Nonstop flight route between Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States and Atwater, California, United States:
Departure Airport:
(43°34'54"N by 96°44'30"W)
Arrival Airport:
(37°22'50"N by 120°34'5"W)
Distance from FSD to MER:
1,317.95 miles (2,121.03 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- FSD Airport Information
- MER Airport Information
- Facts about FSD
- Facts about MER
- Map of Nearest Airports to FSD
- List of Nearest Airports to FSD
- Map of Furthest Airports from FSD
- List of Furthest Airports from FSD
- 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 Sioux Falls Regional Airport (FSD), Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States and Castle Airport (MER), Atwater, California, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 1,318 miles (or 2,121 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 Sioux Falls 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: | FSD / KFSD |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 43°34'54"N by 96°44'30"W |
| Area Served: | Sioux Falls, South Dakota |
| Operator/Owner: | City of Sioux Falls |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 1430 feet (436 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 3 |
| View all routes: | Routes from FSD |
| More Information: | FSD 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 Sioux Falls Regional Airport (FSD):
- On December 20, 1983, Ozark Airlines Flight 650 struck a snow plow while landing, killing the driver.
- The closest airport to Sioux Falls Regional Airport (FSD) is Madison Municipal Airport (XMD), which is located 35 miles (56 kilometers) NNW of FSD.
- Sioux Falls Regional Airport was originally the Sioux Falls Army Air Base constructed during World War II and closed permanently in the mid-1960s.
- The furthest airport from Sioux Falls Regional Airport (FSD) is Margaret River Airport (MGV), which is located 10,610 miles (17,075 kilometers) away in Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia.
- Joe Foss Field covers an area of 1,570 acres at an elevation of 1,430 feet above mean sea level.
- Sioux Falls Regional Airport (FSD) has 3 runways.
- In addition to being known as "Sioux Falls Regional Airport", another name for FSD is "Joe Foss Field".
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- Castle Air Museum is 500 yards away, displaying over 50 restored World War II, Korean War, and Cold War era aircraft.
- 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 covers an area of 1,360 acres which contains one runway with an 11,802 x 150 ft asphalt and concrete pavement.
- Castle Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
- 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.
- The furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 34.56 miles (55.63 km) NNW | Madison Municipal Airport (XMD) | Madison, South Dakota, United States |     |
| 2 | 50.08 miles (80.59 km) N | Brookings Regional Airport (BKX) | Brookings, South Dakota, United States | |
| 3 | 53.27 miles (85.73 km) SE | Orange City Municipal Airport (ORC) | Orange City, Iowa, United States | |
| 4 | 56.24 miles (90.51 km) SW | Chan Gurney Municipal Airport (YKN) | Yankton, South Dakota, United States | |
| 5 | 62.03 miles (99.83 km) SSE | Le Mars Municipal Airport (LRJ) | Le Mars, Iowa, United States | |
| 6 | 66.15 miles (106.46 km) WNW | Mitchell Municipal Airport (MHE) | Mitchell, South Dakota, United States | |
| 7 | 75.44 miles (121.41 km) NE | Southwest Minnesota Regional Airport (MML) | Marshall, Minnesota, United States | |
| 8 | 82.48 miles (132.74 km) ESE | Spencer Municipal Airport (SPW) | Spencer, Iowa, United States | |
| 9 | 83.47 miles (134.33 km) SSE | Sioux Gateway Airport (SUX) | Sioux City, Iowa, United States | |
| 10 | 87.93 miles (141.50 km) E | Jackson Municipal Airport (MJQ) | Jackson, Minnesota, United States | |
| 11 | 92.43 miles (148.75 km) NW | Huron Regional Airport (HON) | Huron, South Dakota, United States | |
| 12 | 94.27 miles (151.71 km) NNW | Watertown Regional Airport (ATY) | Watertown, South Dakota, United States | |
| 13 | 101.82 miles (163.86 km) SE | Storm Lake Municipal Airport (SLB) | Storm Lake, Iowa, United States | |
| 14 | 108.68 miles (174.91 km) NNE | Montevideo-Chippewa County Airport (MVE) | Montevideo, Minnesota, United States | |
| 15 | 115.76 miles (186.30 km) SSW | Norfolk Regional Airport (OFK) | Norfolk, Nebraska, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,609.89 miles (17,074.92 km) W | Margaret River Airport (MGV) | Margaret River, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 2 | 10,586.47 miles (17,037.23 km) W | Busselton Regional Airport (BQB) | Busselton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 3 | 10,570.31 miles (17,011.23 km) W | Manjimup Airport (MJP) | Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 4 | 10,561.74 miles (16,997.42 km) W | Bunbury Airport (BUY) | Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 5 | 10,517.15 miles (16,925.67 km) WSW | Rottnest Airport (RTS) | Rottnest Island, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 6 | 10,510.43 miles (16,914.86 km) W | Albany Airport (ALH) | Albany, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 7 | 10,504.02 miles (16,904.53 km) WSW | Jandakot Airport (JAD) | Jandakot, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 8 | 10,493.80 miles (16,888.09 km) WSW | Perth Airport (PER) | Perth, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 9 | 10,475.66 miles (16,858.90 km) W | Katanning Airport (KNI) | Katanning, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 10 | 10,472.51 miles (16,853.82 km) WSW | Jurien Bay Airport (JUR) | Jurien Bay, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 11 | 10,428.77 miles (16,783.44 km) SE | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 12 | 10,425.05 miles (16,777.45 km) WSW | Geraldton Airport (GET) | Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 13 | 10,396.98 miles (16,732.28 km) WSW | Kalbarri Airport (KAX) | Kalbarri, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 14 | 10,380.24 miles (16,705.33 km) WSW | Morawa Airport (MWB) | Morawa, Western Australia, Australia | |
| 15 | 10,372.87 miles (16,693.47 km) WSW | Mullewa Airport (MXU) | Mullewa, 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 | |