Rapid City Regional to Sacramento Mather Airport RAP → MHR
884 nautical miles (1,017 statute miles) west on a straight line, true course 254°, about 246° magnetic at the departure end (variation 8E). At 120 knots that is 7 h 22 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, no wind along the track), arriving about 12:31 am PDT (07:31 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: 1 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
- SIGMET W70W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 32,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 40 knots, until 7:55 pm MDT (01:55 UTC). Over the route from 109 to 318 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 112355 MKCW WST 112355 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 70W VALID UNTIL 0155Z MT WY FROM 30SSW MLS-60WNW BFF-40SSE OCS-10S BPI-10S BIL-30SSW MLS AREA TS MOV FROM 22040KT. TOPS TO FL320.
- SIGMET W71W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 27,000 ft, moving from the south at 40 knots, until 7:55 pm MDT (01:55 UTC). Over the route from 367 to 497 nm out.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 112355 MKCW WST 112355 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 71W VALID UNTIL 0155Z WY UT ID FROM 40S DBS-40WNW BPI-30WSW MTU-30SSW DTA-30SE TWF-40S DBS AREA EMBD TS MOV FROM 20040KT. TOPS TO FL270.
- SIGMET W72W: thunderstorms (a convective SIGMET) up to 30,000 ft, moving from the southwest at 20 knots, until 7:55 pm MDT (01:55 UTC). Near the route, 695 nm along the route.
as issued
WSUS33 KKCI 112355 MKCW WST 112355 CONVECTIVE SIGMET 72W VALID UNTIL 0155Z NV FROM 60SSW BAM-60W ELY-OAL-40WNW OAL-60SSW BAM AREA TS MOV FROM 23020KT. TOPS TO FL300.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the first 636 nm of the route.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 119 to 447 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 149 to 596 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 159 to 417 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 278 to 725 nm out.
- 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 route from 407 to 447 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Near the route, 814 nm along 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
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 7 forecast points nearest it (RAP, LND, PIH, SLC, 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 | light and variable | 0 | 12 °C | 120 kt | 7 h 22 min | 12:31 am PDT (07:31 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 210° at 4 kt | +3 kt | 10 °C | 117 kt | 7 h 33 min | 12:42 am PDT (07:42 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 200° at 17 kt | +11 kt | 8 °C | 109 kt | 8 h 07 min | 1:16 am PDT (08:16 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 210° at 26 kt | +19 kt | 3 °C | 101 kt | 8 h 45 min | 1:54 am PDT (08:54 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 210° at 34 kt | +26 kt | -2 °C | 94 kt | 9 h 24 min | 2:33 am PDT (09:33 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 210° at 38 kt | +30 kt | -6 °C | 90 kt | 9 h 49 min | 2:58 am PDT (09:58 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 210° at 43 kt | +35 kt | -9 °C | 85 kt | 10 h 24 min | 3:33 am PDT (10:33 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 210° at 46 kt | +38 kt | -13 °C | 82 kt | 10 h 47 min | 3:56 am PDT (10:56 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 210° at 46 kt | +37 kt | -23 °C | 83 kt | 10 h 39 min | 3:48 am PDT (10:48 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 54 kt | +47 kt | -31 °C | 73 kt | 12 h 07 min | 5:16 am PDT (12:16 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 230° at 61 kt | +58 kt | -36 °C | 62 kt | 14 h 15 min | 7:24 am PDT (14:24 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 230° at 60 kt | +58 kt | -45 °C | 62 kt | 14 h 15 min | 7:24 am PDT (14:24 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAP | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 120/15 12° | 180/22 11° | 220/26 5° | 230/35 -9° | 240/40 -22° | 240/50 -37° | 240/51 -41° | 240/47 -47° | |
| LND | used from 149 nm out; 84 nm from the line | 180/33 10° | 190/50 3° | 210/59 -9° | 200/50 -21° | 190/41 -34° | 230/55 -39° | 240/65 -47° | ||
| PIH | used from 348 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 270/10 | 270/13 1° | 210/16 -2° | 200/56 -11° | 200/51 -23° | 200/68 -33° | 220/77 -37° | 230/73 -44° | |
| SLC | used from 397 nm out; 60 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° | |
| BAM | used from 546 nm out; 77 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 745 nm out; 31 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 844 nm out; 29 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAP Rapid City, SD | departure | no report just now | 3,203 ft | ||||
| ECS Newcastle, WY | 60 nm out, 7 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 4,177 ft | ||||
| CPR Casper, WY | 159 nm out, 23 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,344 ft | ||||
| LND Lander, WY | 258 nm out, 4 nm north of the line | no report just now | 5,588 ft | ||||
| BPI Big Piney, WY | 318 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 6,993 ft | ||||
| LGU Logan, UT | 407 nm out, 5 nm south of the line | no report just now | 4,456 ft | ||||
| EKO Elko, NV | 596 nm out, 11 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 5,139 ft | ||||
| BAM Battle Mountain, NV | 646 nm out, 19 nm northwest of the line | no report just now | 4,536 ft | ||||
| RNO Reno, NV | 795 nm out, 18 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,414 ft | ||||
| TRK Truckee, CA | 814 nm out, 16 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,904 ft | ||||
| MHR Sacramento, CA | destination | no report just now | 98 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,993 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At MHR when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 12:31 am PDT (07:31 UTC)
MHR 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 24 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 on the route, at the destination end · air shows/sports · ended 11 October · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at RAP 6:13 pm MDT (00:13 UTC), at MHR 6:31 pm PDT (01:31 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:58 pm PDT (01:58 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at MHR is before sunrise there (7:11 am PDT (14:11 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, Sacramento Mather Airport.
