Rapid City Regional to Nashville International RAP → BNA
888 nautical miles (1,021 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 117°, about 109° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 19 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 47-knot tailwind), arriving about 6:18 am CDT (11:18 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now RAP is low IFR, wind from the west (280°) at 8 knots; BNA is 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: 2 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 4E: low cloud or poor visibility (IFR conditions) (due to ceilings below 1,000 ft, visibility below 3 miles, precipitation, mist). Over the first 170 nm of the route.
- 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). Near the route, at the departure end.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 38,000 ft. Near the route, at the departure end.
- 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 189 to 558 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 40 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 RAP.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
No pilot reports within 50 nautical miles of the line in the last three hours.
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 9 forecast points nearest it (RAP, PIR, ONL, OMA, MKC, COU, STL, CGI, BNA). 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 | 240° at 27 kt | −11 kt | 131 kt | 6 h 47 min | 7:46 am CDT (12:46 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 230° at 22 kt | −7 kt | 17 °C | 127 kt | 7 h | 7:59 am CDT (12:59 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | −9 kt | 14 °C | 129 kt | 6 h 53 min | 7:52 am CDT (12:52 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 18 kt | −10 kt | 10 °C | 130 kt | 6 h 50 min | 7:49 am CDT (12:49 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 16 kt | −9 kt | 7 °C | 129 kt | 6 h 53 min | 7:52 am CDT (12:52 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 250° at 16 kt | −10 kt | 3 °C | 130 kt | 6 h 50 min | 7:49 am CDT (12:49 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 250° at 18 kt | −13 kt | -2 °C | 133 kt | 6 h 41 min | 7:40 am CDT (12:40 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 260° at 20 kt | −15 kt | -6 °C | 135 kt | 6 h 35 min | 7:34 am CDT (12:34 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 260° at 21 kt | −15 kt | -7 °C | 135 kt | 6 h 35 min | 7:34 am CDT (12:34 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 260° at 26 kt | −19 kt | -19 °C | 139 kt | 6 h 23 min | 7:22 am CDT (12:22 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 270° at 37 kt | −31 kt | -33 °C | 151 kt | 5 h 53 min | 6:52 am CDT (11:52 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 280° at 49 kt | −45 kt | -40 °C | 165 kt | 5 h 23 min | 6:22 am CDT (11:22 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 280° at 50 kt | −47 kt | -49 °C | 167 kt | 5 h 19 min | 6:18 am CDT (11:18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAP | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 180/23 12° | 200/38 13° | 210/38 6° | 220/28 -10° | 230/34 -21° | 230/37 -36° | 250/52 -38° | 250/59 -46° | |
| PIR | used from 100 nm out; 79 nm from the line | 170/22 19° | 190/25 13° | 210/32 6° | 240/23 -9° | 250/32 -21° | 250/38 -36° | 260/44 -40° | 260/52 -47° | |
| ONL | used from 150 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 210/31 20° | 230/27 13° | 230/18 7° | 220/19 -8° | 240/26 -20° | 250/44 -35° | 270/52 -39° | 260/57 -47° | |
| OMA | used from 299 nm out; 34 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° |
| MKC | used from 449 nm out; 68 nm from the line | 220/44 | 250/28 18° | 250/18 13° | 240/12 6° | 280/24 -6° | 240/34 -18° | 260/47 -30° | 260/51 -40° | 270/58 -50° |
| COU | used from 499 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 230/31 | 230/30 15° | 260/16 11° | 270/14 6° | 260/24 -6° | 270/27 -18° | 270/37 -32° | 280/49 -41° | 290/56 -51° |
| STL | used from 598 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 250/24 | 250/24 16° | 260/23 9° | 270/16 6° | 260/25 -6° | 270/29 -19° | 290/34 -33° | 290/48 -41° | 290/54 -51° |
| CGI | used from 698 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 240/20 | 270/15 15° | 280/15 11° | 300/13 6° | 290/20 -6° | 280/24 -18° | 300/34 -32° | 300/47 -41° | 310/49 -51° |
| BNA | used from 798 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 310/20 | 340/20 17° | 330/24 10° | 340/22 5° | 330/26 -6° | 340/29 -18° | 330/52 -33° | 320/62 -41° | 340/45 -50° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAP Rapid City, SD | departure | low IFR Sky: overcast at 200 feet Weather: nearby thunderstorms, light rain, mist | from the west (280°) at 8 knots | 2.5 mi | 200 ft | 3,203 ft | 11:52 pm MDT (05:52 UTC) |
| SUO Rosebud, SD | 110 nm out, 4 nm northwest of the line | low IFR Sky: overcast at 300 feet Weather: mist | from the east-northeast (060°) at 7 knots, gusting to 12 | 5 mi | 300 ft | 2,724 ft | 05:55 UTC |
| RBE Bassett, NE | 180 nm out, 7 nm southwest of the line | no report just now | 2,349 ft | ||||
| MLE Omaha, NE | 349 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line | VFR | from the south-southeast (160°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 1,050 ft | 05:35 UTC |
| OMA Omaha, NE | 359 nm out, 11 nm north 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 |
| TRX Trenton, MO | 489 nm out, 7 nm north of the line | no report just now | 757 ft | ||||
| COU Columbia, MO | 578 nm out, 23 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 889 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| SUS St Louis, MO | 648 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower | VFR | calm | 10+ mi | none | 463 ft | 05:54 UTC |
| MDH Carbondale/Murphysboro, IL | 728 nm out, 6 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the south (190°) at 3 knots | 10+ mi | none | 411 ft | 05:52 UTC |
| CKV Clarksville, TN | 838 nm out, 4 nm east of the line | low IFR Weather: fog | calm | 0.5 mi | none | 549 ft | 05:52 UTC |
| BNA Nashville, TN | destination | VFR | calm | 9 mi | none | 599 ft | 12:53 am CDT (05:53 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 3,203 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At BNA when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 6:18 am CDT (11:18 UTC)
Wind from the south at 4 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, clear skies VFR
The whole forecast for BNA
- From Mon 1:00 am CDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 4 knots, visibility 6 miles, mist, clear skies
- From Mon 7:00 am CDT (12:00 UTC): wind from the south at 2 knots, visibility 5 miles, mist, scattered clouds at 300 feet
- From Mon 9:00 am CDT (14:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 20,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm CDT (01:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for RAP, the departure
- From Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the east-southeast at 8 knots, visibility 2 miles, mist, a broken layer at 400 feet
- At times between Mon 12:00 am MDT (06:00 UTC) and 3:00 am MDT (09:00 UTC): visibility 6 miles, light thunderstorms with rain, mist, a broken layer at 1,000 feet (thunderheads)
- From Mon 10:00 am MDT (16:00 UTC): wind from the north-northwest at 20 knots, gusting to 30, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,000 feet, a broken layer at 12,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/7634 CENTRALIA, MO, Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 5 nm from the route, 568 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · today · ZKC
- 6/0708 Goodlettsville, TN, Saturday, August 1, 2026 through Sunday, August 1, 2027 UTC 10 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · until 1 August · ZME
Daylight
Sunset at RAP 6:13 pm MDT (00:13 UTC), at BNA 6:15 pm CDT (23:15 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:40 pm CDT (23:40 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at BNA is before sunrise there (6:50 am CDT (11:50 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: Rapid City Regional, Nashville International.