Camping on Field

"homer simpson" wrote in message
...
Was going through the AOPA Airport Directory and noticed this is a
selection criteria. It sounds like a cool thing to do. I'm thinking
you just fly in, pitch the tent and chill. Has anyone in the group ever
done this? Apart from calling ahead to check with the airport
management, are there any other suggestions?

Some airfields are better than others. I don't see the attraction of camping
at a typical municipal airport (I don't see the attraction of camping in
your RV in a Wal-Mart parking lot, either), but someplace such as Columbia,
CA or back country airstrips could be a lot of fun. Having actually camped
at Columbia, I can say that we had a great time.

C J Campbell wrote:

Some airfields are better than others. I don't see the attraction of
camping
at a typical municipal airport (I don't see the attraction of camping
in
your RV in a Wal-Mart parking lot, either), but someplace such as
Columbia,
CA or back country airstrips could be a lot of fun. Having actually
camped
at Columbia, I can say that we had a great time.

WYS--West Yellowstone, Montana has a beautiful on-airport campground.
Located in the trees, so no rotating beacon problem. Courtesy bicycles
for riding into town, and hot showers powered by a propane tank.
Magnificent hiking nearby too. Charge for camping was around $5 as I
recall. One of the av-rags, maybe Pilot Getaways, did a brief writup on
it a few years ago.

Jim Rosinski

Just do not try to camp at an airport with aircarrier service.
You will not be allowed as it is considered a security risk.

Just do not try to camp at an airport with aircarrier service.
You will not be allowed as it is considered a security risk.

Oops! I didn't know that. Haven't been to Fairbanks since 9/11. So
camping there may no longer be permitted.

vince norris

As always, Alaska may have different interpretation of the rules.
I was referring to airports with passenger service in the lower 48.

Just do not try to camp at an airport with aircarrier service.
You will not be allowed as it is considered a security risk.

vincent p. norris wrote:
Oops! I didn't know that. Haven't been to Fairbanks since 9/11. So
camping there may no longer be permitted.

john smith wrote:
As always, Alaska may have different interpretation of the rules.
I was referring to airports with passenger service in the lower 48.


Not always. West Yellowstone (mentioned above) has air carrier
service and camping on the field. They just don't want you loitering
around on the ramp when the commercial flight is there.
John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180)

wrote:

WYS--West Yellowstone, Montana has a beautiful on-airport campground.
Located in the trees, so no rotating beacon problem. Courtesy
bicycles
for riding into town, and hot showers powered by a propane tank.
Magnificent hiking nearby too. Charge for camping was around $5 as I
recall. One of the av-rags, maybe Pilot Getaways, did a brief writup
on
it a few years ago.


WYS is one of my favorite stops. My website has pics and info of
several cool camping destinations in the Western U.S.

http://members.cox.net/jgalban/index.html
John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180)

Some airfields are better than others. .... someplace such as Columbia,
CA or back country airstrips could be a lot of fun.

Try Fairbanks, Alaska. Great camping. Tell Ground Control you want
to taxi to the campground; get cleared to the northeast corner of the
field, where you taxi right into a campground. Tie down your plane,
pitch your tent, and enjoy. There's a good-sized shelter with a paved
floor, several sawbuck tables, a large wood stove, a supply of
firewood, and even some old newspaper for tenderfeet who don't know
how to start a fire. Faucet with fresh running water (though a bit
discolored); privy a few yards away.

There's also a shower room in the tower building, although it's about
half a mile from the campground.

Of course, 747s fly in and out all night, but night lasts only a
couple of hours (in summer), so it doesn't matter much.

vince norris

vincent p. norris wrote:

Try Fairbanks, Alaska. Great camping.
snip

Also one of my favorites : http://members.cox.net/jgalban/id45.htm

Of course, 747s fly in and out all night, but night lasts only a
couple of hours (in summer), so it doesn't matter much.

The 747s aren't bad, those ancient DC-6s with the giant radials that
take off every morning to haul fuel make for an interesting alarm
clock. As I recall, they usually started their day at around 6 A.M.
John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180)