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VBG to DRA: distance & flight time
Lompoc (Vandenberg Air Force Base) → Mercury (Desert Rock Airport)
287 mi
461 km · 249 nm
1h 13m
estimated nonstop flight time
—
time difference · heading northeast
See live VBG→DRA fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
287 miles nonstop takes roughly 1h 13m gate to gate, flying northeast. 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
- VBG — Vandenberg Air Force Base · Lompoc, United States
- DRA — Desert Rock Airport · Mercury, 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 VBG
- LPC · Lompoc Airport8 mi away
- SMX · Santa Maria Pub/Capt G Allan Hancock Field13 mi away
- SQA · Santa Ynez Airport30 mi away
- SBP · San Luis County Regional Airport35 mi away
Near DRA
- INS · Creech Air Force Base20 mi away
- LAS · McCarran International Airport62 mi away
- VGT · North Las Vegas Airport55 mi away
- LSV · Nellis Air Force Base62 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is VBG from DRA?
The flight distance from Lompoc (VBG) to Mercury (DRA) is 287 miles (461 km, 249 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from VBG to DRA?
A nonstop flight takes about 1h 13m 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 VBG to DRA?
Nonstop service on VBG–DRA 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 1h 13m nonstop estimate.
What is the cheapest way to fly from VBG to DRA?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on VBG–DRA that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.
Why are some VBG to DRA fares phone-only?
Consolidator contracts let us sell certain VBG–DRA 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.