KMEM (Frederick W Smith Intl/Memphis) sets the Tennessee benchmark with an 11,120 ft runway, with KTRI bringing 8,000 ft into the Appalachian side.
The brief
Tennessee flying changes quickly from the Mississippi River side to the high country near the Virginia line. KMEM (Frederick W Smith Intl/Memphis) is the heavy-runway anchor with 11,120 ft of pavement, four runways, ILS capability, tower service, plus two FBOs. KBNA (Nashville Intl) gives the middle of the state an 11,030 ft towered ILS field at 599 ft elevation. The east side asks for more terrain awareness. KTYS (Mc Ghee Tyson) has 10,000 ft of runway at 986 ft elevation near Knoxville. KTRI (Tri-Cities) sits higher at 1,519 ft, with 8,000 ft of runway serving Bristol, Johnson City. Kingsport. KCHA (Lovell Fld) adds another towered ILS option with 7,400 ft at 683 ft elevation. Away from the biggest airports, Tennessee is mostly non-towered. The state has 76 public-use airports, 67 of them non-towered, plus 16 airports with ILS capability. KSRB (Upper Cumberland Rgnl), KUCY (Everett-Stewart Rgnl). KMRC (Maury County Rgnl) are useful examples: each is non-towered, has ILS capability, has an FBO. offers at least 6,000 ft of runway. That mix makes Tennessee good for IFR cross-country planning, but weather and terrain still drive the go or no-go call.
Best of Tennessee
Superlatives selected from the Tennessee top airports list, with the why.
KMEM has Tennessee’s longest runway at 11,120 ft, four runways, tower service, ILS capability, low field elevation at 341 ft, plus two FBOs. It is the state’s clear large-aircraft benchmark.
KBNA gives Nashville an 11,030 ft towered ILS airport at 599 ft elevation, with two FBOs. It is the main long-runway choice for pilots working the middle of the state.
KTYS brings a 10,000 ft runway, ILS capability, tower service, one FBO, plus a 986 ft field elevation to the Knoxville area. It is a practical base before Appalachian terrain rises farther east.
KTRI sits at 1,519 ft elevation with an 8,000 ft runway, tower service, ILS capability, plus one FBO. It is the standout paved option near Bristol, Johnson City. Kingsport.
KSRB offers a 6,704 ft runway, ILS capability, one FBO, plus a 1,025 ft field elevation. For a non-towered Tennessee airport, that is a strong mix for instrument practice or cross-country planning.
KMQY combines tower service, ILS capability, an 8,038 ft runway, 543 ft elevation, plus two FBOs. Its Smyrna location makes it a useful controlled-field option outside the busiest Nashville core.
Where pilots fly
What to know
Tennessee has 9 towered airports and 67 non-towered public-use airports. The controlled fields cluster around the major metro areas and long-runway regional airports: KMEM, KBNA, KTYS, KMQY, KNQA, KTRI, KCHA, KMKL. KJWN. Outside those areas, radio work, pattern discipline. self-announcing habits matter. Many practical trips will mix towered departure or arrival work with non-towered fuel stops.
The runway picture is strong at the top end. KMEM has 11,120 ft and four runways. KBNA follows with 11,030 ft. KTYS has 10,000 ft. KMQY, KNQA. KTRI each provide about 8,000 ft of runway. That gives Tennessee several comfortable jet-capable options. Smaller non-towered fields still require normal performance checks, especially on hot humid days with passengers or baggage.
The east side of Tennessee is the terrain side. KTRI sits at 1,519 ft, KTYS at 986 ft. 6A4 reaches 2,241 ft. Those elevations are not extreme by western mountain standards, but cloud bases, ridgelines. climb gradients matter. A route that looks direct across the map may be less useful than one that follows lower terrain, better alternates, or known valleys.
Tennessee has 16 airports with ILS capability in the provided data. That is helpful, but it does not remove the need for alternate planning. Several non-towered fields, including KSRB, KUCY. KMRC, list ILS capability with an FBO. Towered ILS options include KMEM, KBNA, KTYS, KMQY, KNQA, KTRI, KCHA, KMKL. KJWN. Verify procedure status and services before launch.
Anecdotes
KMEM (Frederick W Smith Intl/Memphis) has the longest runway in Tennessee at 11,120 ft. It also has the most runways at one field in the state, with four listed runways.
The highest public-use airport elevation in Tennessee is 6A4 (Johnson County) at 2,241 ft. That puts the state’s top field elevation in the Appalachian side of the state, not near Nashville or Memphis.
Tennessee’s public-use airport mix is heavily GA-oriented. The state has 76 public-use airports, but only 9 are towered. The remaining 67 require non-towered procedures and good CTAF discipline.
Service
Ranked by services count, fuel availability, hours and host airport.
Weather
Tennessee’s main weather risks are low ceilings, valley fog, summer thunderstorms. terrain-amplified marginal VFR in the east. West and middle Tennessee can be humid with quick convective buildups. East Tennessee adds higher terrain near KTYS, KTRI. 6A4, so ceiling height matters as much as visibility. In winter, watch for icing risk in clouds, especially over higher elevations. Keep alternates realistic, since a nearby airport may sit in the same valley weather.
Training
Tennessee has several strong training platforms if you want tower work, instrument procedures. meaningful runway length. KMQY (Smyrna) is especially useful with tower service, ILS capability, an 8,038 ft runway, plus two FBOs. KJWN (John C Tune), KMKL (Jackson Rgnl). KTYS (Mc Ghee Tyson) also support towered IFR practice with listed FBO service.
Fuel prices
Live from FBO postings · refreshed hourly
FAQ
For runway planning, KMEM (Frederick W Smith Intl/Memphis) is the top Tennessee reference. It has the state’s longest runway at 11,120 ft, four runways, tower service, ILS capability, 341 ft field elevation, plus two FBOs. The data set ranks KMEM first among Tennessee airports. Do not treat that as a traffic-count statement unless you verify current operations. For GA alternates around the state, KBNA (Nashville Intl), KTYS (Mc Ghee Tyson), KMQY (Smyrna). KTRI (Tri-Cities) also provide long towered ILS runways.
Good controlled-field candidates include KMQY (Smyrna), KJWN (John C Tune), KMKL (Jackson Rgnl). KTYS (Mc Ghee Tyson). Each is towered, has ILS capability, an FBO, plus runway length of at least 6,001 ft in the provided data. KMQY stands out with an 8,038 ft runway and two FBOs. For non-towered instrument procedures, KSRB (Upper Cumberland Rgnl), KUCY (Everett-Stewart Rgnl). KMRC (Maury County Rgnl) all list ILS capability.
East Tennessee deserves terrain respect. KTRI (Tri-Cities) sits at 1,519 ft elevation, while KTYS (Mc Ghee Tyson) is 986 ft. The highest public-use field in the state is 6A4 (Johnson County) at 2,241 ft. Expect more terrain-driven route choices near the Appalachian side than around Memphis or west Tennessee. Check climb performance, cloud bases, freezing levels. escape routes before launching into marginal weather east of Knoxville.
Tennessee has 69 FBOs across 76 public-use airports, so fuel planning is generally straightforward on common routes. The largest listed airports have FBO coverage, including two at KMEM (Frederick W Smith Intl/Memphis), two at KBNA (Nashville Intl). two at KMQY (Smyrna). Named fuel stops in the data include Wilson Air Center at KCHA (Lovell Fld), Wilson Air Center at KMEM, Contour at KJWN (John C Tune). Jackson Regional Airport at KMKL (Jackson Rgnl).
For non-towered cross-country stops with instrument capability, look at KSRB (Upper Cumberland Rgnl), KUCY (Everett-Stewart Rgnl). KMRC (Maury County Rgnl). KSRB has the longest runway of that group at 6,704 ft and sits at 1,025 ft elevation. KUCY offers 6,503 ft at 346 ft elevation in northwest Tennessee. KMRC provides 6,000 ft at 681 ft elevation near Columbia and Mount Pleasant. Each has an FBO in the provided data.
Plan for humid low-level weather, especially morning fog in valleys and near rivers. Summer convection can build quickly across the state. East Tennessee adds terrain, which can turn a low ceiling into a serious routing problem near KTRI (Tri-Cities), KTYS (Mc Ghee Tyson), or 6A4 (Johnson County). Winter systems can bring low IFR and icing risk, especially at higher elevations. Use the Chart Supplement, current weather. conservative alternates when crossing the state in marginal conditions.
