Dauphin Island Airport (DAK) – Theodore, Alabama

Dauphin Island Airport, designated with FAA identifier DAK and internal ID 26843, serves the coastal community of Dauphin Island and the surrounding Theodore, Alabama area. Situated at the southern tip of Mobile County, this general aviation facility provides critical air access to one of Alabama's most ecologically significant barrier islands—home to the Dauphin Island Sea Lab, the Audubon Bird Sanctuary, and a thriving year-round fishing and tourism economy.

The airport sits at an elevation of approximately 10 feet above mean sea level and features a single asphalt runway oriented to accommodate the prevailing Gulf Coast wind patterns. While modest in infrastructure compared to Mobile Regional Airport (MOB) located roughly 30 miles to the north, Dauphin Island Airport fulfills an irreplaceable role for private pilots, charter operators, and emergency responders who need direct access to the island without relying solely on the two-lane Dauphin Island Parkway bridge—the only road connection to the mainland.

Theodore, Alabama, the unincorporated community nearest to the airport's administrative address, lies in the southwestern corner of Mobile County along the western shore of Mobile Bay. With its deep industrial and maritime heritage, Theodore serves as a logistics and services hub for offshore energy operations, shrimping fleets, and recreational boaters working the Intracoastal Waterway. The Theodore area has historically supported aviation activity tied to petrochemical facilities and Gulf energy infrastructure, making Dauphin Island Airport a natural complement to regional aviation needs.

Pilots flying into Dauphin Island Airport benefit from its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, though this same coastal exposure demands careful attention to weather. Afternoon sea-breeze convection, fog formed over warm Gulf waters, and the occasional tropical system require thorough pre-flight planning. The airport's position within the Mobile Class B airspace structure means that coordination with Mobile Approach Control is often necessary for VFR operations transiting the area, and pilots must remain current on temporary flight restrictions that periodically apply along the Alabama coast.

The surrounding airspace and geography make Dauphin Island Airport a valuable waypoint and destination for pilots touring the Gulf Coast. From the traffic pattern, aviators enjoy sweeping views of Mobile Bay, the Dauphin Island causeway, and on clear days, the barrier islands stretching toward Fort Morgan and Gulf Shores. The airport serves fishing enthusiasts who fly in during the spring and fall run of red drum and speckled trout, birders attending the annual Dauphin Island Birding Festival, and researchers affiliated with the University of South Alabama and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab conducting field studies along the island's estuarine and marine environments.

Regional connectivity is supported by nearby general aviation airports including Prattville Airport and Autauga County Airport to the north in central Alabama, Greenville Municipal Airport (PRN) and Mac Crenshaw Memorial Airport in the state's midsection, and Sells Airport (71AL), a private strip that dots the rural landscape of southern Alabama. Together, these facilities form a network that allows light aircraft operators to traverse Alabama's varied terrain from the Appalachian foothills down to the Gulf Shore.

Fuel availability and maintenance services at Dauphin Island Airport should be confirmed in advance of arrival, as the facility operates with limited fixed-base operator staffing typical of small coastal airports. Transient parking is available on the ramp, and the airport is accessible to the island's road network, placing pilots within a short drive of restaurants, marinas, and the public beach on the island's western tip. Whether arriving for a weekend of saltwater fishing, ecological research, or simply to experience one of Alabama's most distinctive coastal communities from the air, Dauphin Island Airport offers a welcoming gateway that larger commercial facilities cannot replicate.

Dauphin Island Airport Contact Information

Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Theodore, Alabama.

Name Dauphin Island Airport
Address 11562 Dauphin Island Parkway, Theodore AL 36582 Map
Phone (251) 824-2831
Website
Hours

Map of Dauphin Island Airport


Airports near Theodore

Frequently Asked Questions – Dauphin Island Airport (DAK)

Dauphin Island Airport carries the FAA identifier DAK and is located on Dauphin Island, a barrier island off the Gulf Coast in Mobile County, Alabama. The airport's administrative address is associated with Theodore, AL, the nearest mainland community on the southwestern shore of Mobile Bay. The island is accessible by road via the Dauphin Island Parkway bridge or by air via the airport runway.

Dauphin Island Airport is a public-use general aviation facility, welcoming transient pilots flying single-engine and light twin-engine aircraft. Visiting pilots should verify current fuel availability and any NOTAMs before arrival, as on-site services are limited compared to larger FBOs. Transient ramp parking is available, and the airport provides access to the island's road network, putting pilots close to local restaurants, the Dauphin Island Sea Lab visitor facilities, and waterfront recreational areas.

The airport's Gulf Coast location brings several weather factors pilots must plan for: afternoon convective activity from sea-breeze collisions in the summer months, radiation and advection fog that can form quickly over the warm Gulf waters, and the risk of tropical weather systems from June through November. Pilots should obtain a full weather briefing and check for TFRs along the Alabama coast before flight. The proximity to Mobile's Class B airspace also requires coordination with Mobile Approach Control for VFR traffic operating in the area.

Dauphin Island draws pilots for a variety of coastal pursuits. The island is renowned for spring and fall saltwater fishing, particularly red drum and speckled trout runs in the Gulf and bay waters. Birders fly in for the annual Dauphin Island Birding Festival, one of the most significant spring migration events in the eastern United States. Researchers and students affiliated with the Dauphin Island Sea Lab and the University of South Alabama use the airport for efficient access to the island's marine and estuarine research stations. Recreational visitors come for the public beach, Fort Gaines historic site, and the island's laid-back Gulf Coast atmosphere.

Pilots flying the southern Alabama region have several general aviation options within a reasonable cross-country distance. Mobile Regional Airport (MOB) provides the nearest commercial and full-service FBO facilities roughly 30 miles north. For smaller GA strips, Prattville Airport and Autauga County Airport serve the Prattville area in central Alabama, while Greenville Municipal Airport (PRN) and Mac Crenshaw Memorial Airport provide coverage in the state's midsection. Sells Airport (71AL) represents one of the area's private-use facilities in rural southern Alabama. Together these airports support a regional network for light aircraft operations across the state.

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