Denver International to San Francisco International DEN → SFO
838 nautical miles (965 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 266°, about 258° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 46 min at the quickest height in today's winds (8,500 ft, a 12-knot headwind), arriving about 1:17 am PDT (08:17 UTC), after sunset at the destination. 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: 11,040 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
- SIGMET W68W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 36,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 7:55 pm MDT (01:55 UTC). Over the route from 110 to 270 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 112355 MKCW WST 112355 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 68W VALID UNTIL 0155Z CO NM AZ UT FROM 30W CHE-20NNW TBE-60SE ABQ-40N SJN-30SW MTU-30W CHE AREA TS MOV FROM 23040KT. TOPS TO FL360.
- SIGMET W71W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 27,000 ft, moving from the south at 40 knots, until 7:55 pm MDT (01:55 UTC). Over the route from 339 to 379 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 112355 MKCW WST 112355 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 71W VALID UNTIL 0155Z WY UT ID FROM 40S DBS-40WNW BPI-30WSW MTU-30SSW DTA-30SE TWF-40S DBS AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 20040KT. TOPS TO FL270.
- SIGMET W72W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 7:55 pm MDT (01:55 UTC). Over the route from 579 to 639 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 112355 MKCW WST 112355 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 72W VALID UNTIL 0155Z NV FROM 60SSW BAM-60W ELY-OAL-40WNW OAL-60SSW BAM AREA TS MOV FROM 23020KT. TOPS TO FL300.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the first 539 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the first 439 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 70 to 539 nm out.
- 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 route from 90 to 339 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Near the route, 180 nm along the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 230 to 589 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 519 to 719 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
Not fetched just now.
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 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, GJT, SLC, BCE, ELY, BIH, SAC, SFO). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8,500 ft | 210° at 22 kt | +12 kt | 8 °C | 108 kt | 7 h 46 min | 1:17 am PDT (08:17 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 210° at 27 kt | +17 kt | 4 °C | 103 kt | 8 h 08 min | 1:39 am PDT (08:39 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 220° at 30 kt | +21 kt | -1 °C | 99 kt | 8 h 28 min | 1:59 am PDT (08:59 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 220° at 33 kt | +24 kt | -5 °C | 96 kt | 8 h 44 min | 2:15 am PDT (09:15 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 36 kt | +27 kt | -9 °C | 93 kt | 9 h 01 min | 2:32 am PDT (09:32 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 38 kt | +29 kt | -12 °C | 91 kt | 9 h 13 min | 2:44 am PDT (09:44 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 44 kt | +30 kt | -23 °C | 90 kt | 9 h 19 min | 2:50 am PDT (09:50 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 55 kt | +45 kt | -28 °C | 75 kt | 11 h 10 min | 4:41 am PDT (11:41 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 58 kt | +49 kt | -35 °C | 71 kt | 11 h 48 min | 5:19 am PDT (12:19 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 58 kt | +51 kt | -45 °C | 69 kt | 12 h 09 min | 5:40 am PDT (12:40 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° | ||
| GJT | used from 100 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 210/40 11° | 210/46 3° | 210/61 -10° | 210/68 -22° | 220/57 -29° | 230/59 -36° | 240/66 -46° | ||
| SLC | used from 299 nm out; 90 nm from the line | 280/8 | 210/39 5° | 210/52 -1° | 200/50 -11° | 200/56 -23° | 220/61 -28° | 230/73 -37° | 230/73 -45° | |
| BCE | used from 349 nm out; 93 nm from the line | 210/47 0° | 200/50 -12° | 220/31 -23° | 220/56 -26° | 220/58 -35° | 230/58 -45° | |||
| ELY | used from 399 nm out; 52 nm from the line | 210/20 4° | 240/21 -1° | 230/37 -13° | 200/58 -25° | 220/73 -27° | 220/73 -36° | 220/69 -44° | ||
| BIH | used from 549 nm out; 101 nm from the line | L/V | 210/14 6° | 210/20 -2° | 230/26 -14° | 220/32 -24° | 220/63 -27° | 220/56 -35° | 230/50 -44° | |
| SAC | used from 699 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 270/5 | L/V 5° | L/V -1° | 240/11 -5° | 250/22 -15° | 270/25 -24° | 260/31 -27° | 240/39 -33° | 240/39 -42° |
| SFO | used from 799 nm out; 20 nm from the line | 220/11 | L/V 5° | 280/7 1° | 270/15 -3° | 290/23 -14° | 310/29 -24° | 280/26 -28° | 250/30 -34° | 250/36 -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 | Wind | Visibility | Ceiling | Elevation | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEN Denver, CO | departure | no report just now | 5,433 ft | ||||
| BJC Denver, CO | 20 nm out, 4 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,673 ft | ||||
| EGE Eagle, CO | 100 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 6,547 ft | ||||
| PUC Price, UT | 279 nm out, 12 nm north of the line | no report just now | 5,957 ft | ||||
| DTA Delta, UT | 359 nm out, 10 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 4,759 ft | ||||
| ELY Ely, NV | 469 nm out, 23 nm north of the line | no report just now | 6,259 ft | ||||
| HTH Hawthorne, NV | 649 nm out, 13 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 4,230 ft | ||||
| CPU San Andreas, CA | 749 nm out, 11 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 1,327 ft | ||||
| LVK Livermore, CA | 809 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 399 ft | ||||
| SFO San Francisco, CA | destination | no report just now | 13 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,547 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SFO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 1:17 am PDT (08:17 UTC)
SFO has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/7094 45NM NE MERCED, CA, Sunday, October 4, 2026 through Tuesday, October 20, 2026 UTC 25 nm from the route, 719 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 20 October · ZOA
- 6/7231 Santa Clara, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 17 nm from the route, at the destination end · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZOA
- 6/7455 SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Thursday, October 8, 2026 through Sunday, October 11, 2026 Local 10 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ended 11 October · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at DEN 6:24 pm MDT (00:24 UTC), at SFO 6:36 pm PDT (01:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm PDT (02:02 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SFO is before sunrise there (7:14 am PDT (14:14 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, San Francisco International.
