KAMA has Texas' longest listed runway at 13,502 ft, while KMRF is the highest public-use field at 4,849 ft.
The brief
Texas rewards pilots who plan by region. The state has 388 public-use airports, with 50 towered fields and 338 non-towered options. The longest listed runway is 13,502 ft at KAMA (RICK HUSBAND AMARILLO INTL), sitting at 3,607 ft in the Panhandle. That combination makes performance planning more than a paperwork item on hot days. KDFW (DALLAS-FORT WORTH INTL) is the biggest runway environment in the data, with seven runways and a 13,401 ft longest runway. It is not the casual choice for a quick stop. It is a major towered workload with airline-style pacing, layered arrivals, departure sequencing and tight radio discipline. West Texas changes the briefing. KELP (EL PASO INTL) sits at 3,962 ft with a 12,020 ft runway and 2 FBOs. KLBB (LUBBOCK PRESTON SMITH INTL) sits at 3,282 ft with an 11,500 ft runway. Lower fields such as KIAH (GEORGE BUSH INTCNTL/HOUSTON) at 96 ft bring a different set of weather and routing decisions. Texas is not one flying environment. It is several, stitched together by long legs and many alternates.
Best of Texas
Superlatives selected from the Texas top airports list, with the why.
KAMA (RICK HUSBAND AMARILLO INTL) has the longest listed runway in Texas at 13,502 ft. It is towered, ILS-equipped, sits at 3,607 ft elevation and has 2 FBOs.
KDFW (DALLAS-FORT WORTH INTL) has seven runways, the most at any listed Texas field. The 13,401 ft longest runway gives huge pavement, but the towered environment demands disciplined radio work.
KELP (EL PASO INTL) combines a 12,020 ft runway, ILS capability, 2 FBOs and a 3,962 ft field elevation. It is a strong choice when West Texas performance planning matters.
KAUS (AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTL) gives Austin pilots a towered, ILS-equipped field with a 12,250 ft runway and 3 FBOs. It is one of the better-supported large-airport options in the state.
KLBB (LUBBOCK PRESTON SMITH INTL) offers a towered field, ILS, an 11,500 ft runway and a 3,282 ft elevation. It fits serious instrument practice and longer cross-country planning across the High Plains.
KGGG (EAST TEXAS RGNL) stands out east of the larger metroplex fields. It is towered, ILS-equipped, has a 10,000 ft runway, sits at 366 ft elevation and has 1 FBO.
Where pilots fly
What to know
Texas has 50 towered airports and 338 non-towered public-use airports. That mix creates quick transitions between controlled procedures and standard CTAF discipline. The directory data does not list airspace classes, so verify Class B, C, D and special-use boundaries on current charts. Around KDFW, KIAH, KAUS and KELP, plan for higher radio workload, more sequencing and less tolerance for uncertain readbacks.
The highest listed Texas field is KMRF (MARFA MUNI) at 4,849 ft. Several top airports also sit high enough to matter: KELP at 3,962 ft, KAMA at 3,607 ft, KLBB at 3,282 ft and KMAF at 2,872 ft. Long pavement helps, but it does not cancel density altitude. Run the numbers for takeoff roll, climb gradient and enroute terrain clearance.
Texas is unusually dense from a planning standpoint. The state lists 388 public-use airports, 280 FBOs and 55 airports with ILS. Houston alone has 12 airports in the data, San Antonio has 9, Fort Worth has 7, Dallas has 6 and Amarillo has 5. That gives pilots many divert choices, but services still vary by field. Confirm fuel, hours and instrument procedures before launch.
The longest runways cluster at major towered airports. KAMA leads with 13,502 ft, KDFW has 13,401 ft, KSPS (SHEPPARD AFB/WICHITA FALLS MUNI) has 13,100 ft and KAUS has 12,250 ft. Smaller planning mistakes can be masked by that pavement. Do not let runway length replace weight-and-balance, brake energy awareness, wind checks or rejected-takeoff planning.
Anecdotes
Texas lists 388 public-use airports in the supplied data. That includes 50 towered airports and 338 non-towered airports, giving pilots a wide spread of controlled, CTAF and cross-country training environments.
KAMA (RICK HUSBAND AMARILLO INTL) has the longest listed runway in Texas at 13,502 ft. The field sits at 3,607 ft elevation and has 2 FBOs.
KDFW (DALLAS-FORT WORTH INTL) has seven runways, the most runways at one Texas field in the supplied data. Its longest runway is 13,401 ft, with field elevation listed at 606 ft.
Service
Ranked by services count, fuel availability, hours and host airport.
Weather
Texas flying demands close attention to convective weather, wind and density altitude. Higher-elevation fields such as KMRF, KELP, KAMA, KLBB and KMAF can turn a warm-day departure into a performance problem. Lower-elevation metro fields such as KIAH and KGGG may bring more ceiling, visibility and thunderstorm decision-making. Because the state is large, destination weather can be very different from departure weather. Carry realistic alternates, fuel reserves and a plan for delaying rather than pressing into building cells.
Training
Texas is strong for training variety because the data shows 50 towered airports, 338 non-towered airports and 55 airports with ILS. A student can build radio confidence at controlled fields, then practice pattern judgment at non-towered airports. Instrument students should verify current approaches, lighting, FBO hours and alternate suitability in the Chart Supplement before planning a lesson.
Fuel prices
Live from FBO postings · refreshed hourly
FAQ
The supplied data does not include traffic counts, so do not treat this page as an operations ranking. KDFW (DALLAS-FORT WORTH INTL) is the largest runway environment listed, with seven runways and a 13,401 ft longest runway. It is towered, ILS-equipped and has 1 FBO. For pilots, that means the highest workload among the listed fields is likely not runway length. It is sequencing, radio discipline and fitting into a large controlled-airport flow.
Texas has enough airport density to support varied training profiles. The state lists 388 public-use airports, including 50 towered and 338 non-towered airports. For instrument work, the directory shows 55 airports with ILS. KAUS (AUSTIN-BERGSTROM INTL), KLBB (LUBBOCK PRESTON SMITH INTL), KGGG (EAST TEXAS RGNL) and KMAF (MIDLAND INTL AIR AND SPACE PORT) are examples of towered, ILS-equipped fields with long runways. Non-towered practice is also widely available, but verify services and pattern procedures in the Chart Supplement.
Yes. Texas has several high-elevation fields in the supplied data, especially in the west and Panhandle. KMRF (MARFA MUNI) is the highest listed field at 4,849 ft. KELP (EL PASO INTL) sits at 3,962 ft, KAMA is at 3,607 ft, KLBB is at 3,282 ft and KMAF is at 2,872 ft. Those elevations make density altitude a real planning item. Use actual temperature, pressure altitude, weight and runway available before launch.
Fuel support is broad by state standards. The supplied data lists 280 FBOs in Texas. Among the top airports, KAUS has 3 FBOs, while KAMA, KELP and KIAH each show 2 FBOs. Named FBO examples in the data include Victoria Jet Center at KVCT, Jet Aviation Dallas at KDAL, Gulf Aviation at KHRL, Million Air at KSAT and San Angelo Jet Center at KSJT. Always confirm fuel type, hours and after-hours procedures before depending on a stop.
For low-stress fly-ins, do not assume the biggest runway is the best destination. KAMA is excellent when runway length and FBO availability matter. KGGG gives East Texas pilots a 10,000 ft towered, ILS-equipped option at 366 ft elevation. KMAF serves Midland with a 9,501 ft runway and 1 FBO. KELP is useful for far-west routing, but its 3,962 ft elevation requires performance attention. For a casual arrival, compare runway length, tower status, FBO hours and airspace workload.
Texas weather risk changes by region. Around higher-elevation fields such as KMRF, KELP, KAMA, KLBB and KMAF, density altitude can become the main performance threat. Around lower fields such as KIAH at 96 ft or KGGG at 366 ft, humidity, low ceilings and convective weather can drive IFR decisions. The state is large enough that a single briefing can hide major differences along the route. Check TAFs, winds aloft, convective outlooks and alternates before crossing the state.
