Nonstop flight route between Boulder, Colorado, United States and Rapid City, South Dakota, United States:
Departure Airport:
(40°2'21"N by 105°13'32"W)
Arrival Airport:
(44°8'47"N by 103°4'28"W)
Distance from WBU to RCA:
304.41 miles (489.90 km)
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Jump to:
- About this route
- WBU Airport Information
- RCA Airport Information
- Facts about WBU
- Facts about RCA
- Map of Nearest Airports to WBU
- List of Nearest Airports to WBU
- Map of Furthest Airports from WBU
- List of Furthest Airports from WBU
- 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 Boulder Municipal Airport (WBU), Boulder, Colorado, United States and Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA), Rapid City, South Dakota, United States would travel a Great Circle distance of 304 miles (or 490 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 Boulder Municipal Airport and Ellsworth Air Force Base, the route shown on this map most likely still appears to be a straight line.
Departure Airport Information:
| IATA / ICAO Codes: | WBU / KBDU |
| Airport Names: |
|
| Location: | Boulder, Colorado, United States |
| GPS Coordinates: | 40°2'21"N by 105°13'32"W |
| Operator/Owner: | City of Boulder |
| Airport Type: | Public |
| Elevation: | 5288 feet (1,612 meters) |
| # of Runways: | 2 |
| View all routes: | Routes from WBU |
| More Information: | WBU 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 Boulder Municipal Airport (WBU):
- Because of Boulder Municipal Airport's high elevation of 5,288 feet, planes must typically fly at a faster airspeed in order to takeoff or land at WBU. Combined with a high temperature, this could make WBU a "Hot & High" airport, where the air density is lower than it would otherwise be at sea level.
- Boulder Municipal Airport (WBU) has 2 runways.
- The furthest airport from Boulder Municipal Airport (WBU) is Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG), which is located 10,881 miles (17,511 kilometers) away in Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
- In addition to being known as "Boulder Municipal Airport", another name for WBU is "BDU".
- The closest airport to Boulder Municipal Airport (WBU) is Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (BJC), which is located only 11 miles (17 kilometers) SSE of WBU.
Facts about Ellsworth Air Force Base (RCA):
- 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.
- When operations resumed in 1947 the base was a new United States Air Force asset.
- In October 1960, Ellsworth entered the "Space Age," with the activation of the 850th Strategic Missile Squadron, initially assigned to the 28 BMW.
- Shortly after additional runway improvements, in July 1949, the 28 BMW began conversion from B-29s to the huge B-36 Peacemaker.
- 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.
- 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.
- In addition to being known as "Ellsworth Air Force Base", another name for RCA is "Ellsworth AFB".
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10.70 miles (17.22 km) SSE | Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (BJC) | Denver, Colorado, United States |     |
| 2 | 30.66 miles (49.35 km) NNE | Fort Collins-Loveland Municipal Airport (FNL) | Fort Collins/Loveland, Colorado, United States | |
| 3 | 31.75 miles (51.10 km) ESE | Denver International Airport (DEN) | Denver, Colorado, United States | |
| 4 | 38.09 miles (61.31 km) SSE | Centennial Airport (APA) | Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States | |
| 5 | 41.64 miles (67.01 km) NE | Greeley-Weld County Airport (GXY) | Greeley, Colorado, United States | |
| 6 | 75.09 miles (120.85 km) SSE | United States Air Force Academy (AFF) | Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States | |
| 7 | 77.87 miles (125.32 km) NNE | Francis E. Warren Air Force Base (FEW) | Cheyenne, Wyoming, United States | |
| 8 | 80.13 miles (128.96 km) NNE | Cheyenne Regional Airport (CYS) | Cheyenne, Wyoming, United States | |
| 9 | 81.07 miles (130.47 km) SW | Lake County Airport (LXV) | Leadville, Colorado, United States | |
| 10 | 89.72 miles (144.39 km) SSE | City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport (COS) | Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States | |
| 11 | 91.02 miles (146.48 km) NNW | Laramie Regional Airport (LAR) | Laramie, Wyoming, United States | |
| 12 | 92.54 miles (148.92 km) WNW | Steamboat Springs Airport (SBS) | Steamboat Springs, Colorado, United States | |
| 13 | 93.86 miles (151.05 km) WSW | Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) | Eagle, Colorado (near Vail), United States | |
| 14 | 104.05 miles (167.45 km) WSW | Aspen–Pitkin County Airport (ASE) | Aspen, Colorado, United States | |
| 15 | 106.31 miles (171.09 km) E | Colorado Plains Regional Airport (AKO) | Akron, Colorado, United States | |
| Rank | Distance & Direction | Airport Name & IATA Code | Airport Location | Further Actions |
| 1 | 10,880.86 miles (17,511.00 km) SSE | Sir Gaëtan Duval Airport (RRG) | Rodrigues Island, Mauritius | |
| 2 | 10,747.43 miles (17,296.27 km) SE | Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) | Plaisance, Mauritius | |
| 3 | 10,714.36 miles (17,243.05 km) SE | Pierrefonds Airport (ZSE) | Saint-Pierre, Réunion | |
| 4 | 10,693.93 miles (17,210.17 km) SE | Roland Garros Airport (RUN) | St Denis, Réunion, France | |
| 5 | 10,525.99 miles (16,939.90 km) ESE | Tôlanaro Airport (FTU) | Tôlanaro, Madagascar | |
| 6 | 10,411.08 miles (16,754.97 km) ESE | Mananjary Airport (MNJ) | Mananjary, Madagascar | |
| 7 | 10,403.23 miles (16,742.33 km) ESE | Ampanihy Airport (AMP) | Ampanihy, Madagascar | |
| 8 | 10,366.39 miles (16,683.05 km) ESE | Fianarantsoa Airport (WFI) | Fianarantsoa, Madagascar | |
| 9 | 10,296.70 miles (16,570.89 km) SE | Toamasino Airport (TMM) | Toamasina, Madagascar | |
| 10 | 10,259.59 miles (16,511.16 km) SE | Sainte Marie Airport (SMS) | Île Sainte-Marie, Madagascar | |
| 11 | 10,250.65 miles (16,496.78 km) SE | Ivato International Airport (TNR) | Antananarivo, Madagascar | |
| 12 | 10,235.09 miles (16,471.74 km) ESE | Manja Airport (MJA) | Manja, Menabe, Madagascar | |
| 13 | 10,217.23 miles (16,443.00 km) ESE | Andavadoaka Airport (DVD) | Andavadoaka, Toliara province, Atsimo-Andrefana region, Madagascar | |
| 14 | 10,205.93 miles (16,424.82 km) ESE | Morombe Airport (MXM) | Morombe, Madagascar | |
| 15 | 10,198.56 miles (16,412.96 km) ESE | Miandrivazo Airport (ZVA) | Miandrivazo, Madagascar | |
| 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 | |