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RDU to ESS: distance & flight time
Raleigh-durham (Raleigh Durham International Airport) → Essen (Essen Mulheim Airport)
4,165 mi
6,703 km · 3,619 nm
8h 38m
estimated nonstop flight time
+6h
time difference · heading northeast
See live RDU→ESS fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
4,165 miles nonstop takes roughly 8h 38m gate to gate, flying northeast. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 6-hour time gain when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- RDU — Raleigh Durham International Airport · Raleigh-durham, United States
- ESS — Essen Mulheim Airport · Essen, Germany
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 RDU
- POB · Pope Field50 mi away
- RWI · Rocky Mount Wilson Regional Airport50 mi away
- FBG · Simmons Army Air Field52 mi away
- SOP · Moore County Airport56 mi away
Near ESS
- DUS · Düsseldorf Airport11 mi away
- MGL · Mönchengladbach Airport22 mi away
- DTM · Dortmund Airport30 mi away
- NRN · Weeze Airport37 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is RDU from ESS?
The flight distance from Raleigh-durham (RDU) to Essen (ESS) is 4,165 miles (6,703 km, 3,619 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from RDU to ESS?
A nonstop flight takes about 8h 38m 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 Raleigh-durham and Essen?
Essen is 6 hours ahead of Raleigh-durham.
What is the cheapest way to fly from RDU to ESS?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on RDU–ESS that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.