Denver (DEN) to Rapid City (RAP): On-Time Performance
Data through July 2026
Denver (DEN) to Rapid City (RAP) effectively runs on two schedules. In November 2025, 90% of arrivals were on time; in June 2025 that fell to 65% — a 25-point seasonal swing. Across the full period the route averages 76% on-time against a national 78%. Morning departures also hold up better than evening ones (82% vs 70%), which matters most in the rough months.
- On-time
- 76%
- arrived <15 min late
- Avg delay
- 18 min
- completed flights
- Cancelled
- 1.2%
- Flights/day
- 7.9
- last 12 months
- Duration
- 1h 20m
- scheduled
- Distance
- 301 mi
Best airline from DEN to RAP
2 airlines flew this route regularly between 2024-07 and 2026-07.
| Airline | On-time | Avg delay | Cancelled | Flights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SkyWest Airlinesmost reliable | 76% | 18 min | 1.3% | 4,328 |
| United Airlines | 76% | 18 min | 0.9% | 1,490 |
Monthly on-time trend
Best time to fly from DEN to RAP
Aim for departures around 7 a.m. (88% on-time); avoid 9 p.m. departures (65%).
By day of week
| Day | On-time | Avg delay |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 75% | 17 min |
| Tuesdaybest | 80% | 15 min |
| Wednesday | 77% | 14 min |
| Thursday | 76% | 18 min |
| Friday | 75% | 22 min |
| Saturday | 76% | 20 min |
| Sunday | 75% | 20 min |
What causes delays on this route
Share of total delay minutes by cause, as reported by carriers to the US DOT.
- Late-arriving aircraft37%
- Airline operations39%
- National airspace system17%
- Weather7%
Frequently asked questions
- How often are flights from DEN to RAP delayed?
- 24% of DEN–RAP flights arrived 15 or more minutes late (the US DOT definition of a delay) between 2024-07 and 2026-07. The average arrival delay across completed flights was 18 minutes.
- Which airline is most reliable from DEN to RAP?
- SkyWest Airlines has the best on-time record on this route at 76%, based on 4,328 flights. 2 airlines flew DEN–RAP frequently enough to compare in this period.
- What is the best time of day to fly from DEN to RAP?
- Departures around 7 a.m. have the best record (88% on-time), while departures around 9 p.m. have the worst (65%). As on most US routes, delays accumulate through the day, so earlier flights are generally safer.
- How long is the flight from DEN to RAP?
- The scheduled DEN–RAP flight time averages 1h 20m over 301 miles. Actual arrival times vary — flights on this route land 15+ minutes late 24% of the time.
- How often are DEN to RAP flights cancelled?
- 1.2% of scheduled flights on this route were cancelled between 2024-07 and 2026-07, at or below the national rate of 1.6%.
- What is the worst month to fly from DEN to RAP?
- June 2025 was the roughest month in this dataset, with only 65% of arrivals on time. The best was November 2025 at 90%. If your dates are flexible, that 25-point gap is worth planning around.
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Based on 5,818 flights, 2024-07–2026-07. Source: US DOT Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Updated 2026-09-28.