9 EPIC Airports You Should Know About (Bucket List!)

Here are several epic airports that you might not yet know about. I've been to several of them myself but then some of them I also learned about through posting on Reddit asking for lesser-known, epic airports! Leave me a comment and let me know what other airports you'd like to see on here and I'll probably make a part 2!
Credit: Voortex Productions for some of the Trigger Gap footage. Used with permission from RAF.
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[@AirplaneAcademy]

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[@mkrakoff]

42B. Goodspeed in CT. Airport was saved a few years ago and growing since. Seaplane training on the river in the hills. Real throwback feel. RAF approved

[@h.matherbennett7356]

Triple Tree is cool, SC00. Their fly in is fun. Also you gotta include First Flight, KFFA. Bucket list to land where it all started.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Oh for sure... bucket list for me, too! Thanks!

[@keithlavin7662]

Katama Airpark on Martha’s Vineyard. Multiple grass strips to land on, including a taxi way down to the beach with aircraft parking. There’s a nice restaurant there where you can also get some food. Great place and easy to get to. It does have a nominal ramp fee.

[@flysport_tedder]

if you like the Cedar Key "short field", look up KPFC, note the displaced threshold gives a landing length of 1500ft and change.

[@xxlegoteenxx]

Okracoke Island W95, amazing scenic beaches on the Atlantic with a great little town a short walk from the airport. The town also has great fresh seafood restaurants.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

nice! Thank you!

[@grantwolf7514]

KORS, Orcas Island is pretty magical, as is the classic KAVX, Catalina Island. West coast bias over here!

[@PilotJoeFL]

The lady at Cedar Key is gone. The last hurricane destroyed her home. You can still rent golf carts though to drive into town. I'll fly out there again one of these days and make a video for everyone.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Oh no! Thanks for the report. But bummer to hear.

[@forrestguy9325]

I can confirm that you do taxi on the public road at Beaumont (07S). In addition, if you do not stop at the stop sign, you are subject to getting a ticket just as you would in a vehicle. Beaumont also has a Twin Beech D18 parked near the hotel that was used by Barry Seal for some of the activities highlighted by the movie "American Made"

[@antoniog9814]

Yes, Charlie, you need to do a part II, please. 👍

[@dennisnbrown]

Good job on the video, sir. I love this stuff. I’ve been to three of those on the list and this summer on the way back from Oshkosh we are staying at Gaston.

[@blakebrothers]

Great video! Please make a part 2!

[@WilliamsWings]

Dude! Sweet vid!

[@alessandromontoya6195]

Mountain Air - 2NC0 ❤

[@bjornmclir5015]

i have not flown outside of alaska yet, but all of these places look great and worth the trip.

[@themaverickproject4577]

LOVE Cedar Key. I lived near there. WONDERFUL bucket list place.

[@jeffobrien1836]

Thanks for the list!

[@joshcook1305]

Michigan resident here, love Mackinaw Island!!!

[@boogerwood]

So many we could add. Or just do a separate "Bucket list" (known/unknown). Like your Johnson Creek. But Sedona has to be on this (KSEZ) and First Flight (KFFA)...

[@SUPER_HELPFUL]

We have a "Mackinac island at home" with Madeline Island near me. Has a runway that is warped up and down like waves, and has some of the most suicidal deer I have ever encountered. Interesting place to land!

[@funtimetoo1]

Did some island hopping up in Michigan and Mackinac is great and the other islands are worth a look too. Try Beaver Island they have a camp ground right on the lake. Gastons is wonderful. We will be flying the rest of OZ, northwestern AR Arkansas Arkansas.

[@ibgarrett]

Great list to start from. I've been to a few of them. Johnson Creek is otherworldly and definitely something to behold. Oh - and I've also been to Beaumont KS. You definitely taxi right down the street. There's only about 200 people that live in the very small town. The lodge is great - however it is straight up legit haunted. The stories the staff tell of things they have seen are super spooky. You can camp outside w/ your plane rather than stay in the lodge as well.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Haha I'll pass on the lodge! But thanks for the local PIREP!

[@ismaelR_C172]

Glad I'm close to 2 of them 👍 hopefully one day I'll get to visit and explore some

[@bc8861]

Now that's a good video.

[@TJFlyingAdventures]

Great video... Couple of other airports that should get an honorable mention: KLXV (Leadville, CO), which is the highest airport in the North America. You can even get a certificate from the FBO !

[@AirplaneAcademy]

That one nearly made the list! I'd definitely like to go there. Thanks for adding that here.

[@flysport_tedder]

landed on Copalis again this month. Definitely gotta go near low tide, and it's weird to have no cues around you for distance to the ground. It's in a marine sanctuary, so you need to be 2000ft up except when coming in to land. I'll put up a vid sometime.

[@00Skyfox]

This is exactly why I want to buy my own small airplane, so I can travel around and visit little airports to check them out and see what they're like. When you can land, shut down, get out, and be met with just dead silence because the airport is in the middle of nowhere, that is such a cool experience. So peaceful!

[@jamesmichaelfreer]

Oh wait there’s Sedona airport too, on top of a Plateau! it’s like landing on a aircraft carrier, especially at night! The town is pretty cool!

[@davidmalone9022]

...and the restaurant on the field there is the best in town.

[@joeellis5766]

I flew in there a year ago (May 2023). What a delightful approach it was.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

That one nearly made the list. Very cool! Would like to go there sometime.

[@neillthornton1149]

Kern Valley (L05) has got to be one of the coolest in California. The Kern river for fishing and rafting, camping on the airport grounds, and a fntastic brewery in town with bikes at the ready on the field to get you there.

[@jamesmichaelfreer]

Kern was one of my cross country destinations as a student, and back several times! Always tried to stay light on fuel ! It’s high and can be hot!

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Interestinggg. thanks!

[@fanBladeOne]

Sharing this one with my friends

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thank you for sharing!!

[@RottenOldFish]

KTGI - I'm an East Coast pilot. It is a must-do on this side.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Awesome I'll check it out. Thanks

[@jamesmichaelfreer]

Shelter cove on the “Lost Coast “ of California is a one of kind Shangri-La , check your WX it can get Foggy!

[@AirplaneAcademy]

roger that - thank you for sharing!

[@frankiecampos8909]

Nice video!

[@dawngw26]

Agreed! I really enjoyed watching this!

[@AshKast]

Block Island, RI (KBID). Martha's Vineyard, MA (KMVY)

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Noted! Thanks!

[@ryanpayne2037]

As someone from the west coast now living in the Northeast, I’d love to see what other places in the Northeast I need to go check out

[@ko5040]

BREAD AND BREAKFAST. yesssss

[@skiddster842]

We like to fly into Cedar Key. Judy used to pick people up but a hurricane destroyed her home and she moved. I think Ann is picking people up now.

[@pcgenie-la]

Catalina Island California. KAVX 26 miles off the coast from L.A. 3000' Runway ends at both ends with a dropoff to the ocean 1600 feet below. Go for the landings and stay for the Buffalo Burgers, right at the airport.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thank you for sharing!!

[@CTSega]

There's an amazing airstrip near where I grew up in Colorado, in the town of Marble. I believe it's currently on land owned by the Walton family (Of Wal-Mart) but I believe that with notice they'll let anyone land there. The scenery is amazing and the landing is epic. I've only flown in there once, but it's amazing.

[@timothylester195]

Bold Airstrip (A13). And yes, you have to be pretty bold to attempt to land there.

[@flyinglumpy]

I think another place to look at, especially if you love the history of flight, is First Flight (KFFA) in Kill Devil Hills, NC. You know, Kitty Hawk!

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Definitely! On my bucket list for sure. Thanks for sharing.

[@KendallMcIntosh]

Albert Whitted (KSPG) is awesome!

[@RottenOldFish]

Love it!

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Awesome thanks!

[@TylerR909]

You could do a list of Resort Towns. Sunriver in Oregon (S21) and Sun Valley in ID (SUN) come to mind. On theme with this video (but maybe more mid-tier) would be Nahalem Bay State Park (3S7) with a really cool approach/departure over the water into a campground. There's also Ranger Creek (21W) in WA which I'd call the Johnson Creek of WA. In Oregon you can also do an orbit around Crater Lake Ntln Park before hopping up to Crescent Lake (5S2) which is a cool little paved mountain runway, but with an absolutely _sick_ departure through the trees and over the water.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Very cool, thank you for sharing here! Noted!

[@Jesd003]

Why does that shirt look like a medical gown? Great video. Love Trigger gap, gate code is tha same as CTAF if you want to roll up and just camp. Need to do another one of these videos for the pavement princesses. KVBT is one of my favorite.

[@h.matherbennett7356]

I was thinking that same thing!

[@Barstool_cub_driver]

Plum island (2b2) is the oldest airport in New England and is a major bucket list for a lot of pilots. And Hampton Airfield (7B3) is an airport with the restaurant directly on the field. The food is good and worth the flight in. Beaumont (07S) has Okay food. It’s nothing to write home about, but isn’t bad.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Nice! Thank you for adding this to the list!

[@LoganEakins]

5 Props!!!! Richland Creek (Arkansas) -- 4AR9

[@johnopalko5223]

McMinnville Municipal Airport (KMMV) isn't anything special but it's a moderate (1.5 mile) walk to the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum where you can see, among other things, the Spruce Goose. It's a much shorter walk if you don't go down to the light to cross the highway, but I don't recommend doing that.

[@gregwallace5629]

Monument Valley and Marble Canyon are both paved and spectacular.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

interesting okay thanks!

[@darrylday30]

Jasper National Park in Jasper Alberta has an excellent 3000 ft grass strip (Jasper CYJA). Cab or tour company will pick you up. White water rafting, boat tours in high mountain lakes (see the Hall of the Gods), glacier tours, camping, hotels, etc. My family and I landed in our Arrow IV and stayed a few days. Tie down only $5. 100LL fuel available 65NM away in Edson. Breath taking views with a wide valley and straight approaches. It was perfect for my first trip in the mountains.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Super cool! Thank you for sharing here!

[@johnhenderson1760]

An experienced pilot here in Florida called Cedar Key, "the airplane graveyard", presumably from people with planes heavily loaded for vacation who did not calculate the density altitude on a hot, humid day, and ran off the end.

[@RetreadPhoto]

He should call it the “inexperienced pilot graveyard.”

[@Avi8tor857]

24A in NC is a cool introduction to mount approach with a paved but up hill runway. Nothing really to do but if you are in the south east it's worth landing. I have an old video (I am not really a KZbinr so it is raw) on my channel feel free to grab clips if you use the airport, just know it was like the 3ed flight after I got my license.

[@Avi8tor857]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHzHl3mPl9J8j7Msi=ANRbGKQez_SKz_-H Jump to like 30 min in, video is much older than when I uploaded it.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thanks I appreciate that!

[@kightremin]

Has any one mentioned Eagle Plains?

[@satellitetrackingservices5452]

you missed an amazing airfield good speed airport along the Connecticut River, it is amazing

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Okay thanks for adding here!

[@Cessna_182]

A heads up: Sulphur Creek has been closed for several years due to a forest fire. The surrounding burned forest became unsafe for the public.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Heartbreaking. I'm glad that it didn't get the lodge.

[@nicoleb9554]

Burke Lakefront Airport (KBKL) is right on the shore of Lake Erie and within walking distance of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Very cool. Thank you!

[@marcusoakley4164]

@Aviation101 has a cool video on Mackinac Island

[@darrylday30]

I flew into Mackinac last fall. Don’t wear flip flops (horse poo). Beautiful place.

[@SoundzAlive1]

What about the rest of the world? Lukla airport is very cool, check it out. André in Sydney.

[@olympiashorts]

You pronounced Copalis correctly. I have landed there a number of times. I can vouch for the recommendation to stay on the dark sand. I once taxied onto the striped sand and when I went to take off the 172 wouldn't budge as the tires had sunken a couple of inches. I flew over about a week ago and did not notice a whale and there is no current NOTAM for that as far as I can tell. Definitely make a low pass first as there are frequently people walking around on the beach.

[@flysport_tedder]

yep, landed mid-may, no whale spotted.

[@AirplaneAcademy]

Thanks for the PIREP!

[@flysport_tedder]

@@AirplaneAcademy PS, just posted my Copalis vid yesterday.

[@Parr4theCourse]

Planning on Mackinac/Bar10 later this year…Flew over Cedar Key in one of my videos flying back to Kansas but didn’t have time to stop…..drove to Beaumont, with wheel pants I tend to be leery of grass strips!

[@SpiritOfTheGalaxy143]

You are a pilot right? What do you think the chance is of me becoming a pilot as i have adhd, autism and a few more mental disorders.

[@andreasgasser5823]

And English speaking average people like You Might Not Know what the word epic means. So I will write you now this: It means 1. heroic, long, grand, monumental, vast, Homeric, Miltonian, lofty, grandiloquent, high-flown, high-sounding, extravagant, bombastic. 2. ambitious, heroic, , grand, arduous, extraordinary, Herculean, very long, very large, huge, monumental. So many of your airports are not huge, long, grand, monumental, bombastic, heroic, very long, very large, nor huge. You should use the simple word "extraordinary" or similar in future. 😀