Dallas-Fort Worth International to Chicago/Rockford International DFW → RFD
673 nautical miles (775 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 032°, about 028° magnetic at the departure end (variation 4E). At 120 knots that is 4 h 46 min at the quickest height in today's winds (7,500 ft, a 21-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:34 pm CDT (04:34 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now DFW is VFR, wind from the south (190°) at 18 knots, gusting to 23; RFD is VFR, wind from the south (170°) at 5 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: 914 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
No SIGMET or AIRMET covers any part of this route right now.
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 DFW.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- PA46 at 21,000 ft, 50 nm west, 4:05 pm CDT (21:05 UTC): remarks: smooth ZFW32. At the departure end, 50 nm west of the line.
as filed, and in English
MWL UA /OV MQP/TM 2105/FL210/TP PA46/RM SMOOTH ZFW32
- Report
- a routine report filed through MWL
- Where
- over MQP
- Time
- 21:05 UTC
- Height
- at 21,000 ft
- Aircraft
- PA46
- Remarks
- smooth ZFW32
- G280 at 43,000 ft, 29 nm southeast, 4:07 pm CDT (21:07 UTC): no turbulence. 584 nm along the route, 29 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
PIA UA /OV PIA/TM 2107/FL430/TP G280/TB NEG
- Report
- a routine report filed through PIA
- Where
- over PIA
- Time
- 21:07 UTC
- Height
- at 43,000 ft
- Aircraft
- G280
- Turbulence
- none
- C17 at 500 ft, 38 nm southeast, 4:15 pm CDT (21:15 UTC): overcast above 500 ft. At the destination end, 38 nm southeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
KADW UA /OV 1L ARR/TM 2115/FL005/TP C17/SK OVC005
- Report
- a routine report filed through KADW
- Where
- 1L arrival
- Time
- 21:15 UTC
- Height
- at 500 ft
- Aircraft
- C17
- Sky
- overcast from 500 ft
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 7 forecast points nearest it (DAL, FSM, SGF, COU, 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 | 210° at 18 kt | −18 kt | 138 kt | 4 h 53 min | 11:41 pm CDT (04:41 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 220° at 19 kt | −19 kt | 139 kt | 4 h 51 min | 11:39 pm CDT (04:39 UTC) | |
| 7,500 ft | 230° at 21 kt | −21 kt | 13 °C | 141 kt | 4 h 46 min | 11:34 pm CDT (04:34 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 24 kt | −21 kt | 10 °C | 141 kt | 4 h 46 min | 11:34 pm CDT (04:34 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 250° at 22 kt | −18 kt | 8 °C | 138 kt | 4 h 53 min | 11:41 pm CDT (04:41 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 260° at 20 kt | −15 kt | 4 °C | 135 kt | 4 h 59 min | 11:47 pm CDT (04:47 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 260° at 20 kt | −13 kt | -1 °C | 133 kt | 5 h 04 min | 11:52 pm CDT (04:52 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 270° at 19 kt | −11 kt | -5 °C | 131 kt | 5 h 08 min | 11:56 pm CDT (04:56 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 270° at 19 kt | −11 kt | -6 °C | 131 kt | 5 h 08 min | 11:56 pm CDT (04:56 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 280° at 21 kt | −9 kt | -17 °C | 129 kt | 5 h 13 min | 12:01 am CDT (05:01 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 300° at 36 kt | −4 kt | -31 °C | 124 kt | 5 h 26 min | 12:14 am CDT (05:14 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 300° at 41 kt | −2 kt | -41 °C | 122 kt | 5 h 31 min | 12:19 am CDT (05:19 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 300° at 52 kt | −1 kt | -52 °C | 121 kt | 5 h 34 min | 12:22 am CDT (05:22 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAL | used from 0 nm out; 24 nm from the line | 180/21 | 190/24 15° | 230/20 12° | 220/23 8° | 240/22 -5° | 230/18 -15° | 280/33 -29° | 280/36 -39° | 300/33 -52° |
| FSM | used from 99 nm out; 78 nm from the line | 200/18 | 210/19 15° | 230/22 13° | 250/18 7° | 270/20 -5° | 280/24 -16° | 280/35 -30° | 290/37 -40° | 300/40 -52° |
| SGF | used from 248 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 210/21 | 210/21 16° | 240/28 12° | 260/24 7° | 280/21 -6° | 280/26 -18° | 290/38 -31° | 290/37 -41° | 300/49 -52° |
| COU | used from 347 nm out; 54 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° |
| BRL | used from 495 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 200/20 | 250/21 16° | 240/22 10° | 260/20 5° | 270/16 -7° | 290/22 -18° | 320/41 -34° | 320/56 -43° | 310/68 -53° |
| DBQ | used from 594 nm out; 69 nm from the line | 220/23 | 240/22 16° | 240/24 10° | 260/18 5° | 270/16 -8° | 290/27 -19° | 310/42 -35° | 320/55 -44° | 300/71 -52° |
| JOT | used from 644 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 230/11 | 290/12 16° | 300/19 10° | 320/19 4° | 300/17 -9° | 330/31 -20° | 320/49 -37° | 320/53 -45° | 320/67 -49° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DFW Dallas-Fort Worth, TX | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 feet, a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (190°) at 18 knots, gusting to 23 | 10+ mi | none | 606 ft | 5:53 pm CDT (22:53 UTC) |
| TKI Dallas, TX | 30 nm out, 11 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 588 ft | 22:53 UTC |
| DUA Durant, OK | 69 nm out, 6 nm northwest of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 8 knots, gusting to 13 | 10+ mi | none | 699 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| GZL Stigler, OK | 168 nm out, 7 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 599 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| XNA Fayetteville/Springdale/Rogers, AR | 248 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 15 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | none | 1,288 ft | 22:53 UTC |
| SGF Springfield, MO | 317 nm out, 9 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 11 knots, gusting to 21 | 10+ mi | none | 1,268 ft | 22:52 UTC |
| OZS Camdenton, MO | 366 nm out, 13 nm east of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 1,061 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| COU Columbia, MO | 426 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 889 ft | 22:54 UTC |
| HAE Hannibal, MO | 495 nm out, 4 nm southwest of the line | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 768 ft | 23:35 UTC |
| MLI Moline, IL | 604 nm out, 25 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 589 ft | 22:52 UTC |
| SQI Sterling/Rockfalls, IL | 634 nm out, 5 nm northwest of the line | VFR | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 647 ft | 22:56 UTC |
| RFD Chicago/Rockford, IL | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the south (170°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | none | 742 ft | 5:54 pm CDT (22:54 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 1,288 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RFD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:34 pm CDT (04:34 UTC)
Wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for RFD
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 12:00 pm CDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm CDT (23:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 12,000 feet
The forecast for DFW, the departure
- From Sun 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Sun 9:00 pm CDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 10:00 am CDT (15:00 UTC): wind from the south at 12 knots, gusting to 23, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 7:00 pm CDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8646 Arlington, TX, Thursday, October 15, 2026 through Friday, October 16, 2026 UTC 8 nm from the route, at the departure end · drones kept away from a public gathering · starts Thursday 15 October · ZFW
- 9/2934 DALLAS, TX 10 nm from the route, at the departure end · a VIP movement · ZFW
- 6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 5 nm from the route, 446 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · starts tomorrow · ZKC
Daylight
Sunset at DFW 6:58 pm CDT (23:58 UTC), at RFD 6:21 pm CDT (23:21 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:49 pm CDT (23:49 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at RFD is before sunrise there (7:05 am CDT (12:05 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: Dallas-Fort Worth International, Chicago/Rockford International.