Rifle, Colorado · field elev 5,537 ft
Density Altitude at Rifle Garfield County (KRIL)
Rifle Garfield County is a genuine high-and-hot field: from 5,537 ft of elevation, a typical July afternoon (92 °F) pushes density altitude to about 8,825 ft — the airplane performs like it is 3,288 ft above the field before the wheels roll.
Typical density altitude by month
| Month | Avg temp °F | DA at avg temp | Afternoon high °F | DA on a typical afternoon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 25.1 | 4,607 ft | 36.8 | 5,394 ft ▲ |
| February | 31.6 | 5,047 ft | 43.5 | 5,834 ft ▲ |
| March | 41.2 | 5,684 ft | 55.4 | 6,599 ft ▲ |
| April | 47.7 | 6,107 ft | 62.9 | 7,069 ft ▲ |
| May | 57.3 | 6,719 ft | 74.3 | 7,769 ft ▲ |
| June | 67.2 | 7,335 ft | 86.4 | 8,492 ft ⚠ |
| July | 73.7 | 7,732 ft | 92.1 | 8,825 ft ⚠ |
| August | 71.3 | 7,587 ft | 88.9 | 8,638 ft ⚠ |
| September | 62.5 | 7,044 ft | 80.0 | 8,112 ft ⚠ |
| October | 49.5 | 6,222 ft | 65.5 | 7,230 ft ▲ |
| November | 36.5 | 5,374 ft | 49.7 | 6,235 ft ▲ |
| December | 25.6 | 4,641 ft | 37.3 | 5,427 ft ▲ |
▲ above 5,000 ft · ⚠ above 8,000 ft. These are planning references at standard pressure and dry air — afternoon humidity and low pressure both push the real number higher. Run today's values below.
Run today’s numbers for KRIL
DENSITY ALTITUDE high DA
Field elevation 5,537 ft — the air behaves like 8,819 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 5,539 ft
- ISA DEVIATION
- —
- RULE-OF-THUMB DA
- —
- AIR DENSITY INDEX
- —
- AIR DENSITY
- —
- WATER · GRAINS/LB
- —
For training and reference · verify with official sources and your POH before flight · no tool on this site renders a go / no-go judgment
Nearby Colorado fields
- KGWS — Kgws Sumers Airpark
Glenwood Springs · elev 5,916 ft
- KEEO — Meeker Coulter Field
Meeker · elev 6,415 ft
- KEGE — Eagle County Regional
Eagle · elev 6,547 ft
- 7V2 — North Fork Valley
Paonia · elev 5,788 ft
- KASE — Aspen-Pitkin County/Sardy Field
Aspen · elev 7,838 ft
- KGJT — Grand Junction Regional
Grand Junction · elev 4,861 ft
- KAJZ — Blake Field
Delta · elev 5,193 ft
- 99V — Crawford
Crawford · elev 6,470 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at KRIL in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 92 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Rifle Garfield County reaches roughly 8,825 ft at standard pressure. Hotter-than-normal days, low pressure, and humidity all push it higher, so run the day's actual numbers before flying.
What is the density altitude at KRIL on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly 4,607 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 7,732 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 5,537 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Rifle Garfield County?
5,537 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KRIL (ICAO) / RIL (FAA), in Rifle, Colorado.