Plan a flight · Mon 2:41 am EDT (06:41 UTC)

Gerald R Ford International to Denver International GRR → DEN

880 nautical miles (1,012 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 265°, about 271° magnetic at the departure end (variation 6W). At 120 knots that is 8 h 38 min at the quickest height in today's winds (10,500 ft, a 18-knot headwind), arriving about 9:19 am MDT (15:19 UTC). Right now GRR is IFR, wind from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots; DEN is VFR, wind from the southwest (220°) at 21 knots, gusting to 29. 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: 2,461 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 SIERRA 3E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 30 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 200 to 790 nm out.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the last 110 nm of the route.
AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the last 70 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 GRR.

Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first

A20N at 25,000 ft, 45 nm west, 2:19 am EDT (06:19 UTC): light chop turbulence up to 26,000 ft, remarks: during the climb ZDVWC-06. At the destination 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, 2:15 am EDT (06:15 UTC): light chop turbulence. At the destination 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

Winds aloft along the route, and the time en route the forecast for use 02:00–09:00 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 (MKG, JOT, DBQ, DSM, OMA, GRI, GLD, DEN). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.

Height	Average wind	Head- or tailwind	Temperature	Ground speed	Time en route	Arrival
4,500 ft	240° at 33 kt	+31 kt	21 °C	89 kt	9 h 53 min	10:34 am MDT (16:34 UTC)
6,500 ft	240° at 29 kt	+28 kt	17 °C	92 kt	9 h 34 min	10:15 am MDT (16:15 UTC)
8,500 ft	250° at 21 kt	+21 kt	12 °C	99 kt	8 h 53 min	9:34 am MDT (15:34 UTC)
10,500 ft	240° at 19 kt	+18 kt	9 °C	102 kt	8 h 38 min	9:19 am MDT (15:19 UTC)
12,500 ft	240° at 18 kt	+18 kt	5 °C	102 kt	8 h 38 min	9:19 am MDT (15:19 UTC)
14,500 ft	250° at 21 kt	+20 kt	0 °C	100 kt	8 h 48 min	9:29 am MDT (15:29 UTC)
16,500 ft	250° at 23 kt	+23 kt	-4 °C	97 kt	9 h 04 min	9:45 am MDT (15:45 UTC)
18,000 ft FL180	250° at 25 kt	+25 kt	-8 °C	95 kt	9 h 16 min	9:57 am MDT (15:57 UTC)
24,000 ft FL240	250° at 30 kt	+31 kt	-20 °C	89 kt	9 h 53 min	10:34 am MDT (16:34 UTC)
30,000 ft FL300	260° at 43 kt	+44 kt	-33 °C	76 kt	11 h 35 min	12:16 pm MDT (18:16 UTC)
34,000 ft FL340	270° at 51 kt	+52 kt	-40 °C	68 kt	12 h 56 min	1:37 pm MDT (19:37 UTC)
39,000 ft FL390	270° at 58 kt	+57 kt	-49 °C	63 kt	13 h 58 min	2:39 pm MDT (20:39 UTC)

Based on data from the 12th at 00:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 06:00 UTC for use 02:00 to 09:00 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
MKG	used from 0 nm out; 21 nm from the line	260/22	290/16 15°	300/11 10°	290/5 3°	300/26 -9°	300/32 -20°	320/48 -36°	320/61 -45°	310/74 -53°
JOT	used from 100 nm out; 68 nm from the line	250/23	270/22 15°	250/16 10°	240/9 4°	280/22 -7°	280/29 -19°	300/29 -34°	290/50 -43°	300/64 -52°
DBQ	used from 150 nm out; 56 nm from the line	230/33	250/30 16°	280/15 9°	260/15 5°	260/21 -7°	260/24 -20°	250/37 -33°	270/42 -43°	280/63 -52°
DSM	used from 300 nm out; 53 nm from the line	230/40	250/33 17°	250/18 12°	240/17 5°	260/28 -8°	270/34 -19°	260/41 -33°	260/55 -41°	270/62 -51°
OMA	used from 400 nm out; 51 nm from the line	220/47	240/33 19°	250/18 11°	230/17 6°	260/29 -8°	250/33 -19°	250/51 -33°	260/61 -40°	270/62 -49°
GRI	used from 550 nm out; 18 nm from the line		230/35 21°	230/23 13°	220/20 7°	240/25 -8°	240/37 -20°	250/49 -33°	260/57 -38°	260/58 -47°
GLD	used from 700 nm out; 76 nm from the line		230/49	230/42 15°	220/26 8°	240/18 -7°	230/27 -21°	240/62 -30°	240/61 -35°	250/57 -47°
DEN	used from 800 nm out; 55 nm from the line			240/21 14°	250/44 6°	220/49 -8°	220/49 -21°	230/54 -30°	240/57 -35°	240/49 -45°

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
GRR Grand Rapids, MI	departure	IFR Sky: a few clouds at 300 feet Weather: mist	from the south-southeast (150°) at 4 knots	1.25 mi	none	793 ft	2:32 am EDT (06:32 UTC)
MKG Muskegon, MI	30 nm out, 20 nm north of the line, tower	reported, no category	from the south (180°) at 7 knots	10+ mi	none	628 ft	05:55 UTC
JVL Janesville, WI	160 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower	VFR	calm	10+ mi	none	807 ft	06:35 UTC
DBQ Dubuque, IA	230 nm out, 1 nm west of the line, tower	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 9 knots	10+ mi	none	1,076 ft	05:53 UTC
ALO Waterloo, IA	300 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	873 ft	05:54 UTC
AMW Ames, IA	360 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the south (170°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	955 ft	05:53 UTC
OMA Omaha, NE	470 nm out, 22 nm south of the line, tower	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet	from the south-southeast (150°) at 8 knots	10+ mi	none	984 ft	05:52 UTC
GRI Grand Island, NE	580 nm out, 17 nm south of the line, tower	VFR	from the south (180°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	1,847 ft	05:53 UTC
CZD Cozad, NE	660 nm out, 4 nm southeast of the line	no report just now				2,503 ft
IML Imperial, NE	730 nm out, 6 nm southwest of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (200°) at 12 knots	10+ mi	none	3,276 ft	05:53 UTC
AKO Akron, CO	810 nm out, 2 nm south of the line	VFR	from the south-southwest (210°) at 18 knots, gusting to 25	10+ mi	none	4,716 ft	05:53 UTC
DEN Denver, CO	destination	VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 feet, scattered clouds at 22,000 feet	from the southwest (220°) at 21 knots, gusting to 29	10+ mi	none	5,433 ft	11:53 pm MDT (05:53 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 DEN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 9:19 am MDT (15:19 UTC)

Wind from the south at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 22,000 feet VFR

The whole forecast for DEN

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

The forecast for GRR, the departure

From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 3 knots, visibility 4 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
At times between Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC) and 4:00 am EDT (08:00 UTC): visibility ½ mile, fog
From Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC): wind from the south at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet
From Mon 1:00 pm EDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 12 knots, gusting to 20, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
From Mon 6:00 pm EDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet
From Mon 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC): wind from the south at 8 knots, visibility 4 miles, light rain showers, mist, scattered clouds at 5,000 feet, overcast at 8,000 feet
30% chance between Mon 10:00 pm EDT (02:00 UTC) and 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): visibility 2 miles, light thunderstorms with rain, mist, overcast at 3,500 feet (thunderheads)

Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it

No temporary flight restriction on or near this route right now.

Daylight

Sunset at GRR 7:04 pm EDT (23:04 UTC), at DEN 6:22 pm MDT (00:22 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:49 pm MDT (00:49 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 central Great Lakes · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the upper Mississippi valley · loop National Weather Service

Radar now, the northern Rockies · 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: Gerald R Ford International, Denver International.