Sacramento International to San Diego International SMF → SAN
417 nautical miles (480 statute miles) southeast on a straight line, true course 148°, about 135° magnetic at the departure end (variation 13E). At 120 knots that is 3 h 34 min at the quickest height in today's winds (3,500 ft, a 3-knot headwind), arriving about 8:22 pm PDT (03:22 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now SMF is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 7 knots; SAN is VFR, wind from the southwest (230°) at 9 knots, gusting to 15. 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: 11,043 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 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 12,000 ft. Over the route from 288 to 328 nm out.
- AIRMET SIERRA 6E: mountains obscured by cloud (due to mountains obscured by clouds, precipitation, mist). Over the last 109 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 SMF.
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 5 forecast points nearest it (SAC, FAT, WJF, ONT, SAN). 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 | 220° at 7 kt | +3 kt | 117 kt | 3 h 34 min | 8:22 pm PDT (03:22 UTC) | |
| 5,500 ft | 210° at 13 kt | +6 kt | 8 °C | 114 kt | 3 h 39 min | 8:27 pm PDT (03:27 UTC) |
| 7,500 ft | 220° at 16 kt | +5 kt | 5 °C | 115 kt | 3 h 38 min | 8:26 pm PDT (03:26 UTC) |
| 9,500 ft | 230° at 20 kt | +4 kt | 2 °C | 116 kt | 3 h 36 min | 8:24 pm PDT (03:24 UTC) |
| 11,500 ft | 230° at 24 kt | +5 kt | -2 °C | 115 kt | 3 h 38 min | 8:26 pm PDT (03:26 UTC) |
| 13,500 ft | 230° at 27 kt | +6 kt | -6 °C | 114 kt | 3 h 39 min | 8:27 pm PDT (03:27 UTC) |
| 15,500 ft | 230° at 28 kt | +6 kt | -9 °C | 114 kt | 3 h 39 min | 8:27 pm PDT (03:27 UTC) |
| 17,500 ft | 230° at 30 kt | +7 kt | -12 °C | 113 kt | 3 h 41 min | 8:29 pm PDT (03:29 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 230° at 30 kt | +7 kt | -13 °C | 113 kt | 3 h 41 min | 8:29 pm PDT (03:29 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 39 kt | +7 kt | -22 °C | 113 kt | 3 h 41 min | 8:29 pm PDT (03:29 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 230° at 45 kt | +10 kt | -28 °C | 110 kt | 3 h 47 min | 8:35 pm PDT (03:35 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 45 kt | +14 kt | -34 °C | 106 kt | 3 h 56 min | 8:44 pm PDT (03:44 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 46 kt | +12 kt | -44 °C | 108 kt | 3 h 52 min | 8:40 pm PDT (03:40 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAC | used from 0 nm out; 13 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 99 nm out; 26 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° |
| WJF | used from 199 nm out; 66 nm from the line | 220/30 8° | 240/28 5° | 230/34 -2° | 220/34 -13° | 220/48 -20° | 220/47 -29° | 210/48 -34° | 220/52 -44° | |
| ONT | used from 298 nm out; 26 nm from the line | 230/11 | 200/17 6° | 230/27 4° | 230/32 -2° | 210/39 -12° | 220/51 -20° | 220/48 -29° | 210/51 -34° | 210/52 -44° |
| SAN | used from 397 nm out; 10 nm from the line | 200/10 | 240/19 9° | 240/27 5° | 230/22 -1° | 220/40 -10° | 220/49 -19° | 220/54 -29° | 220/61 -35° | 220/56 -44° |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMF Sacramento, CA | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | none | 26 ft | 3:53 pm PDT (22:53 UTC) |
| RIU Rancho Murieta, CA | 20 nm out, 13 nm east of the line | no report just now | 144 ft | ||||
| MOD Modesto, CA | 70 nm out, 9 nm southwest of the line, tower | VFR | variable at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 99 ft | 22:53 UTC |
| MER Atwater, CA | 89 nm out, 3 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the south-southwest (210°) at 6 knots | 10+ mi | none | 190 ft | 22:55 UTC |
| FAT Fresno, CA | 149 nm out, 16 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 feet, a few clouds at 13,000 feet, a few clouds at 16,000 feet | from the south-southeast (160°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 335 ft | 22:53 UTC |
| HJO Hanford, CA | 169 nm out, 5 nm east of the line | VFR | from the south-southwest (200°) at 11 knots, gusting to 18 | 9 mi | none | 239 ft | 22:53 UTC |
| BFL Bakersfield, CA | 228 nm out, 2 nm southeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the north-northwest (330°) at 9 knots | 10+ mi | none | 509 ft | 22:54 UTC |
| WJF Lancaster, CA | 288 nm out, 16 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR | from the southwest (220°) at 22 knots, gusting to 32 | 10+ mi | none | 2,350 ft | 22:56 UTC |
| EMT El Monte, CA | 328 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 4,000 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet | from the south-southeast (150°) at 10 knots | 10+ mi | 5,000 ft | 295 ft | 22:45 UTC |
| FUL Fullerton, CA | 338 nm out, 1 nm south of the line, tower | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 3,200 feet, a broken layer at 4,200 feet, overcast at 4,900 feet | variable at 5 knots | 10+ mi | 4,200 ft | 96 ft | 22:53 UTC |
| CRQ Carlsbad, CA | 397 nm out, 8 nm northeast of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,700 feet, a broken layer at 4,500 feet, overcast at 12,000 feet | from the west-southwest (240°) at 7 knots | 10+ mi | 4,500 ft | 330 ft | 22:53 UTC |
| SAN San Diego, CA | destination | VFR Sky: scattered clouds at 2,900 feet, a broken layer at 3,400 feet, overcast at 4,700 feet | from the southwest (230°) at 9 knots, gusting to 15 | 10+ mi | 3,400 ft | 16 ft | 3:51 pm PDT (22:51 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,350 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SAN when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 8:22 pm PDT (03:22 UTC)
Wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SAN
- From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 11 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 2,800 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet and more above
- From Sun 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, showers nearby, scattered clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 3,500 feet
- From Mon 12:00 pm PDT (19:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 10 knots, gusting to 17, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,500 feet, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a broken layer at 5,000 feet
The forecast for SMF, the departure
- From Sun 5:00 pm PDT (00:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 7 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 5:00 am PDT (12:00 UTC): wind light and variable, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 25,000 feet
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 17 nm from the route, at the departure end · security · until 1 November · ZOA
- 6/6740 SACRAMENTO, CA, Thursday, October 8, 2026 through Sunday, October 11, 2026 Local 1 nm from the route, at the departure end · air shows/sports · until 11 October · ZOA
- 4/3635 DISNEYLAND THEME PARK, ANAHEIM,, CA 1 nm from the route, 348 nm along the route · security · ZLA
Daylight
Sunset at SMF 6:32 pm PDT (01:32 UTC), at SAN 6:19 pm PDT (01:19 UTC) (civil twilight ends 6:44 pm PDT (01:44 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SAN is after sunset there (6:20 pm PDT (01:20 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: Sacramento International, San Diego International.