Seattle (SEA) to Atlanta (ATL)

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

Quick answer

Seattle (SEA) to Atlanta (ATL) is 2,178 miles in a straight line, about 4h 51m gate to gate. Your flight is handed between 11 air traffic control facilities along the way.

2,178miles
1,893nautical miles
3,505kilometers
~4h 51mestimated flight time
+3 htime change on arrival
Eastinitial 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. SEATowerSeattle-Tacoma Tower (SEA)Clears you for takeoffThank them →
  2. S46TRACONSeattle TRACON (S46)Guides the climb outThank them →
  3. ZSECenterSeattle ARTCC (ZSE)Takes over at cruising altitudeThank them →
  4. ZLCCenterSalt Lake City ARTCC (ZLC)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  5. ZDVCenterDenver ARTCC (ZDV)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  6. ZMPCenterMinneapolis ARTCC (ZMP)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  7. ZKCCenterKansas City ARTCC (ZKC)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  8. ZMECenterMemphis ARTCC (ZME)Keeps you separated en routeThank them →
  9. ZTLCenterAtlanta ARTCC (ZTL)Starts your descentThank them →
  10. A80TRACONAtlanta TRACON (A80)Lines you up for the approachThank them →
  11. ATLTowerAtlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Tower (ATL)Clears you to landThank them →

Flying the other way

Atlanta (ATL) to Seattle (SEA)

ATL → A80 → ZTL → ZME → ZKC → ZMP → ZDV → ZLC → ZSE → S46 → SEA

About the airports

Seattle–Tacoma International Airport

Seattle, WA

Codes: SEA · KSEA

Time zone: Pacific

Control tower: Seattle-Tacoma Tower (SEA)

Thank the tower →

Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Atlanta, GA

Codes: ATL · KATL

Time zone: Eastern

Control tower: Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Tower (ATL)

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 Seattle (SEA) to Atlanta (ATL)?

About 4h 51m gate to gate for the 2,178-mile trip. Flying east, you often pick up a tailwind, so it can be a little shorter.

How far is Seattle (SEA) from Atlanta (ATL)?

2,178 miles (1,893 nautical miles, 3,505 km) in a straight line. The path your flight actually takes is usually a little longer.

Which air traffic controllers handle a flight from Seattle (SEA) to Atlanta (ATL)?

Usually 11 facilities: Seattle-Tacoma Tower (SEA), Seattle TRACON (S46), Seattle ARTCC (ZSE), Salt Lake City ARTCC (ZLC), Denver ARTCC (ZDV), Minneapolis ARTCC (ZMP), Kansas City ARTCC (ZKC), Memphis ARTCC (ZME), Atlanta ARTCC (ZTL), Atlanta TRACON (A80) and Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Tower (ATL). You can thank each one on its own wall at Thank ATC.

Is there a time change between Seattle (SEA) and Atlanta (ATL)?

Yes. Atlanta (ATL) is 3 hours ahead of Seattle (SEA).

Updated October 2026

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