Raleigh-Durham (RDU) to New York JFK (JFK)

Distance, flight time and the air traffic controllers who guide you.

Quick answer

Raleigh-Durham (RDU) to New York JFK (JFK) is 427 miles in a straight line, about 1h 21m gate to gate. Your flight is handed between 5 air traffic control facilities along the way.

427miles
371nautical miles
687kilometers
~1h 21mestimated flight time
Nonetime change on arrival
Northeastinitial heading

Who handles your flight

Every airliner is passed from one air traffic control facility to the next. On the most direct path, these are the teams that guide you, in order. Weather and traffic can send a flight through other centers, so your actual flight may differ a little.

  1. RDUTowerRaleigh-Durham International Tower (RDU)Clears you for takeoffThank them →
  2. ZDCCenterWashington ARTCC (ZDC)Takes over at cruising altitudeThank them →
  3. ZNYCenterNew York ARTCC (ZNY)Starts your descentThank them →
  4. N90TRACONNew York TRACON (N90)Lines you up for the approachThank them →
  5. JFKTowerJFK International Tower (JFK)Clears you to landThank them →

Flying the other way

New York JFK (JFK) to Raleigh-Durham (RDU)

JFK → N90 → ZNY → ZDC → RDU

About the airports

Raleigh-Durham International Airport

Raleigh/Durham, NC

Codes: RDU · KRDU

Time zone: Eastern

Control tower: Raleigh-Durham International Tower (RDU)

Thank the tower →

John F. Kennedy International Airport

New York, NY

Codes: JFK · KJFK

Time zone: Eastern

Control tower: JFK International Tower (JFK)

Thank the tower →

More routes

All flight routes →

How we figure this out

Distance is the great-circle distance between the two airports, the shortest path over the curved Earth. Flight time assumes an average airliner speed of about 500 mph plus about 30 minutes for taxi, takeoff and landing. The list of facilities follows the same path, using each airport's tower and approach control and the FAA's en route center boundaries.

Say thanks to the controllers who got you there. It's free, takes 30 seconds, and every post is checked before it goes up.

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Common questions

How long is the flight from Raleigh-Durham (RDU) to New York JFK (JFK)?

About 1h 21m gate to gate for the 427-mile trip. Flying east, you often pick up a tailwind, so it can be a little shorter.

How far is Raleigh-Durham (RDU) from New York JFK (JFK)?

427 miles (371 nautical miles, 687 km) in a straight line. The path your flight actually takes is usually a little longer.

Which air traffic controllers handle a flight from Raleigh-Durham (RDU) to New York JFK (JFK)?

Usually 5 facilities: Raleigh-Durham International Tower (RDU), Washington ARTCC (ZDC), New York ARTCC (ZNY), New York TRACON (N90) and JFK International Tower (JFK). You can thank each one on its own wall at Thank ATC.

Is there a time change between Raleigh-Durham (RDU) and New York JFK (JFK)?

No. Raleigh-Durham (RDU) and New York JFK (JFK) are in the same time zone.

Updated October 2026

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