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MEL to RCA: distance & flight time
Melbourne (Melbourne International Airport) → Rapid City (Ellsworth Air Force Base)
8,962 mi
14,423 km · 7,788 nm
18h 2m
estimated nonstop flight time
-16h
time difference · heading northeast
See live MEL→RCA fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
8,962 miles nonstop takes roughly 18h 2m gate to gate, flying northeast. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 16-hour time set-back when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- MEL — Melbourne International Airport · Melbourne, Australia
- RCA — Ellsworth Air Force Base · Rapid City, 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 MEL
- MEB · Melbourne Essendon Airport5 mi away
- MBW · Melbourne Moorabbin Airport25 mi away
- AVV · Avalon Airport32 mi away
- GEX · Geelong Airport47 mi away
Near RCA
- RAP · Rapid City Regional Airport7 mi away
- SPF · Black Hills Airport-Clyde Ice Field41 mi away
- CDR · Chadron Municipal Airport90 mi away
- GCC · Gillette Campbell County Airport121 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is MEL from RCA?
The flight distance from Melbourne (MEL) to Rapid City (RCA) is 8,962 miles (14,423 km, 7,788 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from MEL to RCA?
A nonstop flight takes about 18h 2m gate to gate. Actual time varies with winds, routing and season — eastbound transatlantic flights, for example, are usually faster than the return.
What is the time difference between Melbourne and Rapid City?
Rapid City is 16 hours behind Melbourne.
What is the cheapest way to fly from MEL to RCA?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on MEL–RCA that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.