Airports in Clackamas County, Oregon: Private, Municipal, Regional(All)

Clackamas County: Gateway Aviation Between Portland Metro and the Cascades

Clackamas County, Oregon's third-most populous county with 421,401 residents, stretches from the southern suburbs of Portland eastward into the foothills of Mount Hood and the Cascade Range. The county's aviation geography is defined by its proximity to Portland International Airport (PDX) to the north and a network of smaller general aviation fields embedded in its rural and suburban landscape — including Mulino State Airport, one of the few state-operated general aviation airports in Oregon.

Oregon City, the county seat and one of the oldest incorporated cities west of the Rocky Mountains, sits along the Willamette River approximately 12 miles from PDX. Lake Oswego, the county's most populous city at 39,599 residents, lies roughly 10 miles from the airport via Interstate 5. Milwaukie, directly south of Portland on the Willamette's eastern bank, is among the closest Clackamas communities to PDX at around 9 miles. Commute times to the terminal from most county cities range from 20 to 45 minutes depending on congestion along I-205 and I-5.

Portland International Airport: The Primary Commercial Hub for Clackamas Travelers

Portland International Airport (PDX) — located 6 miles northeast of downtown Portland — is the dominant commercial aviation facility for all Clackamas County residents and businesses. Accounting for over 90% of Oregon's passenger air travel and 95% of the state's air cargo volume, PDX operates a single terminal building with four concourses (B, C, D, and E). Alaska Airlines maintains a hub operation at PDX, with Delta, American, United, and Southwest also providing substantial domestic service.

International routes from PDX reach Amsterdam (KLM), Frankfurt (Condor), Tokyo-Narita (Delta), London Heathrow (British Airways), Reykjavik (Icelandair), and multiple Canadian and Mexican destinations. For Clackamas County businesses with global supply chains — or county residents traveling internationally — PDX provides nonstop access that eliminates the need to connect through Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) or San Francisco (SFO).

TriMet's MAX Red Line connects PDX to downtown Portland's Union Station in approximately 38 minutes. While Clackamas County lacks a direct MAX link to the airport, the Orange Line serves Milwaukie and connects to the broader light rail network, giving residents of that city a transit path to PDX via the Portland transit hub.

Mulino State Airport: Clackamas County's General Aviation Base

Mulino State Airport (FAA identifier: 4S9), operated by the Oregon Department of Aviation since 2009, sits on 275 acres near the town of Molalla in the southern portion of Clackamas County — approximately 23 miles south of Portland. Elevation is 260 feet above mean sea level. The airport hosts over 40 based general aviation aircraft in its 34 T-hangars and approximately 25 tie-down spots, and weekend glider operations are a regular feature of the field's activity calendar.

Prior to 2009, Mulino was owned by the Port of Portland, which transferred it to the state to focus on PDX operations. The Oregon Department of Aviation's management has preserved the airport as a critical reliever for light general aviation traffic in the southern metro region. Agricultural aviation, charter operations for rural Clackamas businesses, and recreational flying all depend on Mulino's runway infrastructure.

Additional General Aviation Fields Across the County

Clackamas County's rural eastern and southern stretches support several privately owned and smaller public-use airstrips. Beaver Creek Airport (51ME) serves the unincorporated areas between Estacada and Oregon City. Beaver Oaks Airport (OR66), a private facility near Estacada, provides local aviation access closer to the Cascade foothills. Additional private strips — including Fairways Airport off South Beavercreek Road and Nielsen Airport near Beckman Road — reflect the county's tradition of agricultural aviation and private ownership common throughout the Willamette Valley.

The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office has operated an Air Unit since 1990, flying a Cessna 182 acquired through drug-profit forfeiture proceedings. The unit conducts aerial search and rescue missions in the Cascade foothills and Mount Hood wilderness, traffic enforcement, vehicle pursuit support, and reconnaissance — an aviation capability that reflects the geographic challenges of patrolling a county that extends from Portland's suburbs to alpine terrain.

Industrial and Agricultural Aviation Demand in Clackamas County

Clackamas County's economy centers on metals manufacturing, retail trade, wholesale distribution, and construction, with 21,544 industrial jobs making it one of Oregon's significant employment hubs. The county is also positioning itself as a national leader in cross-laminated timber (mass timber) manufacturing — a growing sector with supply chain and logistics demands that generate business aviation activity. Agricultural operations across the county's rural zones, including the Canby and Molalla areas, create seasonal demand for aerial application and survey flights originating from smaller county airstrips.

Clackamas County Airport Resources and Local Aviation Facts

From the suburban neighborhoods of Lake Oswego and Happy Valley to the timber country east of Estacada, Clackamas County's aviation infrastructure spans commercial connections at PDX and a working network of general aviation fields embedded in the Willamette Valley. Below are answers to the most common aviation questions from county residents and businesses.