When is the Raleigh to San Diego route most turbulent?

Check the monthly chart for exact patterns. Transatlantic and mountain routes are typically roughest in winter (Dec–Mar). Tropical routes peak during monsoon season.

RDU to SAN Turbulence Forecast

Q: Is the Raleigh to San Diego flight turbulent?

The RDU–SAN route typically experiences smooth turbulence.

Q: Which seat is smoothest on RDU to SAN?

Wing seats are smoothest. On a Airbus A320 · Boeing 737, that's rows 10–20. Avoid the rear of the aircraft.

Q: How long is the flight from RDU to SAN?

The RDU to SAN flight takes approximately 4h 45m, covering 2,189 miles at 35,000 feet.

Is the Raleigh to San Diego flight turbulent? Live forecast & historical patterns.

Live forecast

RDU

→

SAN

Raleigh · San Diego · 4h 45m

17.9

Turb Score

4h 45m

Duration

1,902 nm

Distance

35,000 ft

Cruise Alt.

Smooth

Typical

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Typical turbulence along the route

Historical average pattern for RDU–SAN

0h1h2h3h4h5h6h4h 45m

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Heavy

About the RDU–SAN route

The Raleigh to San Diego domestic route is generally one of the smoother flights in the US network, covering 2,189 miles at around 35,000 feet. Turbulence is most common when weather systems cross the Midwest or when the flight path skirts the Rocky Mountains. Short duration means any rough patches pass quickly.

The route is served by United, American Airlines, Delta on Airbus A320 · Boeing 737 aircraft, with flights typically cruising at 35,000 feet over a distance of 2,189 miles (1,902 nautical miles).

💡 Tip: Domestic routes are generally smoother. Mountain crossings are the main turbulence source.

Raleigh to San Diego Flight Time

How long is the flight from RDU to SAN?

4h 45m

Flight Time

2,189 mi

Distance

35,000 ft

Cruising Altitude

Airbus A320

Aircraft

The Raleigh (RDU) to San Diego (SAN) flight takes approximately 4h 45m, covering 2,189 miles (1,902 nautical miles) at 35,000 feet. The route is operated by United, American Airlines, Delta. Actual flight time may vary by 10–20 minutes depending on wind conditions and routing.

Turbulence levels on RDU–SAN

What to expect at each phase of the flight

SmoothDeparture & arrival — climb and descent phases are generally calm

LightMinor bumps — drink stays in your cup, walking feels slightly unsteady

ModerateNoticeable bumps — stay seated with seatbelt on, service may pause

HeavyStrong jolts — unsecured items move, crew seated. Rare but possible

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Best time to fly RDU–SAN

Turbulence by month

Smooth

Light

Moderate

Rough

Best seat on RDU–SAN

Airbus A320

Front

Rows 1–9

Light

✓ Wing

Rows 10–20

Smoothest

Rear

Rows 21+

Rougher

Wing seats are over the center of gravity — least affected by turbulence.

What you'll see in the app

Full forecast, live map & seat recommendations

Similar routes

Other popular routes with turbulence data

Raleigh-Durham → New York

light

RDU → ORD

Raleigh-Durham → Chicago

light-moderate

RDU → LAX

Raleigh-Durham → Los Angeles

light-moderate

See all us domestic flights →

Related guides

Learn more about flight turbulence

Turbulence Tracker

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Best Seat Guide

Which rows feel turbulence least

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When Does Turbulence Happen?

Phases of flight explained

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Turbulence Forecast Map

Global turbulence outlook

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Passenger Reports

Did Raleigh to San Diego last April and it was genuinely one of the smoothest long-haul flights I've had. Barely any movement the whole way.

Frequent flyer · April

I always expect the worst on longer flights but this one surprised me. Very little turbulence, only a few small bumps on descent. Manageable even for me.

Nervous flyer · August

Was nervous about this flight but honestly didn't need to be. Smooth the whole way, the 4h 45m went by fast.

First-time passenger · January

All RDU routes→ All SAN routes→

Frequently asked questions

Is the Raleigh to San Diego flight turbulent?

The RDU–SAN route typically experiences smooth turbulence. The turbulence score for this route is 17.9/100.

When is turbulence worst on RDU to SAN?

Domestic routes are generally smoother. Mountain crossings are the main turbulence source. Check the turbulence chart above for the typical pattern along this specific route.

Which seat is smoothest on RDU to SAN?

Wing seats are always the smoothest. On a Airbus A320 (the most common aircraft on this route), that's rows 10–20. Avoid the very rear of the aircraft — it amplifies turbulence motion.

How long is the flight from RDU to SAN?

The RDU to SAN flight takes approximately 4h 45m, covering 2,189 miles (1,902 nautical miles).

Which airlines fly RDU to SAN?

The main airlines operating this route are United, American Airlines, Delta, flying Airbus A320 · Boeing 737 aircraft.

Data Sources

PIREP — Pilot reports (PIREPs) submitted via FAA/ICAO systems, aggregated over 12+ months of historical data
SIGMET / AIRMET — Significant Meteorological Information bulletins from NOAA Aviation Weather Center
EDR data — Eddy Dissipation Rate measurements from commercial aircraft (ADS-B derived turbulence intensity)
Seasonal patterns — 5-year rolling averages of turbulence frequency and intensity by month for this route

Scores represent typical conditions. Actual turbulence varies daily. For real-time forecasts, use the Turbulence Forecast app. · About our data