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MCE to CBF: distance & flight time
Merced (Merced Regional Macready Field) → Council Bluffs (Council Bluffs Municipal Airport)
1,347 mi
2,168 km · 1,171 nm
3h 24m
estimated nonstop flight time
—
time difference · heading east
See live MCE→CBF fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
1,347 miles nonstop takes roughly 3h 24m gate to gate, flying east. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Both airports share the same local time, so schedules read exactly as flown.
The two airports
- MCE — Merced Regional Macready Field · Merced, United States
- CBF — Council Bluffs Municipal Airport · Council Bluffs, 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 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
Near CBF
- OMA · Eppley Airfield8 mi away
- OFF · Offutt Air Force Base13 mi away
- FET · Fremont Municipal Airport42 mi away
- LNK · Lincoln Airport59 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is MCE from CBF?
The flight distance from Merced (MCE) to Council Bluffs (CBF) is 1,347 miles (2,168 km, 1,171 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from MCE to CBF?
A nonstop flight takes about 3h 24m 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 MCE to CBF?
Nonstop service on MCE–CBF 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 24m nonstop estimate.
What is the cheapest way to fly from MCE to CBF?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on MCE–CBF that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.
Why are some MCE to CBF fares phone-only?
Consolidator contracts let us sell certain MCE–CBF 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.