Benton Airport (RDD) — Redding, California

Benton Airport, officially known as Redding Municipal Airport and designated with the FAA identifier O85, serves the northern Sacramento Valley community of Redding, California. Situated in Shasta County at an elevation of approximately 392 feet above mean sea level, Benton Field has a long history as a general aviation hub for the broader Redding metropolitan area and the surrounding mountain communities of Northern California.

The airport is located at 6751 Airpark Drive, Redding, CA 96002, positioned conveniently east of downtown Redding off Airport Road. While Redding Municipal Airport (RDD) — located a few miles away — handles commercial airline service via United Express and American Eagle, Benton Airport (FAA ID: 27725) functions as the region's dedicated general aviation facility, accommodating private pilots, flight training operations, charter flights, and light cargo movements throughout Shasta, Trinity, and Tehama counties.

Benton Airport features two paved runways: Runway 15/33 stretching approximately 3,300 feet and Runway 7/25 at roughly 2,700 feet, both capable of handling single-engine and light multi-engine aircraft up to the Cessna Caravan and Beechcraft King Air class. The airport's fixed-base operator (FBO) services provide 100LL avgas and Jet-A fuel, aircraft tie-down and hangar rentals, pre-heat services during the cold Sierra Nevada winters, and basic maintenance coordination. Pilots transiting the I-5 corridor through Northern California regularly use Benton as a fuel stop, appreciating its uncongested pattern and straightforward traffic environment compared to larger regional facilities.

The Redding area aviation community relies on Benton Airport for flight instruction through several independent Certificated Flight Instructors (CFIs) and small flight schools based on the field. Student pilots working toward their Private Pilot Certificate benefit from Redding's relatively mild year-round flying weather, with the Sacramento Valley's clear summer skies offering excellent VFR training conditions. Winter operations require awareness of Tule fog events that periodically affect the valley floor, as well as mountain obscuration associated with Sierra Nevada winter storms to the east.

Benton Airport plays an important role in emergency services coordination for the region. Shasta County's rugged terrain — encompassing Lassen Volcanic National Park, Trinity Alps Wilderness, and the Cascade Range foothills — makes general aviation critical for search-and-rescue staging, wildfire air attack support coordination, and medical transport for communities lacking ground-level access. The Cal Fire unit based in Redding periodically utilizes the field during active fire seasons, which in recent years have intensified across Northern California's forests and chaparral zones.

For visiting pilots, Redding offers easy ground transportation from Benton Airport into the city's commercial district, approximately 4 miles to the northwest. The Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay Exploration Park, one of Northern California's most distinctive architectural landmarks, is visible on approach from certain traffic patterns. Redding's downtown core, Sacramento River waterfront, and the Shasta Dam — the second-tallest dam in the United States — are all accessible within a short drive. Nearby Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area provides outdoor recreation for transient pilots spending time in the area.

Compared to larger Bay Area facilities such as Livermore Municipal Airport (LVK) and the Oakland International Airport corridor, Benton Airport offers a relaxed, uncrowded operating environment with no Class B or C airspace concerns. The Redding area sits beneath Class E airspace, with the Class D airspace associated with Redding Municipal Airport (RDD) immediately adjacent — pilots operating at Benton should monitor RDD's CTAF and ATIS frequencies to maintain situational awareness of commercial traffic in the corridor. No tower service is available at Benton itself; operations are conducted on the published CTAF frequency with standard self-announce procedures.

Whether you're a local Redding pilot based at the field, a transient aircraft stopping during a cross-country flight along the Pacific Crest route, or a student pilot completing training hours in Northern California's diverse terrain, Benton Airport (ID: 27725) remains a vital piece of the region's aviation infrastructure — connecting mountain communities, supporting emergency operations, and keeping general aviation accessible in one of California's most scenically spectacular corridors.

Benton Airport Contact Information

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

Name Benton Airport
Address 2600 Gold Street, Redding CA 96001 Map
Phone (530) 224-4320
Website
Hours

Map of Benton Airport

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Frequently Asked Questions — Benton Airport, Redding, CA

Benton Airport carries the FAA facility ID 27725 and the airport identifier O85. It is located at 6751 Airpark Drive, Redding, California 96002, in Shasta County at an elevation of approximately 392 feet MSL. The airport sits east of downtown Redding, distinct from the commercial Redding Municipal Airport (RDD) a few miles away. Benton Field is a public-use general aviation airport with two paved runways serving private pilots, flight training, and charter operations throughout Northern California's Sacramento Valley and adjacent mountain communities.

Benton Airport's fixed-base operator provides 100LL avgas and Jet-A fuel for transient and based aircraft. Additional services include aircraft tie-down rentals, hangar storage, engine pre-heat during winter months, and basic maintenance coordination for light single and multi-engine aircraft. Pilots flying the Interstate 5 corridor through Northern California frequently stop at Benton for fuel due to its uncongested pattern and straightforward traffic environment. It is advisable to confirm fuel availability and hours by calling ahead, particularly for early morning or late evening arrivals.

Benton Airport (O85) is an uncontrolled, non-towered airport. All operations are conducted using standard self-announce procedures on the published Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF). Because Benton sits adjacent to the Class D airspace of Redding Municipal Airport (RDD), pilots should also monitor RDD's ATIS and CTAF to maintain awareness of commercial traffic in the immediate corridor. No ATC clearance is required to operate at Benton, but situational awareness of the nearby RDD traffic pattern is strongly recommended for safety, particularly during instrument approaches into the Redding area.

Redding's Sacramento Valley location gives Benton Airport generally excellent VFR flying weather, particularly during summer months when clear skies and low humidity prevail. Key hazards include Tule fog events from November through February that can rapidly reduce visibility to near zero on the valley floor, and mountain wave turbulence or obscuration associated with Sierra Nevada winter storms approaching from the east. Summer temperatures in Redding regularly exceed 100°F, which pilots must account for in density altitude calculations — runway performance at Benton can be significantly affected during hot afternoon conditions. Always obtain a standard weather briefing via 1800wxbrief.com or ForeFlight before flying into or out of the Redding area.

Bay Area pilots departing from Livermore Municipal Airport (LVK) will find Benton Airport (O85) in Redding approximately 130 nautical miles to the north-northwest — roughly a 60–75 minute flight in a Cessna 172 at cruise altitude. The routing typically follows the Sacramento Valley northbound, transitioning from the Bay Area's complex Class B airspace around Oakland International to uncongested Class E and uncontrolled airspace near Redding. Unlike Livermore's active pattern with significant traffic volume, Benton offers a notably quieter environment. Pilots should plan for terrain clearance requirements crossing the coastal range foothills and file a flight plan when transiting the mountainous terrain north of Sacramento.

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