San Diego International to Washington Dulles International SAN → IAD
1,954 nautical miles (2,248 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 068°, about 057° magnetic at the departure end (variation 11E). At 120 knots that is 10 h 48 min at the quickest height in today's winds (34,000 ft, a 61-knot tailwind), arriving about 3:51 pm EDT (19:51 UTC). 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: 2,779 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 2E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 10 to 40 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 30 to 379 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 219 to 319 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 299 to 339 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) from 34,000 ft to 43,000 ft. Over the route from 299 to 728 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 309 to 468 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 518 to 638 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 2W: 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 608 to 1266 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, fog). Over the last 458 nm of the route.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, mist). Over the route from 1754 to 1904 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 6,000 ft. Over the last 130 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 SAN.
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 08:00–15:00 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 21 forecast points nearest it (SAN, BLH, PRC, FMN, ABQ, ALS, TCC, AMA, GCK, GAG, ICT, MKC, SGF, COU, STL, EVV, LOU, CVG, CRW, EKN, RIC). 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 | 250° at 23 kt | −24 kt | 144 kt | 13 h 34 min | 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 260° at 19 kt | −20 kt | 16 °C | 140 kt | 13 h 57 min | 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 17 kt | −18 kt | 11 °C | 138 kt | 14 h 10 min | 7:13 pm EDT (23:13 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 16 kt | −18 kt | 8 °C | 138 kt | 14 h 10 min | 7:13 pm EDT (23:13 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | −20 kt | 5 °C | 140 kt | 13 h 57 min | 7:00 pm EDT (23:00 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 240° at 23 kt | −24 kt | 1 °C | 144 kt | 13 h 34 min | 6:37 pm EDT (22:37 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 250° at 27 kt | −28 kt | -3 °C | 148 kt | 13 h 12 min | 6:15 pm EDT (22:15 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 250° at 31 kt | −33 kt | -7 °C | 153 kt | 12 h 46 min | 5:49 pm EDT (21:49 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 32 kt | −34 kt | -8 °C | 154 kt | 12 h 41 min | 5:44 pm EDT (21:44 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 250° at 39 kt | −41 kt | -20 °C | 161 kt | 12 h 08 min | 5:11 pm EDT (21:11 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 53 kt | −57 kt | -30 °C | 177 kt | 11 h 02 min | 4:05 pm EDT (20:05 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 260° at 56 kt | −61 kt | -38 °C | 181 kt | 10 h 48 min | 3:51 pm EDT (19:51 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 52 kt | −56 kt | -49 °C | 176 kt | 11 h 06 min | 4:09 pm EDT (20:09 UTC) |
Based on data from the 12th at 06:00 UTC; valid on the 12th at 12:00 UTC for use 08:00 to 15:00 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAN | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 240/10 | 220/19 6° | 230/26 2° | 230/29 -3° | 230/43 -11° | 220/61 -20° | 220/72 -29° | 220/75 -38° | 220/71 -48° |
| BLH | used from 50 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 240/19 | 210/20 10° | 200/27 4° | 210/34 -2° | 220/59 -10° | 220/67 -20° | 220/75 -29° | 230/78 -38° | 220/90 -47° |
| PRC | used from 199 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 200/37 6° | 200/35 0° | 220/60 -11° | 220/71 -20° | 220/88 -29° | 220/98 -35° | 220/94 -45° | ||
| FMN | used from 399 nm out; 105 nm from the line | 220/16 6° | 220/39 1° | 220/50 -10° | 230/67 -23° | 230/94 -29° | 230/102 -35° | 230/90 -46° | ||
| ABQ | used from 498 nm out; 50 nm from the line | 220/19 9° | 220/35 3° | 230/50 -8° | 240/64 -19° | 230/83 -26° | 230/85 -36° | 230/80 -48° | ||
| ALS | used from 598 nm out; 83 nm from the line | 240/35 3° | 230/54 -9° | 240/66 -19° | 230/85 -26° | 240/87 -34° | 240/70 -47° | |||
| TCC | used from 648 nm out; 78 nm from the line | 240/20 | 230/22 13° | 230/27 6° | 230/40 -7° | 240/55 -18° | 240/74 -27° | 240/68 -37° | 250/64 -49° | |
| AMA | used from 748 nm out; 98 nm from the line | 230/32 | 230/28 14° | 230/27 7° | 230/38 -6° | 230/50 -17° | 250/69 -28° | 260/62 -37° | 270/65 -49° | |
| GCK | used from 797 nm out; 64 nm from the line | 240/40 22° | 240/40 14° | 240/38 7° | 230/39 -7° | 230/45 -20° | 250/73 -28° | 260/74 -36° | 260/64 -49° | |
| GAG | used from 897 nm out; 67 nm from the line | 240/35 22° | 240/27 14° | 230/25 6° | 240/38 -7° | 230/44 -19° | 250/73 -28° | 270/66 -37° | 270/58 -49° | |
| ICT | used from 947 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 230/45 | 240/33 21° | 230/23 14° | 230/22 7° | 240/29 -7° | 240/36 -20° | 260/78 -29° | 270/69 -36° | 270/56 -49° |
| MKC | used from 1096 nm out; 75 nm from the line | 240/49 | 240/21 20° | 220/19 13° | 230/21 6° | 260/26 -7° | 250/37 -19° | 270/66 -31° | 270/65 -38° | 280/60 -48° |
| SGF | used from 1146 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 230/37 | 260/20 15° | 250/16 13° | 250/15 8° | 260/28 -7° | 250/31 -17° | 280/59 -31° | 280/59 -39° | 290/55 -50° |
| COU | used from 1196 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 250/36 | 260/14 16° | 250/5 12° | 260/12 6° | 260/24 -7° | 260/35 -19° | 280/58 -31° | 280/62 -40° | 290/60 -49° |
| STL | used from 1296 nm out; 33 nm from the line | 250/26 | 240/21 15° | 240/22 11° | 250/23 6° | 270/28 -7° | 260/30 -19° | 280/52 -31° | 280/57 -40° | 300/57 -49° |
| EVV | used from 1395 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 270/25 | 290/17 15° | 260/10 8° | 270/16 5° | 280/29 -6° | 280/33 -19° | 290/38 -33° | 300/53 -41° | 310/54 -51° |
| LOU | used from 1545 nm out; 36 nm from the line | 300/16 | 310/19 15° | 310/17 9° | 300/15 4° | 300/26 -6° | 280/34 -19° | 290/30 -34° | 310/49 -42° | 310/58 -51° |
| CVG | used from 1595 nm out; 11 nm from the line | 300/19 | 310/23 15° | 320/20 9° | 310/18 3° | 300/26 -6° | 290/36 -19° | 310/32 -34° | 310/53 -43° | 310/61 -51° |
| CRW | used from 1694 nm out; 53 nm from the line | 320/17 | 340/23 12° | 340/32 8° | 340/35 4° | 330/40 -7° | 340/45 -20° | 340/57 -34° | 340/64 -42° | 320/38 -50° |
| EKN | used from 1794 nm out; 23 nm from the line | 330/20 10° | 350/29 7° | 340/32 2° | 340/44 -8° | 350/50 -21° | 350/63 -35° | 340/69 -40° | 330/42 -50° | |
| RIC | used from 1944 nm out; 87 nm from the line | 350/34 | 340/27 12° | 340/36 8° | 330/31 3° | 310/32 -9° | 320/34 -21° | 300/37 -34° | 290/37 -39° | 290/42 -46° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAN San Diego, CA | departure | no report just now | 16 ft | ||||
| RNM Ramona, CA | 20 nm out, 12 nm northwest of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,394 ft | ||||
| PRC Prescott, AZ | 259 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 5,045 ft | ||||
| SAF Santa Fe, NM | 578 nm out, 19 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 6,348 ft | ||||
| CAO Clayton, NM | 728 nm out, 9 nm south of the line | no report just now | 4,969 ft | ||||
| LBL Liberal, KS | 837 nm out, 2 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 2,885 ft | ||||
| ICT Wichita, KS | 1007 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,332 ft | ||||
| CPS Cahokia/St Louis, IL | 1356 nm out, 5 nm northeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 412 ft | ||||
| BLV Belleville, IL | 1375 nm out, 1 nm west of the line, tower | no report just now | 459 ft | ||||
| CVG Covington, KY | 1615 nm out, 11 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 896 ft | ||||
| CKB Clarksburg, WV | 1824 nm out, 20 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,223 ft | ||||
| IAD Washington, DC | destination | no report just now | 312 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,348 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At IAD when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 3:51 pm EDT (19:51 UTC)
IAD has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/4812 El Centro, CA, Wednesday, July 15, 2026 through Tuesday, July 13, 2027 Local 4 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · until 13 July · ZLA
- 6/8029 Cincinnati, OH, Friday, October 9, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 6 nm from the route, 1615 nm along the route · a VIP movement · until 12 October · ZID
- 4/9383 WASHINGTON, DC., USA 8 nm from the route, at the destination end · security · ZDC
- 6/8600 Sterling, VA, Monday, October 12, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 Local 4 nm from the route, at the destination end · a VIP movement · today · ZDC
Daylight
Sunset at SAN 6:18 pm PDT (01:18 UTC), at IAD 6:36 pm EDT (22:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm EDT (23:02 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: San Diego International, Washington Dulles International.