I live in Virginia, and there is a dearth of grass strips here that are open to the public. One little gem is Campbell Field Airport (9VG), located in Weirwood, Virginia. This is on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay. On weekends during the summer, they feature "soup on Sunday" where the owners offer chili and hot dogs on Sundays and a good flock of airplanes usually show up to talk aviation and to eat the grub. They have a website that isn't updated very often, but the general information is good. The URL is: http://www.campbellfieldairport.com/ This is a good jumping off point for lots of great spots on the seashore if you want your fill of clam chowder, fish or other seaside goodies.

Another spot that may be of interest is in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The runway is paved and the approach from the north requires a zig-zag around a hill. The airport is listed on the Sectional as private, but they welcome visiting airplanes. The strip is VG18, Sky Bryce airport. It is a ski operation in the winter, but they have lots going on in the summer too. They put up a zip-line through the trees on the ski slopes in the summer as well as having mountain bike trails. They have a good restaurant in the lodge, a lake and a golf course on the property and lots of rental cabins if you want to stay off of the ground for a night. Their website is: http://www.bryceresort.com/Resort/Local-Community/Airport.aspx They have several organized activities during the summer that can make airplane parking in the grass area tight, so check ahead for the day you might arrive.

Like most on this site, I look forward to following your travels vicariously. I might even fly out to join you on one of your stops in the Mid-Atlantic region.

A couple suggested overnight stops for ND:

S28 International Peace Garden Airport
37N Garrison Dam Recreational Airport

The Peace Garden looks best in July or August. If you need more info let me know. Good luck.

Two more in California;
Oceano (L52) http://www.oceanoairport.com/ Camping on the airport, walk to the beach and several restaurants. If the coastal fog scrubs this one see below.

Kern Valley ((L05) Also camping on the airport. The airport manager is on here from time to time and can bring you up to date as the trip nears. If summer forest fires scrub this one see above.

Thanks All,
This is looking good, have 16 states already.
ND, UT, OR, CO, Virginia, CA, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, NY, Nevada, WA, MT, WI, and of course will have to stop @ Graham field in OH!!

Only 32 more to go??

SW Minnesota has the "Sacred Quarry" at KPQN and you could land on our farm strip if you like......BUT , I have to be honest and say if you are on a 1 stop limited time trip...Look up BRD, where he lives, it pretty anytime of the year.
If I'm around, wouldn't mind flying to where your at and have a meet and greet lunch....

My favorite airport in SD is the Blacks Hills Airport-Clyde Ice Field in Spearfish (SPF).

Super pretty area, a great FBO (Eagle Aviation), you can camp, and there's plenty of local aviation history to check out. I suppose I'm a little biased about this airport because I was the consulting engineer that laid out the airfield and runway geometry, completed the environmental assessment, did the airspace feasibility analysis for new GPS approach procedures, etc., etc. It was rather complex figuring out how to fit a 6400-ft runway into that rugged terrain and still be able to meet FAA criteria for a useful GPS approach procedure flown with a Gulfstream III. The new runway built a few years ago was based on this work.

Of course there's a number of other cool airports in the Black Hills.

Gastons (3M0) is nice. It is on the river, has cabins or camping, and a good restaurant. Kingsley's spray field four miles west of Miller, Missouri has a restaurant. Call me at 417-830-0638 and I will buy you'all a meal there. Open 0600 to 2200.

Jim

contactflying wrote:Gastons (3M0) is nice. It is on the river, has cabins or camping, and a good restaurant. Kingsley's spray field four miles west of Miller, Missouri has a restaurant. Call me at 417-830-0638 and I will buy you'all a meal there. Open 0600 to 2200.

Jim

You got it!,, Looking forward to it!!
Appreciate you taking the time to write your book!

CD glad there's a pilot on here that is involved in the airport building, respects to you!! Have worked on trying to get a new reginal airport installed and there is just a huge amount of BS that most people just can't get there arms around!! Me Included!!

Thanks again all for the comments and suggestions!

I just checked again. Kingsley's (MO9) is on the sectional now.

Columbia's always been a favorite overnight spot of ours in the spring, when the grass is green and the temperatures are mild. It has hot showers, grub in town, a lush grass airstrip, cheap fuel ($3.97), horseshoes and good company in the pretty oak-studded campground area. All that was missing was a fire pit to sit around in the evening.

Well, Tuolumne County has really outdone itself. There are now a dozen or more new fire pits and a huge pile of wood. Each camp site has its own fire pit, and there's a large community pit with benches around it. They even added a frame for a roll up screen to show outdoor movies and a sand volleyball court. And the horseshoe pits have been rehabbed as well.

The crew of inmates cut the grass (and poison oak) in the campground yesterday. We landed on the grass runway at dusk last night, got dinner then enjoyed a fire followed by a thunderstorm that came right over the top of the airport. Nothing like counting the seconds after the lightening flashes from inside the tent, then falling asleep as the rain tapers off. It's a sweet place.

CAVU

This thread is over two years old. So they actually allow fires at Columbia now? Last time I was out there camping we got yelled at for having a fire.

Don't forget Kern Valley "L05". We need all the support we can get. We had a good year for rain and snow and the lake wink be up this year.

Rick

I was surprised about the fire rings, too. I'd asked about getting some a few years ago and was told there was no way there would ever be fires because of the fire hazard. I guess they changed their minds. Whatever the reason, I'm glad of it.

Kernville sounds great. It's a bit farther for us, but I'd definitely like to check it out.

CAVU