Plan a flight · Mon 2:43 am MDT (08:43 UTC)

Denver International to South Bend International DEN → SBN

840 nautical miles (967 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 076°, about 068° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 35 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 63-knot tailwind), arriving about 9:18 am EDT (13:18 UTC). Right now DEN is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (200°) at 20 knots; SBN 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: 11 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 49 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 69 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 138 to 682 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, 2:10 am MDT (08:10 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the departure end, 3 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
DEN UA /OV DEN/TM 0810/FLDURD/TP B737/TB LGT CHOP
```
Report
a routine report filed through DEN
Where
over DEN
Time
08:10 UTC
Height
during the descent
Aircraft
B737
Turbulence
light chop
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
B739 at 35,000 ft, 42 nm south, 1:05 am MDT (07:05 UTC): no turbulence. 761 nm along the route, 42 nm south of the line.
as filed, and in English
```
TIP UA /OV RBS010023/TM 0705/FL350/TP B739/TB NEG
```
Report
a routine report filed through TIP
Where
23 nm north (010°) of RBS
Time
07:05 UTC
Height
at 35,000 ft
Aircraft
B739
Turbulence
none

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 8 forecast points nearest it (DEN, GLD, GRI, OMA, DSM, BRL, DBQ, JOT). 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	250° at 34 kt	−33 kt		153 kt	5 h 29 min	10:12 am EDT (14:12 UTC)
5,500 ft	250° at 30 kt	−29 kt	23 °C	149 kt	5 h 38 min	10:21 am EDT (14:21 UTC)
7,500 ft	250° at 25 kt	−24 kt	15 °C	144 kt	5 h 50 min	10:33 am EDT (14:33 UTC)
9,500 ft	240° at 22 kt	−21 kt	11 °C	141 kt	5 h 57 min	10:40 am EDT (14:40 UTC)
11,500 ft	240° at 23 kt	−21 kt	7 °C	141 kt	5 h 57 min	10:40 am EDT (14:40 UTC)
13,500 ft	240° at 25 kt	−24 kt	2 °C	144 kt	5 h 50 min	10:33 am EDT (14:33 UTC)
15,500 ft	240° at 27 kt	−26 kt	-3 °C	146 kt	5 h 45 min	10:28 am EDT (14:28 UTC)
17,500 ft	250° at 29 kt	−29 kt	-7 °C	149 kt	5 h 38 min	10:21 am EDT (14:21 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	250° at 30 kt	−29 kt	-8 °C	149 kt	5 h 38 min	10:21 am EDT (14:21 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	250° at 39 kt	−39 kt	-20 °C	159 kt	5 h 17 min	10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	250° at 50 kt	−50 kt	-33 °C	170 kt	4 h 56 min	9:39 am EDT (13:39 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	260° at 62 kt	−62 kt	-38 °C	182 kt	4 h 37 min	9:20 am EDT (13:20 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	270° at 62 kt	−63 kt	-48 °C	183 kt	4 h 35 min	9:18 am EDT (13:18 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 99 nm out; 59 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 198 nm out; 76 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 346 nm out; 40 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°
DSM	used from 445 nm out; 43 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 593 nm out; 44 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°
DBQ	used from 642 nm out; 56 nm from the line	250/27	260/23 17°	240/26 10°	260/30 4°	280/26 -9°	280/36 -21°	270/41 -36°	280/52 -41°	290/67 -48°
JOT	used from 692 nm out; 41 nm from the line	250/25	260/22 14°	250/17 9°	270/21 5°	280/28 -8°	280/36 -20°	270/41 -35°	280/57 -42°	290/65 -50°

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)
AKO Akron, CO	69 nm out, 3 nm north of the line	VFR	from the west (270°) at 14 knots, gusting to 24	10+ mi	none	4,716 ft	07:53 UTC
IML Imperial, NE	148 nm out, 8 nm northwest of the line	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	3,276 ft	07:53 UTC
LXN Lexington, NE	227 nm out, 9 nm north of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 11 knots, gusting to 16	10+ mi	none	2,412 ft	08:35 UTC
GRI Grand Island, NE	297 nm out, 7 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	1,847 ft	07:53 UTC
LNK Lincoln, NE	366 nm out, 11 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (190°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	1,218 ft	07:54 UTC
GFZ Greenfield, IA	474 nm out, 4 nm north of the line	no report just now				1,363 ft
DSM Des Moines, IA	514 nm out, 13 nm north of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	957 ft	07:54 UTC
MLI Moline, IL	652 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	589 ft	07:52 UTC
ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL	741 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots	10+ mi	none	712 ft	07:52 UTC
LOT Chicago/Romeoville, IL	761 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southeast (150°) at 5 knots	10+ mi	none	679 ft	08:35 UTC
SBN South Bend, IN	destination	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	798 ft	3:54 am EDT (07:54 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 SBN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:18 am EDT (13:18 UTC)

Wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for SBN

From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, mist
From Mon 6:00 am EDT (10:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 2:00 pm EDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 10,000 feet

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

Daylight

Sunset at DEN 6:22 pm MDT (00:22 UTC), at SBN 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:36 pm EDT (23:36 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, the upper Mississippi valley · 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, South Bend International.