Oakdale Airport (O27) — Oakdale, California

Oakdale Airport (FAA identifier O27) is a public-use general aviation airport located in Oakdale, Stanislaus County, California, serving the northern San Joaquin Valley. Situated at an elevation of approximately 236 feet above mean sea level, the airport occupies a strategic position in the agricultural heartland of Central California, roughly 15 miles northeast of Modesto and about 90 miles east of the San Francisco Bay Area.

The airport features a single asphalt runway, Runway 13/31, stretching 3,000 feet in length and 50 feet in width — well-suited for single-engine and light twin-engine piston aircraft that form the backbone of general aviation in the region. The runway surface is maintained in serviceable condition for daytime visual flight rules (VFR) operations, and the field is uncontrolled, meaning pilots self-announce on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) of 122.9 MHz when approaching or departing.

Oakdale Airport is owned and operated by the City of Oakdale, which has historically supported the facility as a resource for local pilots, agricultural aviation operators, and business travelers seeking convenient access to the Stanislaus County area without the complexity of commercial airline travel. The airport does not have a control tower, so operations depend on pilot discipline and standard VFR advisory procedures.

Among the most significant uses of Oakdale Airport is agricultural aviation. The surrounding region is one of California's most productive farming zones, with almond orchards, dairy operations, and row crops dominating the landscape. Aerial application aircraft — commonly called ag planes — use O27 as a base of operations during spraying and dusting seasons, making the airport a working hub for an industry deeply tied to the region's economy.

Flight training is another core activity at Oakdale Airport. The relatively mild Central Valley weather — with over 250 sunny days per year and low humidity outside of tule fog season — makes O27 an attractive base for student pilots accumulating hours. Tule fog, a ground-level radiation fog common to the San Joaquin Valley from December through February, does periodically close the airport to VFR traffic, so local pilots learn early to respect regional weather patterns.

Fuel services have historically been available at or near the airport, typically 100LL avgas to serve the piston fleet. Pilots are advised to confirm current fuel availability and hours of operation prior to arrival, as services at uncontrolled general aviation airports can vary seasonally. There are no instrument approach procedures published for O27, so IFR-equipped aircraft operating in the area typically divert to Modesto City-County Airport (MOD), located approximately 16 miles to the southwest, which offers ILS and RNAV approaches along with control tower services and full FBO amenities.

For those flying into the Oakdale area for business or leisure, the airport provides unmatched convenience. Oakdale itself — known as the "Cowboy Capital of the World" — hosts the annual Oakdale Rodeo, one of the largest rodeos in California, typically held each April. Visitors flying private aircraft for rodeo weekend find O27 a far more practical arrival point than dealing with ground transportation from Sacramento or Fresno airports. The city's compact downtown, with its local restaurants and shops, is accessible within minutes of the airport.

The broader Stanislaus County area, accessible via Oakdale Airport, draws recreational pilots interested in exploring the western Sierra Nevada foothills. Knights Ferry, a historic gold rush-era covered bridge and recreation area along the Stanislaus River, is just 10 miles to the east — reachable in minutes by aircraft and offering rafting, hiking, and fishing. Yosemite National Park lies approximately 75 miles to the northeast, and while O27 itself is too small for staging mountain scenic flights into Yosemite's higher terrain, it serves as a convenient staging point for pilots exploring Central Valley destinations.

Oakdale Airport (O27) is registered under FAA facility ID 27755 and is included in the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS) as a general aviation facility. It is classified as a local reliever for congested commercial airports and plays a quiet but essential role in California's distributed aviation infrastructure. For current NOTAMs, weather, and airport information, pilots should consult the FAA's Chart Supplement Pacific edition or check 1800wxbrief.com prior to flight.

Oakdale Airport Contact Information

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

Name Oakdale Airport
Address 8181 Laughlin Road, Oakdale CA 95361 Map
Phone (209) 845-3607
Website
Hours

Map of Oakdale Airport


Airports near Oakdale

Frequently Asked Questions — Oakdale Airport (O27)

Oakdale Airport's FAA identifier is O27 (facility ID 27755). The airport has a single asphalt runway designated Runway 13/31, measuring 3,000 feet long and 50 feet wide. The airport is uncontrolled and operates under VFR conditions only — there are no published instrument approach procedures. Pilots use CTAF frequency 122.9 MHz for traffic advisories when arriving or departing.

Avgas (100LL) has historically been available at Oakdale Airport, but hours and availability can vary. Because O27 is a small municipal general aviation field, pilots should verify current fuel service before planning a fuel stop. The nearest full-service FBO with guaranteed fuel, instrument approaches, and a control tower is Modesto City-County Airport (MOD), approximately 16 miles southwest of Oakdale.

The primary weather hazard at O27 is tule fog, a dense ground-level radiation fog that forms in the San Joaquin Valley from roughly December through February. Tule fog can rapidly reduce visibility to near zero, closing the VFR-only airport without warning. Pilots planning winter flights should check METARs and TAFs for KMOD (Modesto) as a nearby reference. Summer brings high temperatures that affect density altitude — at O27's 236-foot elevation this is rarely critical, but heavily loaded aircraft on hot afternoons should calculate performance carefully for the 3,000-foot runway.

Oakdale Airport serves three primary user groups. Agricultural aviation operators use O27 as a staging base for aerial application (crop dusting and spraying) across the surrounding Stanislaus County farmland, which produces almonds, dairy products, and row crops. General aviation pilots based in the Oakdale and Stanislaus County area use the airport for personal and business travel. Flight training is also conducted at O27, taking advantage of the region's abundant VFR flying days. The airport is owned and operated by the City of Oakdale.

Oakdale Airport offers convenient access to several Central California destinations. The city of Oakdale itself — the self-proclaimed "Cowboy Capital of the World" — hosts the annual Oakdale Rodeo each April, one of California's largest. Knights Ferry Recreation Area, featuring a historic covered bridge and Stanislaus River whitewater, is just 10 miles east. Pilots also use O27 as a jumping-off point for exploring the western Sierra Nevada foothills, with Yosemite National Park approximately 75 miles to the northeast. The airport is roughly 15 miles from downtown Modesto and 90 miles from the San Francisco Bay Area.

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