Los Angeles International to Detroit Metro Wayne County LAX → DTW
1,716 nautical miles (1,975 statute miles) northeast on a straight line, true course 063°, about 051° magnetic at the departure end (variation 12E). At 120 knots that is 9 h 45 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 56-knot tailwind), arriving about 11:50 am EDT (15:50 UTC). Right now LAX is VFR, wind from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots; DTW is marginal VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) 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: 4,893 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: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 10 to 180 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 219 to 808 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 219 to 539 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 2C: moderate icing up to 23,000 ft. Over the route from 239 to 309 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 2E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 269 to 349 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 279 to 459 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Over the route from 439 to 798 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 579 to 718 nm out.
- 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 818 to 1387 nm out.
- 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 last 170 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 LAX.
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 02:00–09:00 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 16 forecast points nearest it (ONT, LAS, BCE, FMN, ALS, PUB, GLD, GRI, OMA, DSM, BRL, DBQ, JOT, MKG, FWA, CLE). A plus sign is a headwind, a minus sign a tailwind.
| Height | Average wind | Head- or tailwind | Temperature | Ground speed | Time en route | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,500 ft | 240° at 25 kt | −25 kt | 16 °C | 145 kt | 11 h 50 min | 1:55 pm EDT (17:55 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 22 kt | −22 kt | 12 °C | 142 kt | 12 h 05 min | 2:10 pm EDT (18:10 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 19 kt | −19 kt | 9 °C | 139 kt | 12 h 21 min | 2:26 pm EDT (18:26 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 21 kt | −20 kt | 4 °C | 140 kt | 12 h 15 min | 2:20 pm EDT (18:20 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 23 kt | −22 kt | 0 °C | 142 kt | 12 h 05 min | 2:10 pm EDT (18:10 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 26 kt | −26 kt | -4 °C | 146 kt | 11 h 45 min | 1:50 pm EDT (17:50 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 30 kt | −29 kt | -8 °C | 149 kt | 11 h 31 min | 1:36 pm EDT (17:36 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 31 kt | −30 kt | -9 °C | 150 kt | 11 h 26 min | 1:31 pm EDT (17:31 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 38 kt | −38 kt | -20 °C | 158 kt | 10 h 52 min | 12:57 pm EDT (16:57 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 240° at 48 kt | −50 kt | -31 °C | 170 kt | 10 h 06 min | 12:11 pm EDT (16:11 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 53 kt | −56 kt | -38 °C | 176 kt | 9 h 45 min | 11:50 am EDT (15:50 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 250° at 50 kt | −53 kt | -47 °C | 173 kt | 9 h 55 min | 12:00 pm EDT (16:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ONT | used from 0 nm out; 18 nm from the line | 190/8 | 190/19 6° | 210/23 4° | 210/29 -3° | 210/47 -13° | 210/49 -19° | 220/47 -30° | 220/50 -36° | 220/55 -43° |
| LAS | used from 150 nm out; 51 nm from the line | 210/21 10° | 200/18 5° | 200/23 -2° | 210/49 -14° | 210/63 -21° | 220/58 -30° | 220/61 -35° | 210/56 -44° | |
| BCE | used from 299 nm out; 87 nm from the line | 220/27 -1° | 210/40 -13° | 220/54 -21° | 220/64 -30° | 220/64 -34° | 220/52 -44° | |||
| FMN | used from 449 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 220/28 9° | 220/40 2° | 220/53 -10° | 220/62 -22° | 230/79 -28° | 240/91 -34° | 230/71 -45° | ||
| ALS | used from 599 nm out; 56 nm from the line | 230/37 4° | 220/54 -9° | 230/62 -22° | 240/77 -26° | 240/74 -33° | 230/59 -45° | |||
| PUB | used from 648 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 230/25 13° | 230/32 6° | 220/44 -8° | 230/49 -21° | 240/70 -28° | 240/67 -34° | 240/58 -46° | ||
| GLD | used from 798 nm out; 44 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° | |
| GRI | used from 948 nm out; 83 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° | |
| OMA | used from 1097 nm out; 48 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° |
| DSM | used from 1197 nm out; 43 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° |
| BRL | used from 1297 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 230/24 | 240/29 15° | 290/16 10° | 280/15 4° | 260/23 -7° | 260/32 -19° | 260/36 -33° | 280/48 -41° | 280/59 -52° |
| DBQ | used from 1397 nm out; 61 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° |
| JOT | used from 1447 nm out; 30 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° |
| MKG | used from 1546 nm out; 75 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° |
| FWA | used from 1596 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 300/17 | 320/20 16° | 330/20 10° | 340/15 3° | 310/27 -8° | 320/37 -20° | 330/52 -36° | 330/65 -43° | 330/60 -50° |
| CLE | used from 1696 nm out; 90 nm from the line | 340/7 | 010/16 13° | 350/18 8° | 350/20 3° | 340/31 -10° | 340/46 -21° | 340/54 -37° | 330/62 -44° | 340/65 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAX Los Angeles, CA | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,400 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 3,400 ft | 127 ft | 10:53 pm PDT (05:53 UTC) |
| EMT El Monte, CA | 20 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 4,400 feet, overcast at 5,500 feet | from the south (170°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | 5,500 ft | 295 ft | 02:45 UTC |
| IFP Bullhead City, AZ | 200 nm out, 19 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 12,000 feet | from the southwest (220°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 707 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| BDG Blanding, UT | 489 nm out, 17 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 3,200 feet, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 4,800 feet, overcast at 6,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 11 knots, gusting to 19 | 10+ mi | 4,800 ft | 5,867 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| TEX Telluride, CO | 569 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 6,000 feet, a broken layer at 7,000 feet | from the south-southwest (210°) at 10 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 9,069 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| COS Colorado Springs, CO | 718 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 feet, a few clouds at 18,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | none | 6,187 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| NRN Norton, KS | 958 nm out, 3 nm southwest of the line | VFR | from the south (190°) at 12 knots, gusting to 20 | 10+ mi | none | 2,384 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| LNK Lincoln, NE | 1107 nm out, 20 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,218 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| CSQ Creston, IA | 1217 nm out, 5 nm north of the line | VFR | from the south (180°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,299 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| ARR Chicago/Aurora, IL | 1487 nm out, 1 nm northwest of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 712 ft | 05:52 UTC |
| ARB Ann Arbor, MI | 1696 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line, tower | reported, no category | calm | none | 839 ft | 05:53 UTC | |
| DTW Detroit, MI | destination | marginal VFR Sky: overcast at 1,100 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 1,100 ft | 645 ft | 1:53 am EDT (05:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 9,069 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At DTW when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 11:50 am EDT (15:50 UTC)
Wind from the southwest at 9 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 25,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for DTW
- From Mon 2:00 am EDT (06:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, overcast at 1,500 feet
- From Mon 3:00 am EDT (07:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 4 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- At times between Mon 5:00 am EDT (09:00 UTC) and 9:00 am EDT (13:00 UTC): visibility 1 mile, mist, a broken layer at 300 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am EDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 9 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 22, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 25,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm EDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 9,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet
The forecast for LAX, the departure
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am PDT (17:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 15 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 6:00 pm PDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the west at 10 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 4,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA 16 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · ZLA
- 6/8891 Bullhead City, AZ, Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Local 9 nm from the route, 200 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts Wednesday 14 October · ZLA
- 6/8890 LAS VEGAS, NV, Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Local 16 nm from the route, 200 nm along the route · a VIP movement · starts tomorrow · ZLA
- 6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 24 nm from the route, 698 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV
Daylight
Sunset at LAX 6:23 pm PDT (01:23 UTC), at DTW 6:56 pm EDT (22:56 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:24 pm EDT (23:24 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: Los Angeles International, Detroit Metro Wayne County.