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RDU to NSN: distance & flight time
Raleigh-durham (Raleigh Durham International Airport) → Nelson (Nelson Airport)
8,643 mi
13,909 km · 7,510 nm
17h 25m
estimated nonstop flight time
+18h
time difference · heading southwest
See live RDU→NSN fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
8,643 miles nonstop takes roughly 17h 25m gate to gate, flying southwest. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 18-hour time gain when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- RDU — Raleigh Durham International Airport · Raleigh-durham, United States
- NSN — Nelson Airport · Nelson, New Zealand
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 NSN
- MZP · Motueka Airport17 mi away
- BHE · Woodbourne Airport37 mi away
- PCN · Picton Aerodrome38 mi away
- KTF · Takaka Airport41 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is RDU from NSN?
The flight distance from Raleigh-durham (RDU) to Nelson (NSN) is 8,643 miles (13,909 km, 7,510 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from RDU to NSN?
A nonstop flight takes about 17h 25m 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 RDU to NSN?
Nonstop service on RDU–NSN 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 17h 25m nonstop estimate.
What is the time difference between Raleigh-durham and Nelson?
Nelson is 18 hours ahead of Raleigh-durham.
What is the cheapest way to fly from RDU to NSN?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on RDU–NSN that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.
Why are some RDU to NSN fares phone-only?
Consolidator contracts let us sell certain RDU–NSN 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.