Tucson International to San Francisco International TUS → SFO
652 nautical miles (751 statute miles) northwest on a straight line, true course 304°, about 295° magnetic at the departure end (variation 9E). At 120 knots that is 5 h 08 min at the quickest height in today's winds (4,500 ft, a 7-knot tailwind), arriving about 4:38 am PDT (11:38 UTC), after sunset at the destination. Right now TUS is VFR, wind calm; SFO is VFR, wind from the south (180°) at 8 knots. 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: 1,900 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 2W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 35,000 ft to 45,000 ft. Over the route from 109 to 287 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence below 18,000 ft (due to mountain wave) up to 15,000 ft. Over the route from 267 to 445 nm out.
- AIRMET TANGO 1W: moderate turbulence above 18,000 ft from 18,000 ft to 39,000 ft. Over the last 69 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 TUS.
Pilot reports along the route within 50 nm of the line, last three hours, the serious ones first
- B737 at 16,000 ft, 46 nm northeast, 8:45 pm MST (03:45 UTC): light rime icing, -9 °C. 316 nm along the route, 46 nm northeast of the line.
as filed, and in English
LAS UA /OV LAS215045/TM 0345/FL160/TP B737/TA M09/IC LGT RIME
- Report
- a routine report filed through LAS
- Where
- 45 nm southwest (215°) of LAS
- Time
- 03:45 UTC
- Height
- at 16,000 ft
- Aircraft
- B737
- Temperature
- −9 °C
- Icing
- light rime
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 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 (TUS, PHX, BLH, ONT, WJF, FAT, SFO). 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 | 180° at 15 kt | −7 kt | 8 °C | 127 kt | 5 h 08 min | 4:38 am PDT (11:38 UTC) |
| 6,500 ft | 190° at 19 kt | −7 kt | 7 °C | 127 kt | 5 h 08 min | 4:38 am PDT (11:38 UTC) |
| 8,500 ft | 200° at 22 kt | −5 kt | 4 °C | 125 kt | 5 h 13 min | 4:43 am PDT (11:43 UTC) |
| 10,500 ft | 200° at 24 kt | −3 kt | 1 °C | 123 kt | 5 h 18 min | 4:48 am PDT (11:48 UTC) |
| 12,500 ft | 210° at 26 kt | 0 | -3 °C | 120 kt | 5 h 26 min | 4:56 am PDT (11:56 UTC) |
| 14,500 ft | 210° at 29 kt | +1 kt | -6 °C | 119 kt | 5 h 29 min | 4:59 am PDT (11:59 UTC) |
| 16,500 ft | 220° at 32 kt | +3 kt | -9 °C | 117 kt | 5 h 34 min | 5:04 am PDT (12:04 UTC) |
| 18,000 ft FL180 | 220° at 35 kt | +4 kt | -12 °C | 116 kt | 5 h 37 min | 5:07 am PDT (12:07 UTC) |
| 24,000 ft FL240 | 230° at 39 kt | +9 kt | -21 °C | 111 kt | 5 h 52 min | 5:22 am PDT (12:22 UTC) |
| 30,000 ft FL300 | 220° at 56 kt | +12 kt | -29 °C | 108 kt | 6 h 02 min | 5:32 am PDT (12:32 UTC) |
| 34,000 ft FL340 | 220° at 62 kt | +14 kt | -35 °C | 106 kt | 6 h 09 min | 5:39 am PDT (12:39 UTC) |
| 39,000 ft FL390 | 220° at 60 kt | +13 kt | -45 °C | 107 kt | 6 h 06 min | 5:36 am PDT (12:36 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TUS | used from 0 nm out; 25 nm from the line | 210/13 13° | 200/35 9° | 210/40 5° | 220/50 -7° | 220/59 -18° | 230/79 -26° | 230/84 -35° | 230/84 -48° | |
| PHX | used from 49 nm out; 39 nm from the line | 150/5 | 200/21 12° | 200/27 6° | 200/35 3° | 220/58 -8° | 220/69 -19° | 220/87 -26° | 230/93 -35° | 230/79 -47° |
| BLH | used from 148 nm out; 45 nm from the line | 210/13 | 200/21 11° | 200/22 5° | 210/25 -1° | 210/51 -10° | 220/61 -20° | 220/81 -29° | 220/92 -34° | 220/79 -45° |
| ONT | used from 296 nm out; 81 nm from the line | 190/8 | 190/19 6° | 210/23 4° | 210/29 -3° | 210/47 -13° | 210/49 -19° | 220/47 -30° | 220/50 -36° | 220/55 -43° |
| WJF | used from 346 nm out; 61 nm from the line | 200/28 6° | 210/28 3° | 210/29 -4° | 210/28 -14° | 220/41 -20° | 220/47 -29° | 220/46 -37° | 220/53 -44° | |
| FAT | used from 445 nm out; 49 nm from the line | 130/16 | 160/20 5° | 190/28 -1° | 210/25 -5° | 220/27 -15° | 230/21 -26° | 220/42 -29° | 220/44 -35° | 220/44 -44° |
| SFO | used from 593 nm out; 35 nm from the line | 120/13 | 090/14 5° | 040/14 -1° | 350/17 -5° | 360/42 -14° | 360/64 -23° | 350/38 -32° | 300/19 -37° | 250/18 -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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TUS Tucson, AZ | departure | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 feet | calm | 10+ mi | none | 2,643 ft | 10:53 pm MST (05:53 UTC) |
| AVQ Marana, AZ | 20 nm out, 7 nm north of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 6,500 feet, scattered clouds at 8,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 4 knots | 10+ mi | none | 2,031 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| BXK Buckeye, AZ | 119 nm out, 18 nm northeast of the line | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,600 feet, scattered clouds at 3,100 feet, overcast at 7,000 feet | from the east (100°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | 7,000 ft | 1,033 ft | 06:15 UTC |
| DAG Daggett, CA | 336 nm out, 16 nm southwest of the line | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 11,000 feet | from the northwest (310°) at 11 knots | 10+ mi | 11,000 ft | 1,930 ft | 05:50 UTC |
| IYK Inyokern, CA | 405 nm out, 2 nm east of the line | no report just now | 2,457 ft | ||||
| FAT Fresno, CA | 514 nm out, 15 nm north of the line, tower | VFR Sky: a broken layer at 10,000 feet, a broken layer at 15,000 feet, a broken layer at 20,000 feet | from the southeast (130°) at 13 knots | 10+ mi | 10,000 ft | 335 ft | 05:53 UTC |
| LSN Los Banos, CA | 573 nm out, 4 nm northeast of the line | no report just now | 121 ft | ||||
| RHV San Jose, CA | 623 nm out, 4 nm south of the line, tower | VFR | from the northwest (320°) at 12 knots | 10+ mi | none | 135 ft | 23:47 UTC |
| SFO San Francisco, CA | destination | VFR Sky: a few clouds at 2,000 feet | from the south (180°) at 8 knots | 10+ mi | none | 13 ft | 10:56 pm PDT (05:56 UTC) |
The highest airport on this list sits at 2,643 ft; the ground between airports is higher still. Check the sectional chart for the terrain and the minimum safe heights along the line.
At SFO when you get there the forecast at the estimated arrival, 4:38 am PDT (11:38 UTC)
Wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet VFR
The whole forecast for SFO
- From Sun 11:00 pm PDT (06:00 UTC): wind from the south at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 2,000 feet
- From Mon 11:00 am PDT (18:00 UTC): wind from the northeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 3:00 pm PDT (22:00 UTC): wind from the west at 12 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
- From Mon 8:00 pm PDT (03:00 UTC): wind from the west at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, clear skies
The forecast for TUS, the departure
- From Sun 11:00 pm MST (06:00 UTC): wind from the southwest at 6 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 8,000 feet
- From Mon 1:00 am MST (08:00 UTC): wind from the south-southeast at 5 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 5,000 feet
- From Mon 10:00 am MST (17:00 UTC): wind from the south-southwest at 14 knots, gusting to 22, visibility more than 6 miles, scattered clouds at 6,000 feet
- From Mon 8:00 pm MST (03:00 UTC): wind from the west-southwest at 8 knots, visibility more than 6 miles, a few clouds at 6,000 feet
Temporary flight restrictions on the line or within 25 nm of it
- 6/8783 38NM NE BAKERSFIELD, CA, Saturday, October 10, 2026 through Friday, October 23, 2026 UTC 7 nm from the route, 425 nm along the route · a hazard on the ground (fire-fighting, a chemical spill, rescue work) · until 23 October · ZLA
- 6/7231 Santa Clara, CA, Sunday, October 11, 2026 through Monday, October 12, 2026 UTC 3 nm from the route, at the destination end · drones kept away from a public gathering · until 12 October · ZOA
Daylight
Sunset at TUS 5:55 pm MST (00:55 UTC), at SFO 6:36 pm PDT (01:36 UTC) (civil twilight ends 7:02 pm PDT (02:02 UTC)). At 120 knots the arrival at SFO is before sunrise there (7:14 am PDT (14:14 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: Tucson International, San Francisco International.