Reno, Nevada · field elev 5,050 ft
Density Altitude at Reno/Stead (KRTS)
Reno/Stead is a genuine high-and-hot field: from 5,050 ft of elevation, a typical July afternoon (89 °F) pushes density altitude to about 8,044 ft — the airplane performs like it is 2,994 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 | 33.6 | 4,578 ft | 43.4 | 5,227 ft ▲ |
| February | 36.8 | 4,792 ft | 47.2 | 5,475 ft ▲ |
| March | 42.3 | 5,155 ft | 53.9 | 5,906 ft ▲ |
| April | 47.1 | 5,468 ft | 59.5 | 6,261 ft ▲ |
| May | 55.6 | 6,014 ft | 69.0 | 6,852 ft ▲ |
| June | 64.1 | 6,549 ft | 79.2 | 7,473 ft ▲ |
| July | 72.8 | 7,085 ft | 88.8 | 8,044 ft ⚠ |
| August | 70.8 | 6,963 ft | 87.1 | 7,944 ft ▲ |
| September | 63.5 | 6,512 ft | 79.4 | 7,485 ft ▲ |
| October | 51.8 | 5,772 ft | 66.3 | 6,686 ft ▲ |
| November | 40.5 | 5,037 ft | 52.4 | 5,810 ft ▲ |
| December | 33.4 | 4,564 ft | 43.1 | 5,208 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 KRTS
DENSITY ALTITUDE high DA
Field elevation 5,050 ft — the air behaves like 8,056 ft.
- PRESSURE ALT
- 5,052 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 Nevada fields
- KRNO — Reno/Tahoe International
Reno · elev 4,415 ft
- N49 — Rose Quartz Ranch
Stagecoach · elev 4,690 ft
- KCXP — Carson City
Carson City · elev 4,704 ft
- A34 — Dayton Valley Airpark
Dayton/Carson City · elev 4,414 ft
- N58 — Samsarg Field
Fernley · elev 4,346 ft
- KSPZ — Silver Springs
Silver Springs · elev 4,265 ft
- KMEV — Minden-Tahoe
Minden · elev 4,724 ft
- O43 — Yerington Municipal
Yerington · elev 4,382 ft
Frequently asked questions
How high does density altitude get at KRTS in summer?
On a typical July afternoon — around 89 °F at the nearest NOAA normals station — density altitude at Reno/Stead reaches roughly 8,044 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 KRTS on an average day?
It swings with the seasons: from roughly 4,564 ft at the coldest month's average temperature to about 7,085 ft at the warmest month's — all from a constant field elevation of 5,050 ft. The month-by-month table above carries the full year.
What is the field elevation of Reno/Stead?
5,050 ft MSL, from the FAA NASR airport record (28-day cycle effective 2026-08-06). The identifier is KRTS (ICAO) / RTS (FAA), in Reno, Nevada.