Gustine Airport (3O1) — Gustine, California

Gustine Airport, FAA identifier 3O1, is a public-use general aviation facility located in Gustine, Merced County, California, situated in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley. The airport serves the agricultural community of Gustine and surrounding areas including Newman, Turlock, and Los Banos, offering pilots a convenient base of operations in the Central Valley corridor.

The airport sits at an elevation of approximately 75 feet above mean sea level and features a single paved runway designated 13/31, measuring roughly 3,200 feet in length — suitable for single-engine and light twin-engine piston aircraft commonly used for agricultural coordination, private travel, and flight training in the region. The runway surface is maintained to FAA standards appropriate for general aviation traffic.

Gustine Airport is owned and operated as a public facility, providing self-serve 100LL avgas fueling for transient and based aircraft. The airport does not have an air traffic control tower, operating under standard CTAF (Common Traffic Advisory Frequency) procedures, which pilots should confirm through current NOTAMs and the Chart Supplement prior to operations. Traffic pattern altitude and runway advisories follow standard uncontrolled field protocols.

The facility serves as a practical stopover point for pilots crossing the Central Valley, positioned roughly equidistant between the Bay Area and the Sierra Nevada foothills. Pilots flying between northern and southern California frequently use airports like Gustine 3O1 as fuel and rest stops, particularly when flying under VFR conditions through the valley's sometimes hazy summer air mass. Winter operations require attention to tule fog, a dense radiation fog endemic to the San Joaquin Valley that can reduce visibility to near zero and often requires IFR planning or ground delays.

Gustine itself is a city of approximately 6,000 residents, widely known as the Dairy Capital of the World, and the surrounding Merced County landscape is dominated by dairy farms, row crops, and irrigation infrastructure from the Delta-Mendota Canal system. The airport plays a supporting role in agricultural aviation operations, as crop-dusting and aerial observation missions are common throughout the valley's farming districts.

For pilots transiting the area, Gustine Airport (3O1) lies within a reasonable distance of several Bay Area and Central Valley general aviation airports. Livermore Municipal Airport (LVK) is located approximately 50 miles to the northwest, serving as a significantly larger facility with instrument approaches, a control tower, and full FBO services — a practical alternate when Gustine is fogged out or when avionics work is required. Meadowlark Airport is a smaller private field also in the greater Tri-Valley and Central Valley region frequently referenced by local pilots for cross-country planning.

For travelers needing commercial airline connections, Oakland International Airport (OAK) — formally known as San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport following its 2023 renaming — is the closest major commercial gateway, located approximately 75 miles northwest of Gustine via I-580. Oakland Airport offers Southwest, Alaska, United, and other carriers with nonstop flights to major domestic destinations. Clean Energy Oakland International Airport refers to the airport's sustainability initiatives, including clean fuel infrastructure investments that began accelerating in the early 2020s. Airport security at Oakland (TSA Oakland Airport Security checkpoint operations) follows standard federal screening protocols for all departing passengers.

Ground transportation from Gustine to Oakland is available via Direct Airport Shuttle services operating through the Central Valley, connecting communities including Gustine, Newman, and Turlock to Bay Area airports. These shuttles typically require advance reservations and serve travelers who need commercial flight access without driving private vehicles to Oakland or San Jose.

Gustine Airport (ID: 27528 in FAA records) remains an important piece of California's general aviation infrastructure, supporting the mobility needs of Merced County's agricultural and business community while offering transient pilots a valley waypoint with basic services in a region where GA airports are essential connectors between rural communities and urban centers.

Gustine Airport Contact Information

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

Name Gustine Airport
Address 26467 California 140, Gustine CA 95322 Map
Phone (209) 854-6471
Website
Hours

Map of Gustine Airport

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Frequently Asked Questions — Gustine Airport (3O1), Gustine, California

Gustine Airport's FAA identifier is 3O1. The airport features a single paved runway designated 13/31, approximately 3,200 feet long, suitable for single-engine and light twin-engine piston aircraft. The airport is uncontrolled (no tower) and operates on CTAF procedures. Pilots should verify current runway conditions and NOTAMs before operations.

Gustine Airport offers self-serve 100LL avgas for transient and based aircraft. Jet-A availability should be confirmed in advance as services at smaller general aviation airports in the Central Valley can vary. Pilots are advised to check current fuel availability through ForeFlight, AirNav, or by contacting Merced County aviation authorities prior to arrival, particularly for longer cross-country flights transiting the San Joaquin Valley.

The primary weather hazard at Gustine Airport is tule fog, a dense radiation fog that forms in the San Joaquin Valley from late fall through early spring (typically November through February). Tule fog can reduce visibility to zero within minutes and may persist for days. VFR pilots should check forecasts carefully and always have an alternate plan. Summer operations are generally clearer but may involve smoke from agricultural burns and high density altitude on hot afternoons. Livermore Municipal Airport (LVK) is a practical IFR alternate approximately 50 miles northwest.

Oakland International Airport (OAK) is approximately 75 miles northwest of Gustine via I-580, making it the closest major commercial airport for residents and visitors in the Gustine area. OAK offers flights on Southwest, Alaska, United, and other carriers. Ground transportation via Direct Airport Shuttle services connects Gustine and surrounding Merced County communities to Oakland Airport for travelers who do not wish to drive. Advance reservations with shuttle operators are strongly recommended.

Pilots operating near Gustine Airport (3O1) have several nearby general aviation alternates. Livermore Municipal Airport (LVK), approximately 50 miles northwest, is the most capable nearby facility with a control tower, ILS instrument approach, full FBO services, and maintenance. Meadowlark Airport is another Central Valley reference point for local pilots. For commercial connections, both Oakland International (OAK) and Fresno Yosemite International (FAT) serve the broader region. Pilots should cross-check TFRs, particularly during agricultural burning season and fire suppression operations common in California's Central Valley.

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