Kansas City International to Sacramento International MCI → SMF
1,250 nautical miles (1,439 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 277°, about 275° magnetic at the departure end (variation 2E). At 120 knots that is 11 h 04 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 7-knot headwind), arriving about 5:20 am PDT (12:20 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: 416 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 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 367 to 1002 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 446 to 873 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 536 to 992 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 546 to 804 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Near the route, 645 nm along the route.
- AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 685 to 1071 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 1131 to 1171 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 MCI.
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 11 forecast points nearest it (MKC, SLN, GRI, GLD, DEN, GJT, SLC, ELY, BAM, RNO, SAC). 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 | 210° at 19 kt | +7 kt | 19 °C | 113 kt | 11 h 04 min | 5:20 am PDT (12:20 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 220° at 20 kt | +11 kt | 15 °C | 109 kt | 11 h 28 min | 5:44 am PDT (12:44 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 210° at 24 kt | +14 kt | 10 °C | 106 kt | 11 h 48 min | 6:04 am PDT (13:04 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 220° at 26 kt | +17 kt | 6 °C | 103 kt | 12 h 08 min | 6:24 am PDT (13:24 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 230° at 29 kt | +21 kt | 1 °C | 99 kt | 12 h 38 min | 6:54 am PDT (13:54 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 230° at 32 kt | +24 kt | -3 °C | 96 kt | 13 h 01 min | 7:17 am PDT (14:17 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 230° at 36 kt | +27 kt | -7 °C | 93 kt | 13 h 26 min | 7:42 am PDT (14:42 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 38 kt | +29 kt | -11 °C | 91 kt | 13 h 44 min | 8:00 am PDT (15:00 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 220° at 44 kt | +29 kt | -22 °C | 91 kt | 13 h 44 min | 8:00 am PDT (15:00 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 55 kt | +44 kt | -30 °C | 76 kt | 16 h 27 min | 10:43 am PDT (17:43 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 240° at 59 kt | +51 kt | -37 °C | 69 kt | 18 h 07 min | 12:23 pm PDT (19:23 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 240° at 58 kt | +52 kt | -46 °C | 68 kt | 18 h 23 min | 12:39 pm PDT (19:39 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MKC | used from 0 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 200/28 | 220/30 16° | 270/20 11° | 280/22 7° | 260/27 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 280/38 -32° | 270/38 -40° | 280/50 -52° |
| SLN | used from 50 nm out; 74 nm from the line | 190/37 | 220/39 20° | 240/31 14° | 250/24 7° | 260/25 -7° | 250/26 -17° | 250/44 -31° | 260/47 -40° | 260/47 -50° |
| GRI | used from 198 nm out; 96 nm from the line | 210/31 19° | 240/21 14° | 240/17 6° | 260/27 -7° | 260/34 -18° | 240/45 -32° | 250/56 -40° | 260/62 -51° | |
| GLD | used from 248 nm out; 55 nm from the line | 190/29 | 200/30 15° | 240/23 8° | 250/39 -7° | 230/39 -19° | 230/57 -31° | 240/67 -39° | 250/62 -49° | |
| DEN | used from 397 nm out; 40 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 546 nm out; 80 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 744 nm out; 74 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° | |
| ELY | used from 843 nm out; 66 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° | ||
| BAM | used from 992 nm out; 80 nm from the line | 270/8 4° | 230/27 -4° | 220/49 -18° | 210/52 -26° | 220/77 -29° | 220/71 -33° | 220/63 -43° | ||
| RNO | used from 1091 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 320/7 | 260/13 1° | 230/21 -7° | 210/38 -17° | 220/43 -26° | 230/54 -29° | 230/59 -32° | 230/54 -41° | |
| SAC | used from 1191 nm out; 34 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° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCI Kansas City, MO | departure | no report just now | 1,027 ft | ||||
| TOP Topeka, KS | 40 nm out, 19 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 881 ft | ||||
| CNK Concordia, KS | 139 nm out, 2 nm east of the line | no report just now | 1,488 ft | ||||
| SYF St Francis, KS | 327 nm out, 2 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 3,429 ft | ||||
| CFO Denver, CO | 456 nm out, 1 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,515 ft | ||||
| EGE Eagle, CO | 565 nm out, 9 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 6,547 ft | ||||
| PUC Price, UT | 744 nm out, 5 nm south of the line | no report just now | 5,957 ft | ||||
| DTA Delta, UT | 823 nm out, 13 nm south of the line | no report just now | 4,759 ft | ||||
| ELY Ely, NV | 933 nm out, 8 nm south of the line | no report just now | 6,259 ft | ||||
| GAB Gabbs, NV | 1081 nm out, 13 nm south of the line | no report just now | 4,699 ft | ||||
| TVL South Lake Tahoe, CA | 1171 nm out, 4 nm west of the line | no report just now | 6,268 ft | ||||
| SMF Sacramento, CA | destination | no report just now | 26 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 SMF when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 5:20 am PDT (12:20 UTC)
SMF has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/3475 BEALE AFB, CA, Sunday, March 8, 2026 through Sunday, November 1, 2026 Local 15 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 1 November · ZOA
- 6/6740 SACRAMENTO, CA, Thursday, October 8, 2026 through Sunday, October 11, 2026 Local 4 nm from the route, at the destination end · air shows/sports · ended 11 October · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at MCI 6:44 pm CDT (23:44 UTC), at SMF 6:32 pm PDT (01:32 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:59 pm PDT (01:59 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SMF is before sunrise there (7:12 am PDT (14:12 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: Kansas City International, Sacramento International.