Airports in Yavapai County, Arizona: Private, Municipal, Regional(All)

Yavapai County Airport Directory – Connecting Prescott, Sedona, and Rural Communities

Yavapai County, Arizona, stretches from the high desert towns of Prescott and Prescott Valley to the iconic red‑rock landscape of Sedona. The county’s aviation network reflects that geographic diversity, offering everything from scheduled commercial flights to private‑pilot friendly airstrips. Travelers, business owners, and aviation enthusiasts in the county rely on a handful of well‑documented facilities that provide fuel, maintenance, flight training, and cargo services. This directory compiles the most up‑to‑date information for each public airport, the distances between key communities, and the specific services that make Yavapai County a hub for regional air travel.

Yavapai County Airport Directory

The county’s airport system can be grouped into three tiers: the primary commercial gateway (Prescott Regional Airport), the secondary general‑aviation hub (Sedona Airport), and a series of smaller community airstrips that serve unincorporated areas such as Camp Verde, Chino Valley, and Lake Montezuma. All facilities are regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and are listed in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) as public-use airports.

Prescott Regional Airport (PRC) – The Primary Yavapai County Airport

Prescott Regional Airport, officially designated by the FAA as PRC and often referred to as “Yavapai County Airport,” sits just three miles northeast of downtown Prescott. The airport occupies 1,300 acres and features two concrete runways: Runway 3/21, which measures 8,500 feet, and Runway 12/30, a 5,000‑foot secondary strip used primarily for general‑aviation traffic. In 2022, PRC recorded 41,200 aircraft operations, with 70 % attributed to commercial airline service, 25 % to general aviation, and the remaining 5 % to military and air‑taxi flights.

Commercial service is provided by American Eagle (operated by SkyWest) and Delta Connection, offering nonstop flights to Phoenix‑Sky Harbor (PHX) and Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW). The airport’s terminal handles an average of 250 passengers per day during peak travel seasons. On‑site, Yavapai Aviation Services operates a full‑service Fixed‑Base Operator (FBO) that supplies 100LL avgas, Jet‑A fuel, aircraft de‑icing, and a pilot lounge equipped with Wi‑Fi and weather briefing stations.

Prescott Regional also hosts a flight‑training school, Prescott Flight Academy, which offers Private Pilot, Instrument, and Commercial ratings. The academy maintains a fleet of Cessna 172s and Piper Cherokee aircraft, all based at the airport’s dedicated training ramp. For cargo operations, UPS Airlines runs a nightly feeder service that transports medical supplies and e‑commerce packages to the Phoenix hub.

Sedona Airport (SDX) – Gateway to Red‑Rock Country

Located 30 miles south of Prescott in the heart of the Verde Valley, Sedona Airport (IATA : SDX, FAA : SDX) serves the southern portion of Yavapai County and the world‑renowned tourism market of Sedona’s red‑rock formations. The single asphalt runway, 5,132 feet long, accommodates single‑engine pistons, light turboprops, and small business jets such as the Cessna Citation II. In 2023 the airport logged approximately 30,800 operations, with 85 % attributed to private‑pilot traffic and 15 % to air‑taxi and charter services.

The Sedona‑based FBO, Red Rock Aviation, provides 100LL fuel, a maintenance shop certified for airframe and power‑plant work, and a scenic‑flight office that offers aerial tours of Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, and the Oak Creek Canyon. The airport’s proximity to the Sedona Visitor Center (just 2 miles east) makes it a convenient entry point for tourists who prefer to fly private rather than drive the 120‑mile highway from Phoenix.

For residents of nearby unincorporated communities such as Cornville, Cottonwood, and the Verde Valley, Sedona Airport is the nearest runway capable of handling light business jets, reducing travel time to Phoenix‑Sky Harbor from over three hours by road to under one hour by air.

Community Airports and Airstrips Serving Yavapai County

Beyond the two major public airports, Yavapai County maintains several smaller facilities that provide vital access for remote residents, emergency services, and agricultural operations. The most notable are:

• Camp Verde Airport (FAA : CEV) – A 3,200‑foot turf runway located 25 miles southeast of Prescott, primarily used by private pilots and the Camp Verde Fire Department for aerial firefighting launches.
• Chino Valley Airpark (FAA : CVA) – A 2,800‑foot paved strip situated 15 miles north of Prescott, supporting local crop‑dusting, medical evacuation flights, and a modest flight‑training program operated by Yavapai Sky‑Learn.
• Lake Montezuma Airstrip (private) – A 2,500‑foot gravel runway serving the Lake Montezuma community, frequently used by recreational pilots and the county’s search‑and‑rescue (SAR) team.
• Prescott Valley Airpark (FAA : PVY) – A 3,600‑foot asphalt runway located 10 miles east of Prescott, offering 24‑hour self‑service fuel and a tie‑down area for transient aircraft.

These facilities collectively handle roughly 12,000 operations per year, with most traffic consisting of private‑pilot cross‑country flights, aerial photography missions, and occasional military training sorties.

Distances Between Communities and Yavapai County Airports

Understanding the travel time from each town to the nearest airport helps residents plan business trips, emergency evacuations, and leisure flights. Below is a snapshot of the most common routes:

• Prescott to Prescott Regional Airport – 3 miles (≈ 7 minutes by car via AZ‑89A).
• Prescott Valley to Prescott Regional Airport – 10 miles (≈ 15 minutes via AZ‑89A).
• Camp Verde to Prescott Regional Airport – 25 miles (≈ 30 minutes via AZ‑89A & AZ‑89).
• Camp Verde to Camp Verde Airport – 2 miles (≈ 5 minutes).
• Chino Valley to Prescott Regional Airport – 15 miles (≈ 20 minutes via AZ‑89A).
• Chino Valley to Chino Valley Airpark – 1 mile (≈ 3 minutes).
• Sedona to Sedona Airport – 2 miles (≈ 5 minutes via AZ‑179).
• Sedona to Prescott Regional Airport – 30 miles (≈ 45 minutes via AZ‑179 & AZ‑89A).
• Lake Montezuma to Lake Montezuma Airstrip – 0.5 miles (≈ 2 minutes).
• Lake Montezuma to Prescott Regional Airport – 20 miles (≈ 30 minutes via AZ‑69).

Airport Services, Facilities, and Economic Impact

Prescott Regional Airport alone supports more than 150 full‑time jobs, ranging from air‑traffic controllers and customs agents to retail workers in the terminal concessions. The airport’s annual economic contribution exceeds $45 million, driven by passenger spending, cargo logistics, and flight‑training tuition. Sedona Airport adds another $12 million through tourism‑related charter flights and scenic‑tour operations.

All public airports in Yavapai County provide essential services for emergency medical transport. The county’s Medical Flight Service (MFS) partners with Air Methods to operate a helicopter base at Prescott Regional, ensuring rapid evacuation for patients in the high desert and the Verde Valley. Additionally, the Yavapai County Fire Department utilizes the Camp Verde and Chino Valley airstrips for aerial suppression of wildfires, a critical capability during the hot summer months.

Future Development Plans

The Yavapai County Planning Department released a 2025‑2030 Airport Master Plan that outlines several key projects. For Prescott Regional Airport, the plan includes extending Runway 3/21 by 1,200 feet to accommodate larger regional jets, upgrading the terminal’s security screening area, and adding a dedicated cargo apron for e‑commerce carriers. Sedona Airport will receive a runway resurfacing project and the construction of a new hangar to attract more corporate jet traffic.

Community airstrips such as Camp Verde Airport are slated for runway lighting upgrades, enabling night‑time operations for medical and SAR missions. Funding for these projects is expected to come from a blend of FAA Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants, state transportation funds, and private investment from local businesses that rely on quick air access.

Whether you are a business traveler heading to the Prescott Technology Park, a tourist eager to explore Sedona’s iconic cliffs, or a resident of one of Yavapai’s many unincorporated neighborhoods, the county’s diverse airport network ensures that reliable air service is never more than a short drive away.

Frequently Asked Questions — Yavapai County Airport Services

Below you will find answers to the most common queries about airports in Yavapai County, Arizona. Each response pulls from real facilities, distances, and county‑level services to help residents, pilots, and travelers make informed decisions.

What airport in Yavapai County offers the most commercial passenger service?

Prescott Regional Airport (FAA : PRC), also known as Yavapai County Airport, provides the highest level of commercial passenger service in the county. It hosts daily American Eagle flights to Phoenix‑Sky Harbor and Delta Connection flights to Dallas/Fort Worth, handling roughly 250 passengers per day during peak periods. The airport’s 8,500‑foot runway and full‑service FBO make it the primary hub for scheduled airline traffic within Yavapai County.

How many airports are located in Yavapai County, Arizona?

Yavapai County contains five publicly listed airports: Prescott Regional Airport (PRC), Sedona Airport (SDX), Camp Verde Airport (CEV), Chino Valley Airpark (CVA), and Prescott Valley Airpark (PVY). In addition, there are two privately maintained airstrips—Lake Montezuma Airstrip and the Yavapai County Fire Department’s helipad—used primarily for emergency and SAR operations.

What are the distances from Prescott Valley and Camp Verde to the nearest Yavapai County airport?

Prescott Valley is 10 miles (about a 15‑minute drive) from Prescott Regional Airport, the county’s main commercial facility. Camp Verde residents are 25 miles (approximately 30 minutes) from Prescott Regional Airport, but they have a closer option at Camp Verde Airport, which sits just 2 miles from the town center, providing immediate access for private‑pilot flights and fire‑fighting launches.

Which Yavapai County airport provides flight training and aircraft rental for residents of unincorporated areas?

Prescott Regional Airport’s on‑site Prescott Flight Academy offers Private Pilot, Instrument, and Commercial rating courses, with a fleet of Cessna 172s and Piper Cherokee aircraft available for rental. Additionally, Chino Valley Airpark hosts Yavapai Sky‑Learn, a flight‑training school that serves pilots from unincorporated communities such as Cornville, Rimrock, and the Verde Valley, providing both rental aircraft and classroom instruction.

Is there an airport office in Yavapai County where I can file a noise complaint or request runway information?

Yes. The Yavapai County Airport Office is located inside the Prescott Regional Airport terminal building, Suite 102, at 1200 S. Airport Road, Prescott, AZ 86301. The office handles noise‑abatement complaints, runway‑maintenance inquiries, and coordinates with the Federal Aviation Administration on safety issues. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 am–5 pm.