
- B737 at 14,000 ft, 28 nm south, 6:20 pm MDT (00:20 UTC): light to moderate turbulence, remarks: light to moderate from 14,000 ft to 16,000 ft occn light above 16,000 ft. At the departure end, 28 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN170025/TM 0020/FL140/TP B737/TB LGT-MOD/RM LGT-MOD 140-160 OCCN LGT ABOVE 160
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 25 nm south (170°) of DEN
- Time
- 00:20 UTC
- Height
- at 14,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- light to moderate
- Remarks
- light to moderate from 14,000 ft to 16,000 ft occn light above 16,000 ft
- E75L at 10,000 ft, 22 nm north, 5:45 pm MDT (23:45 UTC): light turbulence up to 17,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. At the departure end, 22 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN350025/TM 2345/FL100/TP E75L/TB LGT SFC-170/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 25 nm north (350°) of DEN
- Time
- 23:45 UTC
- Height
- at 10,000 ft
- Aircraft
- E75L
- Turbulence
- light from the surface to 17,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb
- B737 at 6,500 ft, 3 nm south, 5:27 pm MDT (23:27 UTC): no turbulence. At the departure end, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 2327/FL065/TP B737/TB NEG TB ON FINAL RWY17R
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 23:27 UTC
- Height
- at 6,500 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- no turbulence on final runway 17R
- B737 descending, 3 nm south, 4:29 pm MDT (22:29 UTC): no turbulence up to 10,000 ft. At the departure end, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 2229/FLDURD/TP B737/TB NEG BLO 100
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- over DEN
- Time
- 22:29 UTC
- Height
- during the descent
- Aircraft
- B737
- Turbulence
- no below 10,000 ft
- A320 at 8,000 ft, 1 nm southeast, 5:42 pm MDT (23:42 UTC): light chop turbulence from 8,000 ft to 16,000 ft, remarks: during the climb. At the departure end, 1 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
DEN UA /OV DEN080030/TM 2342/FL080/TP A320/TB LGT CHOP 080-160/RM DURC
- Report
- a routine report filed through DEN
- Where
- 30 nm east (080°) of DEN
- Time
- 23:42 UTC
- Height
- at 8,000 ft
- Aircraft
- A320
- Turbulence
- light chop from 8,000 ft to 16,000 ft
- Remarks
- during the climb
- B738 at 35,000 ft, 26 nm north, 5:30 pm MDT (23:30 UTC): light turbulence, remarks: ZDVWC-07. At the departure end, 26 nm north of the line.
as filed, and in English
AKO UA /OV AKO270030/TM 2330/FL350/TP B738/TB CONS LGT /RM ZDVWC-07
- Report
- a routine report filed through AKO
- Where
- 30 nm west (270°) of AKO
- Time
- 23:30 UTC
- Height
- at 35,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B738
- Turbulence
- continuous light
- Remarks
- ZDVWC-07
11 more routine reports are on the map.
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 (DEN, GLD, SLN, MKC, COU, STL, EVV, LOU, TYS, TRI, ROA, RDU). 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 15 kt | −9 kt | 129 kt | 9 h 39 min | 6:53 am EDT (10:53 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 240° at 16 kt | −14 kt | 11 °C | 134 kt | 9 h 17 min | 6:31 am EDT (10:31 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 250° at 17 kt | −16 kt | 13 °C | 136 kt | 9 h 09 min | 6:23 am EDT (10:23 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 270° at 18 kt | −19 kt | 10 °C | 139 kt | 8 h 57 min | 6:11 am EDT (10:11 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 280° at 19 kt | −20 kt | 7 °C | 140 kt | 8 h 54 min | 6:08 am EDT (10:08 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 280° at 21 kt | −22 kt | 2 °C | 142 kt | 8 h 46 min | 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 280° at 22 kt | −23 kt | -2 °C | 143 kt | 8 h 42 min | 5:56 am EDT (09:56 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 280° at 24 kt | −25 kt | -6 °C | 145 kt | 8 h 35 min | 5:49 am EDT (09:49 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 280° at 25 kt | −25 kt | -7 °C | 145 kt | 8 h 35 min | 5:49 am EDT (09:49 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 270° at 25 kt | −25 kt | -19 °C | 145 kt | 8 h 35 min | 5:49 am EDT (09:49 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 260° at 37 kt | −36 kt | -32 °C | 156 kt | 7 h 59 min | 5:13 am EDT (09:13 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 270° at 42 kt | −41 kt | -40 °C | 161 kt | 7 h 44 min | 4:58 am EDT (08:58 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 270° at 43 kt | −43 kt | -49 °C | 163 kt | 7 h 38 min | 4:52 am EDT (08:52 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 190/31 16° | 210/32 7° | 240/41 -8° | 230/47 -21° | 240/56 -32° | 250/65 -37° | 250/61 -47° | ||
| GLD | used from 50 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 190/29 | 200/30 15° | 240/23 8° | 250/39 -7° | 230/39 -19° | 230/57 -31° | 240/67 -39° | 250/62 -49° | |
| SLN | used from 249 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 190/37 | 220/39 20° | 240/31 14° | 250/24 7° | 260/25 -7° | 250/26 -17° | 250/44 -31° | 260/47 -40° | 260/47 -50° |
| MKC | used from 399 nm out; 46 nm from the line | 200/28 | 220/30 16° | 270/20 11° | 280/22 7° | 260/27 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 280/38 -32° | 270/38 -40° | 280/50 -52° |
| COU | used from 548 nm out; 10 nm from the line | 210/16 | 220/19 15° | 240/33 10° | 250/29 7° | 280/21 -6° | 280/19 -18° | 300/34 -31° | 300/40 -42° | 300/60 -52° |
| STL | used from 648 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 210/13 | 260/16 17° | 270/21 10° | 280/24 5° | 310/20 -7° | 320/22 -18° | 320/44 -33° | 320/59 -43° | 310/69 -51° |
| EVV | used from 747 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 310/13 | 340/26 16° | 330/29 10° | 330/32 4° | 330/30 -9° | 340/38 -20° | 330/60 -35° | 320/57 -41° | 330/39 -48° |
| LOU | used from 847 nm out; 43 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 947 nm out; 86 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 996 nm out; 50 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° | |
| ROA | used from 1146 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 280/9 | 290/15 12° | 290/11 8° | 210/6 3° | 210/30 -6° | 220/46 -19° | 210/74 -30° | 220/78 -39° | 220/64 -48° |
| RDU | used from 1196 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 240/28 | 250/22 10° | 230/30 11° | 230/40 7° | 230/45 -4° | 220/69 -15° | 220/83 -29° | 210/84 -40° | 220/75 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN Denver, CO | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 feet, a few clouds at 14,000 feet, a broken layer at 22,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | 22,000 ft | 5,433 ft | 6:53 pm MDT (00:53 UTC) |
| RYA Wray, CO | 110 nm out, 21 nm north of the line | no report just now | 3,677 ft | ||||
| SYF St Francis, KS | 130 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 3,429 ft | 00:55 UTC |
| MHK Manhattan, KS | 369 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,066 ft | 00:52 UTC |
| MKC Kansas City, MO | 468 nm out, 5 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (170°) at 11 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | none | 756 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| JEF Jefferson City, MO | 588 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 549 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| CPS Cahokia/St Louis, IL | 677 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 412 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| OWB Owensboro, KY | 827 nm out, 7 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 407 ft | 00:56 UTC |
| EKX Elizabethtown, KY | 887 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,800 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 775 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| TRI Bristol/Johnson/Kingsport, TN | 1066 nm out, 20 nm south of the line, tower | marginal VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 1,200 feet, a broken layer at 1,800 feet, a broken layer at 2,400 feet Weather: light rain, mist | from the west-southwest (250°) at 11 knots | 5 mi | 1,800 ft | 1,518 ft | 00:53 UTC |
| GSO Greensboro, NC | 1186 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 6,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 6,000 ft | 925 ft | 00:54 UTC |
| RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 5,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | none | 435 ft | 8:51 pm EDT (00:51 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 RDU when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:52 am EDT (08:52 UTC)
Wind from the west-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for RDU
- From Sun 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 am EDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the west-northwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the northwest at 9 knots, gusting to 18, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
The forecast for DEN, the departure
- From Sun 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south at 14 knots, gusting to 21, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 10,000 feet, a few clouds at 14,000 feet and more above
- From Sun 7:00 pm MDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 14,000 feet, scattered clouds at 22,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am MDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 22,000 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am MDT (15:00 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, clear skies
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 25 nm from the route, 578 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC
Daylight
Sunset at DEN 6:24 pm MDT (00:24 UTC), at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RDU is before sunrise there (7:19 am EDT (11:19 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, Raleigh-Durham International.
