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):
- 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 airport has two runways.
- 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.
- 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.
- Lake Charles Regional Airport (LCH) has 2 runways.
Facts about Castle Airport (MER):
- The EPA currently has this base listed on their database due to the bulk wastes such as solvents, oils, fuels, and sludges which were disposed in pits at landfills around the base until 1977.
- The closest airport to Castle Airport (MER) is Merced Regional Airport (MCE), which is located only 7 miles (12 kilometers) SSE of MER.
- Castle Air Museum is 500 yards away, displaying over 50 restored World War II, Korean War, and Cold War era aircraft.
- The furthest airport from Castle Airport (MER) is Tôlanaro Airport (FTU), which is located 11,312 miles (18,204 kilometers) away in Tôlanaro, Madagascar.
- 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.
- 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 Airport (MER) currently has only 1 runway.
| 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 | |