Which runway is active at Dulles (IAD/KIAD) right now?
As of Mon 26 Oct, 11:00 local, D-ATIS confirms landing 01R+01L, departure 30. The METAR wind is calm. 01R is the long-runway pick because the wind is calm or variable. Closed runways: 01C, 19C.
Dulles, United States of America
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD / KIAD) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor
Live METAR wind (calm), predicted landing/departure runways (landing 01R+01L, departure 30), hourly sun-angle backlight map, and top photo spots for Washington Dulles International Airport.
D-ATIS CONFIRMED$3/mo runway-shift alerts
Which runway is active at Dulles (IAD) right now?
As of Mon 26 Oct, 11:00 local, D-ATIS confirms landing 01R+01L, departure 30. The METAR wind is calm. 01R is the long-runway pick because the wind is calm or variable. Closed runways: 01C, 19C. Updated Mon 26 Oct, 11:43.
| End | True hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01C | 1° | 11,500 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Closed |
| 19C | 181° | 11,500 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Closed |
| 01R | 1° | 11,500 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Landing |
| 19L | 181° | 11,500 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Standby |
| 12 | 111° | 10,501 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Standby |
| 30 | 291° | 10,501 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Departure |
| 01L | 1° | 9,400 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Landing |
| 19R | 181° | 9,400 ft | +0.0 kt | 0.0 kt | Standby |
D-ATIS Q · landing 01R+01L, departure 30
IAD ATIS INFO Q 1452Z. 00000KT 10SM FEW250 15/09 A3037 (THREE ZERO THREE SEVEN) RMK AO2 SLP284 T01500089 58003. ILS/VA APCH RWY 1R, RWY 1L. DEPG RWY 30. NOTICE TO AIRMEN. RWY 1C/19C CLSD. TWY W2 CLSD, TWY Q CLSD BTN TWY, Y AND TWY T, TWY Y CLSD BTN TWY, F AND TWY Y11. BIRD ACTIVITY VICINITY ARPT. ...ADVS YOU HAVE INFO Q.
METAR KIAD 261452Z 00000KT 10SM FEW250 15/09 A3037 RMK AO2 SLP284 T01500089 58003
CLEAN FRONT LIGHT
Live weather
VFRCALM
15°C · 10+ SM · 1029 hPa
FEW250
Front-lit sector
Backlight / glare cone
Sun ray · amber pins are landmarks
Green pins are calculated. Blue pins are OpenStreetMap parks and viewpoints.
Mon 26 Oct, 11:43Az 159° · El 36°Golden hour in 5h 58m
+0h local
Best Dulles (IAD) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle
Every pin below carries original geometry: meters to the nearest runway centerline, the compass bearing toward the aircraft, the morning or afternoon that puts the sun behind that view, and a lens picked only from that distance.
Short final 01L - sunny side
Calculated perimeter
Score 96/100
Short final 01L - sunny side sits 431 m from the 30 centerline. Looking toward the aircraft the bearing is 331.8°. That view is front-lit in the morning (best 11:00 local) with a 100-400mm lens.
Calculated public-side point about 1.2 km from the landing threshold and 280 m off the centerline, on the sunny side. Confirm the fence is between you and the runway before you stop.
431 m to centerline331.8° view bearingBest sun: Morning 11:00100-400mmNow: Frontlit
Google Maps navigationShort final 01R - sunny side
Calculated perimeter
Score 94/100
Short final 01R - sunny side sits 1234 m from the 01R centerline. Looking toward the aircraft the bearing is 331.5°. That view is front-lit in the morning (best 11:00 local) with a 150-600mm lens.
Calculated public-side point about 1.2 km from the landing threshold and 280 m off the centerline, on the sunny side. Confirm the fence is between you and the runway before you stop.
1234 m to centerline331.5° view bearingBest sun: Morning 11:00150-600mmNow: Frontlit
Google Maps navigationClimb-out 30 - sunny side
Calculated perimeter
Score 42/100
Climb-out 30 - sunny side sits 1234 m from the 12 centerline. Looking toward the aircraft the bearing is 105.9°. That view is front-lit in the afternoon (best 17:00 local) with a 150-600mm lens.
Calculated public-side point about 1.2 km beyond the far end of the departure runway, offset 280 m to the sunny side of the climb.
1234 m to centerline105.9° view bearingBest sun: Afternoon 17:00150-600mmNow: Side light
Google Maps navigation
Suggest a local spot / fence tip
Know a public fence, mound, or lens that works for a specific threshold? Send it in. Tips are reviewed before they show on the map.
Best Time of Day & Lighting Schedule by Spot
Best time to plane spot at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD / KIAD): sun direction for every spotting location, scored from latitude 38.944, longitude -77.456, and the America/New_York clock plus each spot's view bearing. Morning is 07:00-11:00, midday is 11:00-14:00, and afternoon / golden hour is 14:00-18:00. CLEAN FRONT LIGHT means the sun sits behind the camera. BACKLIT / GLARE means the sun is in the lens. HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT is overhead midday light.
| Spotting Location | Morning (07:00-11:00) | Midday (11:00-14:00) | Afternoon / Golden Hour (14:00-18:00) | JetPhotos / Camera Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Short final 01L - sunny side Runway 01L | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | SIDE LIGHT | Recommended focal length 100-400mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 08:00-15:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. |
Short final 01R - sunny side Runway 01R | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | CLEAN FRONT LIGHT | SIDE LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 08:00-15:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. |
Climb-out 30 - sunny side Runway 30 | BACKLIT / GLARE | SIDE LIGHT | SIDE LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 17:00-18:00 local. Avoid 08:00-11:00 harsh backlit contrast. |
Recommended camera lenses & ATC radio frequencies for Dulles (KIAD)
Zero-Delay Fence Audio
Online streams lag by 30 seconds or more, which is enough to miss the runway change and be on the wrong side of the field. Tower is 120.1 MHz. D-ATIS is 134.85 MHz. A handheld VHF airband scanner (Uniden Bearcat BC125AT) at the fence hears the call as it is made. At 431 m from 30, bring a 100-400mm lens.
Canon RF 100-500mm
From 250 m to 450 m off the centerline, 100-400mm (or this 100-500mm zoom) keeps the airframe tight.
Search this gearUniden Bearcat BC125AT
Handheld VHF airband scanner for tower and ATIS at the fence. Online streams run 30 seconds or more behind.
Search this gearFlightAware Pro Stick
USB ADS-B receiver if you want tail numbers on a laptop beside the photos.
Search this gear
Frequently asked questions about plane spotting at Dulles (IAD/KIAD)
Where is the best place to plane spot at Dulles (IAD) in the morning vs. afternoon?
At 08:00 local the sun is at 110° azimuth and 5° elevation. Short final 01L - sunny side scores 90/100, 431 m from runway 30, view bearing 331.8°, best as a morning spot with a 100-400mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 230° and 23°. Short final 01L - sunny side scores 94/100 on a 30.2° view. Morning and afternoon picks follow that bearing: a view that wants the sun in the east is a morning spot, and a view that wants it in the west is an afternoon spot.
What is the best time to plane spot at Washington Dulles International Airport?
The best time to plane spot at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD/KIAD) is the window marked CLEAN FRONT LIGHT for the fence you are using. Morning (07:00-11:00) front light: Short final 01L - sunny side, Short final 01R - sunny side. Afternoon / golden hour (14:00-18:00) front light: no listed spot stays fully front-lit. Midday (11:00-14:00) is HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT at 0 of 3 spotting locations. Read the Best Time of Day & Lighting Schedule by Spot table for the lens and the hours to avoid harsh backlit contrast.
What is the sun direction at KIAD spotting locations?
KIAD spotting locations sun direction: Short final 01L - sunny side (runway 01L) is CLEAN FRONT LIGHT in the morning, CLEAN FRONT LIGHT at midday, and SIDE LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 100-400mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 08:00-15:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. Short final 01R - sunny side (runway 01R) is CLEAN FRONT LIGHT in the morning, CLEAN FRONT LIGHT at midday, and SIDE LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 08:00-15:00 local. No harsh backlit window between 07:00 and 18:00. Climb-out 30 - sunny side (runway 30) is BACKLIT / GLARE in the morning, SIDE LIGHT at midday, and SIDE LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Crisp fuselage illumination 17:00-18:00 local. Avoid 08:00-11:00 harsh backlit contrast.
What lens focal length do I need for plane spotting at Dulles (IAD)?
Short final 01L - sunny side is 431 m from the 30 centerline, so the lens is 100-400mm. The bands are fixed from that distance: 70-200mm inside 250 m, 100-400mm from 250 m to 450 m, and 150-600mm beyond 450 m. The aircraft itself is about 573 m from this pin on a 700 m final.
What ATC radio frequencies should I monitor while spotting at Dulles (KIAD)?
Monitor Tower 120.1 MHz, Ground 121.9 MHz, Approach 120.45 MHz, ATIS 134.85 MHz. Online streams lag by 30 seconds or more. A handheld VHF airband scanner at the fence is the zero-delay way to hear a runway change on Tower 120.1 MHz.
How do I know when Dulles (IAD) switches active runways?
No TAF wind shift in the next 6 hours flips the flow. Wind stays near calm, so 01R remains the favored arrival. The $3/mo Telegram Runway-Shift Alert pings you when D-ATIS or the METAR wind vector changes the active runway: https://planespottingmap.com/airport/KIAD#runway-alerts
Telegram Runway-Shift Alerts · $3/mo
Get a Telegram ping when Washington Dulles International Airport changes landing or departure runway. One airport or a short list.