Nonstop flight route between West Chicago, Illinois, United States and Atwater, California, United States:
Departure Airport:
(41°54'24"N by 88°14'53"W)
Arrival Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Distance from DPA to MER:
1,737.09 miles (2,795.57 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- DPA Airport Information
- MER Airport Information
- Facts about DPA
- Facts about MER
- Map of Nearest Airports to DPA
- List of Nearest Airports to DPA
- Map of Furthest Airports from DPA
- List of Furthest Airports from DPA
- 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 DuPage Airport (DPA), West Chicago, Illinois, United States and Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 1,737 miles (or 2,796 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 DuPage 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: | DPA / KDPA |
| Airport Name: | DuPage Airport |
| Location: | West Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 41°54'24"N by 88°14'53"W |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 759 feet (231 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 4 |
| View all routes: | Routes from DPA |
| More Information: | DPA 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 DuPage Airport (DPA):
- Because of DuPage Airport's relatively low elevation of 759 feet, planes can take off or land at DuPage 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.
- The closest airport to DuPage Airport (DPA) is Chicago/Aurora Municipal Airport (AUZ), which is located only 15 miles (24 kilometers) SW of DPA.
- DuPage Airport (DPA) has 4 runways.
- In 1946, with the war over, the Navy sold the airport to DuPage County for $1.
- The airport has faced severe political criticism in the 1980s and 1990s.
- However, planners learned a lesson from the plight of the beleaguered, land-locked Midway Airport.
- The furthest airport from DuPage Airport (DPA) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 11,056 miles (17,792 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
- Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
- In 2004, recommendations were made to relocate the 129th Rescue Wing of the California Air National Guard and its associated HC-130, MC-130 and HH-60 aircraft from Moffett Federal Airfield to the former Castle Air Force Base, now Castle Airport.
- 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 furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- 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.
- Castle Air Museum is 500 yards away, displaying over 50 restored World War II, Korean War, and Cold War era aircraft.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 14.96 miles (24.08 km) SW | Chicago/Aurora Municipal Airport (AUZ) | Aurora, Illinois, United States |     |
| 2 | 18.34 miles (29.52 km) ENE | Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| 3 | 22.15 miles (35.64 km) SSE | Lewis University Airport (LOT) | Chicago / Romeoville, Illinois, United States | |
| 4 | 22.84 miles (36.76 km) NE | Chicago Executive Airport (PWK) | Chicago/Prospect Heights/Wheeling, Illinois, United States | |
| 5 | 26.85 miles (43.21 km) ESE | Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| 6 | 27.15 miles (43.69 km) S | Joliet Regional Airport (JOT) | Joliet, Illinois, United States | |
| 7 | 40.59 miles (65.32 km) NNE | Waukegan National Airport (UGN) | Chicago / Waukegan, Illinois, United States | |
| 8 | 47.51 miles (76.46 km) ESE | Gary/Chicago International Airport (GYY) | Gary, Indiana (near Chicago), United States | |
| 9 | 47.89 miles (77.08 km) WNW | Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) | Rockford, Illinois, United States | |
| 10 | 50.32 miles (80.99 km) NNE | Kenosha Regional Airport (ENW) | Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States | |
| 11 | 60.44 miles (97.28 km) SW | Illinois Valley Regional Airport (VYS) | Peru, Illinois, United States | |
| 12 | 61.36 miles (98.76 km) SSE | Greater Kankakee Airport (IKK) | Kankakee, Illinois, United States | |
| 13 | 62.99 miles (101.37 km) NNE | John H. Batten Airport (RAC) | Racine, Wisconsin, United States | |
| 14 | 63.83 miles (102.73 km) NW | Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport (JVL) | Janesville, Wisconsin, United States | |
| 15 | 71.28 miles (114.72 km) ESE | Porter County Regional Airport (VPZ) | Valparaiso, Indiana, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 11,055.69 miles (17,792.37 km) WSW | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 11,032.32 miles (17,754.75 km) WSW | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 11,015.45 miles (17,727.60 km) WSW | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 11,007.65 miles (17,715.06 km) WSW | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 10,962.95 miles (17,643.11 km) WSW | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 10,953.42 miles (17,627.77 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 10,949.94 miles (17,622.17 km) WSW | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 10,939.68 miles (17,605.67 km) WSW | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 10,920.63 miles (17,575.01 km) WSW | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 10,916.35 miles (17,568.11 km) WSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,865.76 miles (17,486.71 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 12 | 10,834.29 miles (17,436.06 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 10,823.41 miles (17,418.55 km) WSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,814.14 miles (17,403.63 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,775.27 miles (17,341.08 km) SW | Shark Bay Airport (MJK) | Monkey Mia, 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 | |