San Francisco International to Raleigh-Durham International SFO → RDU
2,081 nautical miles (2,394 statute miles) east on a straight line, true course 079°, about 065° magnetic at the departure end (variation 14E). At 120 knots that is 12 h 37 min at the quickest height in today's winds (39,000 ft, a 45-knot tailwind), arriving about 8:34 am EDT (12:34 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: 1,763 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 3W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 119 to 358 nm out.
- AIRMET ZULU 3C: moderate icing up to 22,000 ft. Over the route from 259 to 597 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 36,000 ft. Over the route from 299 to 866 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 1E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 299 to 757 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 4W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft up to 18,000 ft. Over the route from 368 to 866 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 388 to 518 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 508 to 747 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 3W: strong surface winds (30 knots or more) (due to sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots). Near the route, 627 nm along the route.
- 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 route from 1752 to 1951 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 4E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the route from 1802 to 1981 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 5W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 7,000 ft. Over the route from 1901 to 2001 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 SFO.
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 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 20 forecast points nearest it (SFO, SAC, FAT, BIH, ELY, BCE, GJT, PUB, GLD, GCK, SLN, MKC, COU, STL, CGI, EVV, LOU, TYS, TRI, RDU). 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 13 kt | −12 kt | 15 °C | 132 kt | 15 h 46 min | 11:43 am EDT (15:43 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 240° at 17 kt | −15 kt | 11 °C | 135 kt | 15 h 25 min | 11:22 am EDT (15:22 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 240° at 19 kt | −18 kt | 9 °C | 138 kt | 15 h 05 min | 11:02 am EDT (15:02 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 250° at 20 kt | −20 kt | 5 °C | 140 kt | 14 h 52 min | 10:49 am EDT (14:49 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 250° at 22 kt | −22 kt | 0 °C | 142 kt | 14 h 39 min | 10:36 am EDT (14:36 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 250° at 24 kt | −23 kt | -4 °C | 143 kt | 14 h 33 min | 10:30 am EDT (14:30 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 250° at 26 kt | −25 kt | -8 °C | 145 kt | 14 h 21 min | 10:18 am EDT (14:18 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 250° at 26 kt | −26 kt | -9 °C | 146 kt | 14 h 15 min | 10:12 am EDT (14:12 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 240° at 29 kt | −27 kt | -20 °C | 147 kt | 14 h 09 min | 10:06 am EDT (14:06 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 250° at 43 kt | −41 kt | -30 °C | 161 kt | 12 h 56 min | 8:53 am EDT (12:53 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 250° at 45 kt | −43 kt | -38 °C | 163 kt | 12 h 46 min | 8:43 am EDT (12:43 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 260° at 45 kt | −45 kt | -48 °C | 165 kt | 12 h 37 min | 8:34 am EDT (12:34 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 220/11 | L/V 5° | 280/7 1° | 270/15 -3° | 290/23 -14° | 310/29 -24° | 280/26 -28° | 250/30 -34° | 250/36 -43° |
| SAC | used from 50 nm out; 51 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° |
| FAT | used from 100 nm out; 72 nm from the line | 180/7 | 170/9 7° | 200/20 3° | 210/27 -3° | 240/27 -14° | 230/38 -24° | 220/57 -27° | 230/42 -33° | 230/41 -44° |
| BIH | used from 149 nm out; 48 nm from the line | L/V | 210/14 6° | 210/20 -2° | 230/26 -14° | 220/32 -24° | 220/63 -27° | 220/56 -35° | 230/50 -44° | |
| ELY | used from 299 nm out; 63 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° | ||
| BCE | used from 448 nm out; 60 nm from the line | 210/47 0° | 200/50 -12° | 220/31 -23° | 220/56 -26° | 220/58 -35° | 230/58 -45° | |||
| GJT | used from 548 nm out; 86 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° | ||
| PUB | used from 747 nm out; 82 nm from the line | 210/24 16° | 210/28 8° | 230/43 -8° | 240/42 -21° | 240/77 -30° | 240/72 -36° | 250/51 -47° | ||
| GLD | used from 896 nm out; 62 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° | |
| GCK | used from 996 nm out; 54 nm from the line | 200/35 21° | 220/34 14° | 240/30 8° | 240/27 -6° | 240/31 -17° | 240/53 -30° | 250/55 -39° | 250/60 -50° | |
| SLN | used from 1095 nm out; 46 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° |
| MKC | used from 1244 nm out; 55 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° |
| COU | used from 1344 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 210/16 | 220/19 15° | 240/33 10° | 250/29 7° | 280/21 -6° | 280/19 -18° | 300/34 -31° | 300/40 -42° | 300/60 -52° |
| STL | used from 1443 nm out; 58 nm from the line | 210/13 | 260/16 17° | 270/21 10° | 280/24 5° | 310/20 -7° | 320/22 -18° | 320/44 -33° | 320/59 -43° | 310/69 -51° |
| CGI | used from 1543 nm out; 40 nm from the line | 250/10 | 290/12 17° | 290/18 11° | 300/22 5° | 320/25 -8° | 330/30 -18° | 320/53 -33° | 320/66 -42° | 320/56 -50° |
| EVV | used from 1593 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 310/13 | 340/26 16° | 330/29 10° | 330/32 4° | 330/30 -9° | 340/38 -20° | 330/60 -35° | 320/57 -41° | 330/39 -48° |
| LOU | used from 1692 nm out; 57 nm from the line | 320/15 | 340/24 14° | 330/28 9° | 340/34 4° | 340/37 -9° | 340/42 -20° | 320/39 -35° | 320/45 -39° | 330/40 -47° |
| TYS | used from 1792 nm out; 71 nm from the line | 290/19 | 310/22 11° | 330/25 7° | 330/34 3° | 320/37 -7° | 300/37 -18° | 300/37 -34° | 280/29 -39° | 270/29 -48° |
| TRI | used from 1842 nm out; 37 nm from the line | 310/28 11° | 320/32 7° | 330/30 2° | 300/28 -9° | 280/34 -21° | 250/37 -31° | 240/39 -38° | 250/35 -48° | |
| RDU | used from 1991 nm out; 65 nm from the line | 240/28 | 250/22 10° | 230/30 11° | 230/40 7° | 230/45 -4° | 220/69 -15° | 220/83 -29° | 210/84 -40° | 220/75 -52° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO San Francisco, CA | departure | no report just now | 13 ft | ||||
| LVK Livermore, CA | 30 nm out, 3 nm west of the line, tower | no report just now | 399 ft | ||||
| TPH Tonopah, NV | 249 nm out, 14 nm south of the line | no report just now | 5,430 ft | ||||
| RIF Richfield, UT | 488 nm out, 3 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 5,318 ft | ||||
| GJT Grand Junction, CO | 657 nm out, 16 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 4,861 ft | ||||
| COS Colorado Springs, CO | 836 nm out, 6 nm south of the line, tower | no report just now | 6,187 ft | ||||
| SLN Salina, KS | 1165 nm out, 8 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,288 ft | ||||
| IXD Olathe, KS | 1294 nm out, 22 nm north of the line, tower | no report just now | 1,087 ft | ||||
| MDH Carbondale/Murphysboro, IL | 1563 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 411 ft | ||||
| JQD Hartford, KY | 1682 nm out, 1 nm west of the line | no report just now | 537 ft | ||||
| GSO Greensboro, NC | 2021 nm out, 3 nm southeast of the line, tower | no report just now | 925 ft | ||||
| RDU Raleigh/Durham, NC | destination | no report just now | 435 ft |
The highest airport on this list sits at 6,187 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At RDU when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:34 am EDT (12:34 UTC)
RDU has no terminal forecast; use the nearest airport that does.
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/7455 SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Thursday, October 8, 2026 through Sunday, October 11, 2026 Local 10 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · until 11 October · ZOA
- 6/6741 SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Thursday, October 8, 2026 through Sunday, October 11, 2026 Local 7 nm from the route, at the departure end · air shows/sports · until 11 October · ZOA
- 6/7231 Santa Clara, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 16 nm from the route, at the departure end · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZOA
- 6/7094 45NM NE MERCED, CA, Sunday, October 4, 2026 through Tuesday, October 20, 2026 UTC 17 nm from the route, 119 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 20 October · ZOA
- 6/8784 LAKE GEORGE, CO, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Tuesday, October 13, 2026 UTC 2 nm from the route, 806 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 13 October · ZDV
- 6/8770 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, Saturday, October 10, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 4 nm from the route, 826 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 12 October · ZDV
Daylight
Sunset at SFO 6:36 pm PDT (01:36 UTC), at RDU 6:43 pm EDT (22:43 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:09 pm EDT (23:09 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 Francisco International, Raleigh-Durham International.