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COU to MCE: distance & flight time
Columbia (Columbia Regional Airport) → Merced (Merced Regional Macready Field)
1,537 mi
2,473 km · 1,336 nm
3h 29m
estimated nonstop flight time
-2h
time difference · heading west
See live COU→MCE fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
1,537 miles nonstop takes roughly 3h 29m gate to gate, flying west. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 2-hour time set-back when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- COU — Columbia Regional Airport · Columbia, United States
- MCE — Merced Regional Macready Field · Merced, United States
Distances are great-circle ("as the crow flies") — the same basis airlines use for frequent-flyer miles.
Alternate airports can cut this fare
Flying from or into a nearby airport is the #1 trick our agents use to beat online prices. Call and we'll compare every combination on one call.
Near COU
- JEF · Jefferson City Memorial Airport16 mi away
- AIZ · Lee C Fine Memorial Airport53 mi away
- SZL · Whiteman Air Force Base72 mi away
- TBN · Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Forney field75 mi away
Near MCE
- MER · Castle Airport7 mi away
- RMY · Mariposa Yosemite Airport30 mi away
- MAE · Madera Municipal Airport30 mi away
- MOD · Modesto City Co-Harry Sham Field34 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is COU from MCE?
The flight distance from Columbia (COU) to Merced (MCE) is 1,537 miles (2,473 km, 1,336 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from COU to MCE?
A nonstop flight takes about 3h 29m gate to gate. Actual time varies with winds, routing and season — eastbound transatlantic flights, for example, are usually faster than the return.
Are there nonstop flights from COU to MCE?
Nonstop service on COU–MCE depends on the season and the day of week. Run the fare search on this page with the nonstop filter applied to see current direct options; when there is no nonstop, a single connection through a carrier hub adds roughly 2–4 hours to the 3h 29m nonstop estimate.
What is the time difference between Columbia and Merced?
Merced is 2 hours behind Columbia.
What is the cheapest way to fly from COU to MCE?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on COU–MCE that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.
Why are some COU to MCE fares phone-only?
Consolidator contracts let us sell certain COU–MCE tickets below the price airlines permit us to publish online, so those fares can only be quoted over the phone. Call the travel desk and an agent will check phone-only inventory for your dates.