Nonstop flight route between Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States and Atwater, California, United States:
Departure Airport:
(30°7'33"N by 93°13'23"W)
Arrival Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Distance from LCH to MER:
1,642.09 miles (2,642.68 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- LCH Airport Information
- MER Airport Information
- Facts about LCH
- Facts about MER
- Map of Nearest Airports to LCH
- List of Nearest Airports to LCH
- Map of Furthest Airports from LCH
- List of Furthest Airports from LCH
- Map of Nearest Airports to MER
- List of Nearest Airports to MER
- Map of Furthest Airports from MER
- List of Furthest Airports from MER
About this route:
A direct, nonstop flight between Lake Charles Regional Airport (LCH), Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States and Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 1,642 miles (or 2,643 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 relatively short distance between Lake Charles Regional Airport and Castle Airport, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | LCH / KLCH |
| Airport Name: | Lake Charles Regional Airport |
| Location: | Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 30°7'33"N by 93°13'23"W |
| Area Served: | Lake Charles, Louisiana |
| Operator/Owner: | Calcasieu Parish |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 15 feet (5 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from LCH |
| More Information: | LCH Maps & Info |
Arrival Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | MER / KMER |
| Airport Name: | Castle Airport |
| Location: | Atwater, California, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W |
| Operator/Owner: | Merced County Department of Commerce, Aviation, and Economic Development |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 191 feet (58 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 1 |
| View all routes: | Routes from MER |
| More Information: | MER Maps & Info |
Facts about Lake Charles Regional Airport (LCH):
- Lake Charles Regional Airport covers an area of 1,878 acres at an elevation of 15 feet above mean sea level.
- Historically, Lake Charles was served by Eastern Airlines during the 1950s with Martin 4-0-4 and Convair 340 twin prop "Silver Falcon" airliner flights to Houston via Beaumont/Port Arthur and also to Baton Rouge and New Orleans via Lafayette.
- The closest airport to Lake Charles Regional Airport (LCH) is Chennault International Airport (CWF), which is located only 8 miles (12 kilometers) NE of LCH.
- The furthest airport from Lake Charles Regional Airport (LCH) is Cocos (Keeling) Island Airport (CCK), which is located 11,040 miles (17,767 kilometers) away in Cocos Islands, Australia.
- Because of Lake Charles Regional Airport's relatively low elevation of 15 feet, planes can take off or land at Lake Charles Regional 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.
- Lake Charles Regional Airport (LCH) has 2 runways.
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- The furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
- The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
- Because of Castle Airport's relatively low elevation of 191 feet, planes can take off or land at Castle 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.
- Since the mid-1940s, aircraft maintenance, fuel management, and fire training activities on the base have generated wastes that consist primarily of waste fuels, oils, solvents, and cleaners.
- It was estimated that the cost to relocate the 129 RQW to Castle, to include associated military construction costs, could be recouped in seven years.
- The airport is located at the former Castle Air Force Base which closed in 1995.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 7.55 miles (12.15 km) NE | Chennault International Airport (CWF) | Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States |     |
| 2 | 49.20 miles (79.18 km) WSW | Jack Brooks Regional Airport (BPT) | Beaumont/Port Arthur, Texas, United States | |
| 3 | 49.24 miles (79.25 km) N | Beauregard Regional AirportDeRidder Army Air Base (DRI) | De Ridder, Louisiana, United States | |
| 4 | 59.40 miles (95.60 km) W | Beaumont Municipal Airport (BMT) | Beaumont, Texas, United States | |
| 5 | 73.37 miles (118.08 km) ENE | St. Landry Parish Airport (OPL) | Opelousas, Louisiana, United States | |
| 6 | 74.03 miles (119.13 km) E | Lafayette Regional Airport (LFT) | Lafayette, Louisiana, United States | |
| 7 | 80.31 miles (129.25 km) E | Acadiana Regional Airport (ARA) | New Iberia, Louisiana, United States | |
| 8 | 92.17 miles (148.34 km) NNE | Alexandria International Airport (AEX) | Alexandria, Louisiana, United States | |
| 9 | 103.53 miles (166.62 km) NNE | Esler Field (ESF) | Alexandria, Louisiana, United States | |
| 10 | 106.16 miles (170.85 km) WSW | Baytown Airport (HPY) | Baytown, Texas, United States | |
| 11 | 111.71 miles (179.78 km) ENE | False River Regional Airport (HZR) | New Roads, Louisiana, United States | |
| 12 | 114.86 miles (184.85 km) WSW | Scholes International Airport at Galveston (GLS) | Galveston, Texas, United States | |
| 13 | 116.46 miles (187.43 km) ESE | Harry P. Williams Memorial Airport (PTN) | Patterson, Louisiana, United States | |
| 14 | 118.69 miles (191.01 km) NW | Angelina County Airport (LFK) | Lufkin, Texas, United States | |
| 15 | 121.39 miles (195.35 km) WSW | Ellington Field Joint Reserve BaseEllington Air Force BaseEllington Field (EFD) | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,040.17 miles (17,767.39 km) SSW | Cocos (Keeling) Island Airport (CCK) | Cocos Islands, Australia | |
| 2 | 10,808.87 miles (17,395.14 km) ESE | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 3 | 10,780.01 miles (17,348.70 km) W | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 10,770.03 miles (17,332.64 km) W | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 10,762.46 miles (17,320.45 km) WSW | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 10,758.16 miles (17,313.54 km) W | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 10,753.37 miles (17,305.83 km) W | Carnarvon Airport (CVQ) | Carnarvon, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 10,752.77 miles (17,304.86 km) W | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 10,745.47 miles (17,293.11 km) WSW | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 10,734.55 miles (17,275.54 km) WSW | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,729.56 miles (17,267.50 km) WSW | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,714.94 miles (17,243.98 km) WSW | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 10,709.28 miles (17,234.87 km) WSW | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,705.81 miles (17,229.28 km) W | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,702.45 miles (17,223.88 km) WSW | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 7.26 miles (11.68 km) SSE | Merced Regional Airport (MCE) | Merced, California, United States | |
| 2 | 27.12 miles (43.65 km) NW | Modesto City-County Airport (MOD) | Modesto, California, United States | |
| 3 | 27.51 miles (44.27 km) SW | Los Banos Municipal Airport (LSN) | Los Banos, California, United States | |
| 4 | 29.78 miles (47.92 km) W | NASA Crows Landing Airport (NRC) | Crows Landing, California, United States | |
| 5 | 36.91 miles (59.40 km) SE | Madera Municipal Airport (MAE) | Madera, California, United States | |
| 6 | 45.69 miles (73.53 km) N | Columbia Airport (COA) | Columbia, California, United States | |
| 7 | 51.03 miles (82.13 km) NW | Stockton Metropolitan Airport (SCK) | Stockton, California, United States | |
| 8 | 57.32 miles (92.24 km) SW | Hollister Municipal Airport (HLI) | Hollister, California, United States | |
| 9 | 60.88 miles (97.98 km) SE | Fresno Chandler Executive AirportChandler Municipal Airport (Old) (FCH) | Fresno, California, United States | |
| 10 | 62.71 miles (100.91 km) SE | Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) | Fresno, California, United States | |
| 11 | 68.82 miles (110.76 km) W | Reid-Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County (RHV) | San Jose, California, United States | |
| 12 | 71.93 miles (115.77 km) WNW | Livermore Municipal Airport (LVK) | Livermore, California, United States | |
| 13 | 73.96 miles (119.02 km) WSW | Watsonville Municipal Airport (WVI) | Watsonville, California, United States | |
| 14 | 74.75 miles (120.29 km) W | Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) | San Jose, California, United States | |
| 15 | 75.76 miles (121.93 km) SW | Salinas Municipal AirportSalinas Army Air Base (SNS) | Salinas, California, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,311.72 miles (18,204.41 km) SE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 2 | 11,301.64 miles (18,188.18 km) SSE | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 3 | 11,273.49 miles (18,142.87 km) SSE | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 4 | 11,260.93 miles (18,122.66 km) S | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 5 | 11,205.02 miles (18,032.69 km) SE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 6 | 11,196.39 miles (18,018.79 km) SSW | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 7 | 11,137.28 miles (17,923.67 km) SSE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 8 | 11,111.96 miles (17,882.92 km) SE | Fianarantsoa Airport (WFI) | Fianarantsoa, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 11,011.03 miles (17,720.49 km) SE | Manja Airport (MJA) | Manja, Menabe, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 11,008.37 miles (17,716.22 km) SE | Andavadoaka Airport (DVD) | Andavadoaka, Toliara province, Atsimo-Andrefana region, Madagascar | |
| 11 | 10,993.21 miles (17,691.82 km) SE | Morombe Airport (MXM) | Morombe, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 10,972.89 miles (17,659.11 km) SSE | Toamasino Airport (TMM) | Toamasina, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 10,963.56 miles (17,644.10 km) SSE | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 10,945.21 miles (17,614.56 km) SE | Miandrivazo Airport (ZVA) | Miandrivazo, Madagascar | |
| 15 | 10,920.84 miles (17,575.35 km) SE | Belo sur Tsiribihina Airport (BMD) | Belo sur Tsiribihina, Madagascar | |