El Mirage Field Adelanto Airport (FAA: L00)

El Mirage Field Adelanto Airport is a public-use general aviation facility located in Adelanto, California, in the High Desert region of San Bernardino County. Situated at an elevation of 2,908 feet above mean sea level, this airport serves the Victor Valley area and the surrounding Mojave Desert communities, including Adelanto, Victorville, and Hesperia. The airport is identified by FAA Location Identifier L00 and is registered under facility ID 27625 in the FAA airport database.

El Mirage Field occupies a remote stretch of high desert terrain northeast of the El Mirage Dry Lake, a vast playa that has historically attracted speed record attempts, off-road racing, and aviation activities due to its flat, open surface. The airport itself features a single unpaved runway oriented to accommodate the predominant desert wind patterns. The runway surface is compacted dirt and dry lake bed material, making it accessible primarily to light general aviation aircraft with appropriate landing gear and pilot experience for unimproved surfaces.

The airport spans a modest footprint consistent with rural desert general aviation facilities. Aircraft operating into El Mirage Field must account for high-density altitude conditions, particularly during summer months when temperatures in the Adelanto area regularly exceed 100°F. At nearly 3,000 feet of elevation combined with extreme heat, pilots must apply density altitude corrections carefully when computing takeoff and landing performance. The surrounding terrain is largely flat desert scrub, which aids situational awareness but requires vigilance for dust devils and shifting wind conditions common to the Mojave.

Adelanto itself is a city of approximately 38,000 residents in the western portion of San Bernardino County. The city has historically been tied to agriculture, correctional facilities, and light industrial activity, and more recently has seen growth in cannabis cultivation operations. El Mirage Field plays a modest but notable role in the local aviation landscape, serving recreational pilots, agricultural operators, and occasional government or survey aircraft accessing the broader Mojave region.

The El Mirage Dry Lake adjacent to the airport has a long association with aviation history in Southern California. The lake bed has been used for emergency landings, experimental aircraft testing, and has served as a navigational landmark for pilots flying through the Victor Valley corridor between Los Angeles Basin airports and the Las Vegas Terminal Area. Pilots transiting the area will find the dry lake's distinctive white surface clearly visible from altitude, making L00 and the surrounding vicinity an easily identifiable waypoint.

Access to El Mirage Field is via Kipling Road off U.S. Route 395, passing through Adelanto's industrial and rural fringe. There are no fuel services, control tower, or fixed-base operator facilities at the airport. Operations are conducted on a self-announce basis using standard CTAF procedures. Pilots planning to use El Mirage Field should conduct thorough pre-flight planning, ensure aircraft are equipped for unimproved surface operations, and verify current NOTAMs through the FAA's NOTAM system prior to departure.

For those exploring general aviation options in the High Desert region, the nearest airports with paved runways and services include Southern California Logistics Airport (VCV) in Victorville, approximately 15 miles to the southeast, and Apple Valley Airport (APV), approximately 20 miles to the east. These facilities offer fueling, maintenance, and instrument approach procedures for IFR operations. Pilots arriving from the Los Angeles Basin may also be familiar with the Class D airspace at Brackett Field (POC) in La Verne and the Class C airspace surrounding Ontario International Airport (ONT), both located roughly 60 to 70 miles to the southwest.

El Mirage Field Adelanto Airport Contact Information

Address, Phone Number, and Hours for an Airports in Adelanto, California.

Name El Mirage Field Adelanto Airport
Address 73 El Mirage Airport Road, Adelanto CA 92301 Map
Phone (760) 388-8100
Website
Hours

Map of El Mirage Field Adelanto Airport

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Frequently Asked Questions — El Mirage Field Adelanto Airport

El Mirage Field (FAA: L00) has an unpaved runway consisting of compacted dirt and dry lake bed material. The runway is suited for light general aviation aircraft with tailwheel or fixed-gear configurations capable of operating on unimproved surfaces. Pilots should check current NOTAMs before departure, as surface conditions can vary with recent precipitation or wind erosion. There is no paved taxiway or ramp infrastructure at this facility.

No. El Mirage Field Adelanto Airport does not have a fixed-base operator, fuel service, or on-site maintenance. Pilots needing avgas or Jet-A should plan to fuel at Southern California Logistics Airport (VCV) in Victorville, approximately 15 miles southeast, or Apple Valley Airport (APV), approximately 20 miles to the east. Both airports offer fueling facilities and additional services for general aviation operators.

El Mirage Field sits at 2,908 feet MSL in the Mojave Desert. During summer, when temperatures in Adelanto regularly reach 105°F or higher, the density altitude can exceed 6,000 to 7,000 feet. This significantly reduces engine performance and aerodynamic lift. Pilots flying underpowered piston aircraft must carefully compute performance figures and consider early morning departures to mitigate high-density altitude risks. The FAA's density altitude advisory materials recommend particular caution at desert airports above 2,000 feet during hot weather.

El Mirage Dry Lake is a natural playa adjacent to the airport that has historically been used for motorsport and aviation activities. However, landing on the dry lake bed outside of officially designated and permitted events is subject to Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regulations, as the lake bed is federal land. The designated airstrip at L00 is the appropriate landing area for general aviation use. Pilots should not assume open lake bed access is permitted without verifying current BLM guidance and any active event closures.

El Mirage Field operates within Class G uncontrolled airspace at the surface. The airport is situated beneath the vast Class E airspace structure of the High Desert region. Pilots should be aware of the restricted and warning areas associated with Edwards Air Force Base (EDW) to the north and east, including R-2508 complex airspace that covers significant portions of the Mojave. Checking current TFRs and NOTAM activity in the Edwards corridor is essential before any flight in the El Mirage area.

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