Denver International to Yellowstone Airport DEN → WYS
407 nautical miles (468 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 317°, about 309° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 15 min at the quickest height in today's winds (30,000 ft, a 5-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:15 am MDT (12:15 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DEN is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 13 knots; WYS is marginal 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: 406 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 238 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 238 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 209 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 318 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 139 to 189 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the last 209 nm of the route.
- 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 last 129 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
- B737 at 18,000 ft, 17 nm northeast, 1:24 am MDT (07:24 UTC): moderate turbulence, remarks: FL180-130. 40 nm along the route, 17 nm northeast 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
- 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, 40 nm southwest, 12:19 am MDT (06:19 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 26,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-06. 20 nm along the route, 40 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
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 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 4 forecast points nearest it (DEN, RKS, LND, DLN). 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 | 250° at 12 kt | +5 kt | 4 °C | 115 kt | 3 h 32 min | 6:32 am MDT (12:32 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 240° at 18 kt | +4 kt | 3 °C | 116 kt | 3 h 31 min | 6:31 am MDT (12:31 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 25 kt | +3 kt | 0 °C | 117 kt | 3 h 29 min | 6:29 am MDT (12:29 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 30 kt | +1 kt | -5 °C | 119 kt | 3 h 25 min | 6:25 am MDT (12:25 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 36 kt | −2 kt | -9 °C | 122 kt | 3 h 20 min | 6:20 am MDT (12:20 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 40 kt | −4 kt | -13 °C | 124 kt | 3 h 17 min | 6:17 am MDT (12:17 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 50 kt | 0 | -23 °C | 120 kt | 3 h 24 min | 6:24 am MDT (12:24 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 57 kt | −5 kt | -32 °C | 125 kt | 3 h 15 min | 6:15 am MDT (12:15 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 60 kt | −1 kt | -36 °C | 121 kt | 3 h 22 min | 6:22 am MDT (12:22 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 59 kt | −1 kt | -45 °C | 121 kt | 3 h 22 min | 6:22 am MDT (12:22 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° | ||
| RKS | used from 99 nm out; 115 nm from the line | 250/9 | 230/21 -1° | 210/43 -14° | 220/59 -23° | 220/55 -32° | 220/53 -35° | 220/48 -44° | ||
| LND | used from 149 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 240/10 3° | 240/30 0° | 220/42 -13° | 230/52 -23° | 220/54 -33° | 220/52 -36° | 220/53 -44° | ||
| DLN | used from 348 nm out; 104 nm from the line | 190/10 -4° | 220/23 -4° | 210/21 -18° | 210/43 -28° | 210/60 -33° | 210/72 -37° | 210/67 -44° |
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) |
| FNL Fort Collins/Loveland, CO | 40 nm out, 13 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the southeast (140°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 5,020 ft | 08:56 UTC |
| RWL Rawlins, WY | 159 nm out, 6 nm west of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,816 ft | 13:53 UTC |
| LND Lander, WY | 258 nm out, 10 nm southwest of the line | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,600 feet | from the east (100°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 1,600 ft | 5,588 ft | 08:53 UTC |
| DUB Dubois, WY | 318 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 4,600 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet | from the north-northwest (330°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | 4,600 ft | 7,298 ft | 08:55 UTC |
| WYS West Yellowstone, MT | destination | marginal VFR Sky: a broken layer at 1,500 feet, overcast at 2,300 feet | calm | 10+ mi | 1,500 ft | 6,649 ft | 2:50 am MDT (08:50 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 7,298 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At WYS when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:15 am MDT (12:15 UTC)
Wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet marginal VFR
The whole forecast for WYS
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 800 feet
- At times between Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 2:00 am MDT (08:00 UTC): visibility 3 miles, light snow, overcast at 400 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
- 30% chance between Mon 8:00 am MDT (14:00 UTC) and 2:00 pm MDT (20:00 UTC): visibility 4 miles, light rain, overcast at 800 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm MDT (02:00 UTC): wind calm, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 800 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 2 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 WYS 6:43 pm MDT (00:43 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:12 pm MDT (01:12 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at WYS is before sunrise there (7:35 am MDT (13:35 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, Yellowstone Airport.