Nonstop flight route between Kivalina, Alaska, United States and Rapid City, South Dakota, United States:
Departure Airport:
(67°44'9"N by 164°33'48"W)
Arrival Airport:
(44°8'47"N by 103°4'28"W)
Distance from KVL to RCA:
2,712.25 miles (4,364.93 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- KVL Airport Information
- RCA Airport Information
- Facts about KVL
- Facts about RCA
- Map of Nearest Airports to KVL
- List of Nearest Airports to KVL
- Map of Furthest Airports from KVL
- List of Furthest Airports from KVL
- Map of Nearest Airports to RCA
- List of Nearest Airports to RCA
- Map of Furthest Airports from RCA
- List of Furthest Airports from RCA
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Kivalina Airport (KVL), Kivalina, Alaska, United States and Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 2,712 miles (or 4,365 kilometers).
A Great Circle is the shortest distance between 2 points on a sphere. Because most world maps are flat (but the Earth is round), the route of the shortest distance between 2 points on the Earth will often appear curved when viewed on a flat map, especially for long distances. If you were to simply draw a straight line on a flat map and measure a very long distance, it would likely be much further than if you were to lay a string between those two points on a globe. Because of the large distance between Kivalina Airport and Ellsworth Air Force Base, the route shown on this map most likely appears curved because of this reason.
Try it at home! Get a globe and tightly lay a string between Kivalina Airport and Ellsworth Air Force Base. You'll see that it will travel the same route of the red line on this map!
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | KVL / PAVL |
| Airport Name: | Kivalina Airport |
| Location: | Kivalina, Alaska, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 67°44'9"N by 164°33'48"W |
| Operator/Owner: | State of Alaska DOT&PF - Northern Region |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 13 feet (4 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from KVL |
| More Information: | KVL Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | RCA / KRCA |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Rapid City, South Dakota, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 44°8'47"N by 103°4'28"W |
| View all routes: | Routes from RCA |
| More Information: | RCA Maps & Info |
Facts about Kivalina Airport (KVL):
- Because of Kivalina Airport's relatively low elevation of 13 feet, planes can take off or land at Kivalina Airport at a lower air speed than at airports located at a higher elevation. This is because the air density is higher closer to sea level than it would otherwise be at higher elevations.
- Kivalina Airport (KVL) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Kivalina Airport (KVL) is Noatak Airport (WTK), which is located 43 miles (70 kilometers) ESE of KVL.
- The furthest airport from Kivalina Airport (KVL) is Teniente Rodolfo Marsh Airport (TNM), which is located 10,364 miles (16,679 kilometers) away in Villa Las Estrellas, Antarctica.
Facts about Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA):
- In addition to being known as "Ellsworth Air Force Base", another name for RCA is "Ellsworth AFB".
- In March 1944, heavy bomber operational training ended and the 225th Army Air Force Base Unit began training of replacement personnel for deployed heavy bombardment units in the overseas combat theaters.
- The closest airport to Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA) is Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP), which is located only 7 miles (11 kilometers) S of RCA.
- The furthest airport from Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 10,579 miles (17,026 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
- Air Defense Command activated the 740th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron at Rapid City AFB on 1 February 1953 under the ADC 31st Air Division.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 43.32 miles (69.72 km) ESE | Noatak Airport (WTK) | Noatak, Alaska, United States |     |
| 2 | 71.61 miles (115.25 km) NW | Point Hope Airport (PHO) | Point Hope, Alaska, United States | |
| 3 | 78.75 miles (126.74 km) SE | Ralph Wien Memorial Airport (OTZ) | Kotzebue, Alaska, United States | |
| 4 | 88.05 miles (141.71 km) NNW | Cape Lisburne LRRS Airport (LUR) | Cape Lisburne, Alaska, United States | |
| 5 | 110.67 miles (178.10 km) SSW | Shishmaref Airport (SHH) | Shishmaref, Alaska, United States | |
| 6 | 113.82 miles (183.18 km) ESE | Robert (Bob) Curtis Memorial Airport (ORV) | Noorvik, Alaska, United States | |
| 7 | 121.67 miles (195.81 km) ESE | Bob Baker Memorial Airport (IAN) | Kiana, Alaska, United States | |
| 8 | 125.02 miles (201.20 km) SSE | Deering Airport (DRG) | Deering, Alaska, United States | |
| 9 | 143.29 miles (230.60 km) NNE | Point Lay LRRS Airport (PIZ) | Point Lay, Alaska, United States | |
| 10 | 145.63 miles (234.37 km) ESE | Selawik Airport (WLK) | Selawik, Alaska, United States | |
| 11 | 152.57 miles (245.53 km) SE | Buckland Airport (BKC) | Buckland, Alaska, United States | |
| 12 | 174.18 miles (280.31 km) SSW | Brevig Mission Airport (KTS) | Brevig Mission, Alaska, United States | |
| 13 | 175.03 miles (281.69 km) SW | Wales Airport (WAA) | Wales, Alaska, United States | |
| 14 | 176.01 miles (283.26 km) SSW | Tin City LRRS Airport (TNC) | Tin City, Alaska, United States | |
| 15 | 176.72 miles (284.40 km) SSW | Lost River 1 Airport (LSR) | Lost River, Alaska, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,364.05 miles (16,679.28 km) ESE | Teniente Rodolfo Marsh Airport (TNM) | Villa Las Estrellas, Antarctica | |
| 2 | 10,100.34 miles (16,254.89 km) S | Cape Town International Airport (CPT) | Cape Town, South Africa | |
| 3 | 10,089.94 miles (16,238.15 km) S | George Airport (GRJ) | George, South Africa | |
| 4 | 10,069.84 miles (16,205.79 km) SSW | Port Elizabeth International Airport (PLZ) | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | |
| 5 | 10,031.19 miles (16,143.59 km) SSW | Port Alfred Airport (AFD) | Port Alfred, South Africa | |
| 6 | 9,988.26 miles (16,074.50 km) SSW | East London Airport (ELS) | East London, South Africa | |
| 7 | 9,879.36 miles (15,899.24 km) SSW | Mthatha Airport (UTT) | Mthatha, South Africa | |
| 8 | 9,849.77 miles (15,851.62 km) ESE | Port Stanley Airport (PSY) | Stanley, Falkland Islands, United Kingdom | |
| 9 | 9,840.28 miles (15,836.35 km) ESE | RAF Mount Pleasant (MPN) | Falkland Islands | |
| 10 | 9,817.51 miles (15,799.72 km) SSW | Margate Airport (MGH) | Margate, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa | |
| 11 | 9,806.72 miles (15,782.35 km) S | Kleinsee Airport (KLZ) | Kleinzee, South Africa | |
| 12 | 9,776.20 miles (15,733.23 km) S | Aggeneys Airport (AGZ) | Aggeneys, South Africa | |
| 13 | 9,776.20 miles (15,733.23 km) S | Wild Coast Sun Airport (MZF) | Mzamba, South Africa | |
| 14 | 9,771.25 miles (15,725.27 km) SSW | Mafeteng Airport (MFC) | Mafeteng, Lesotho | |
| 15 | 9,767.53 miles (15,719.28 km) SSW | Semonkong Airport (SOK) | Semonkong, Lesotho | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 7.04 miles (11.33 km) S | Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP) | Rapid City, South Dakota, United States | |
| 2 | 41.93 miles (67.49 km) WNW | Black Hills Airport (SPF) | Spearfish, South Dakota, United States | |
| 3 | 82.62 miles (132.96 km) SSE | Pine Ridge Airport (XPR) | Pine Ridge, South Dakota, United States | |
| 4 | 90.44 miles (145.55 km) S | Chadron Municipal Airport (CDR) | Chadron, Nebraska, United States | |
| 5 | 122.78 miles (197.60 km) W | Gillette–Campbell County Airport (GCC) | Gillette, Wyoming, United States | |
| 6 | 138.94 miles (223.59 km) E | Pierre Regional Airport (PIR) | Pierre, South Dakota, United States | |
| 7 | 142.03 miles (228.58 km) N | Bowman Municipal Airport (BWM) | Bowman, North Dakota, United States | |
| 8 | 145.26 miles (233.77 km) S | Alliance Municipal Airport (AIA) | Alliance, Nebraska, United States | |
| 9 | 148.71 miles (239.33 km) SW | Converse County Airport (DGW) | Douglas, Wyoming, United States | |
| 10 | 153.78 miles (247.49 km) SSW | Torrington Municipal Airport (TOR) | Torrington, Wyoming, United States | |
| 11 | 154.79 miles (249.12 km) SE | Miller Field (VTN) | Valentine, Nebraska, United States | |
| 12 | 159.20 miles (256.21 km) S | Western Nebraska Regional Airport (BFF) | Scottsbluff, Nebraska, United States | |
| 13 | 162.60 miles (261.68 km) NE | Mobridge Municipal Airport (MBG) | Mobridge, South Dakota, United States | |
| 14 | 183.63 miles (295.52 km) N | Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport (DIK) | Dickinson, North Dakota, United States | |
| 15 | 188.89 miles (303.99 km) SE | Ainsworth Regional Airport (ANW) | Ainsworth, Nebraska, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,579.32 miles (17,025.72 km) SSE | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 2 | 10,460.72 miles (16,834.85 km) SE | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 3 | 10,437.71 miles (16,797.83 km) SE | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 4 | 10,415.77 miles (16,762.51 km) SE | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 5 | 10,301.11 miles (16,577.99 km) ESE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 6 | 10,292.17 miles (16,563.61 km) W | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 10,268.77 miles (16,525.95 km) W | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 10,252.53 miles (16,499.80 km) W | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 10,244.09 miles (16,486.22 km) W | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 10,200.19 miles (16,415.58 km) W | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,193.03 miles (16,404.05 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,186.88 miles (16,394.16 km) W | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 10,186.40 miles (16,393.38 km) ESE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 10,176.73 miles (16,377.83 km) W | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,162.30 miles (16,354.60 km) SE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |