Fly 'n Bike

A number of years ago I saw a picture of a pilot who landed a few miles from the Grand Canyon and biked to the north rim. That inspired me to get a foldable bicycle and start my own adventures of flying and biking. After a lot of searching, I selected a 26" Montague that doubles as a great bike for daily use at home. I'm not a road biker, otherwise any airport would do. So, this page is a place to share some interesting airports that provide reasonable access to bike friendly trail systems or cities. A lot of airports are miles of country road from towns or trails. I've tried to find those with less than a mile or so of 2-lane road to deal with. Some airports offer courtesy cars that you might use for a short ride on a nearby trail. I've added highlights of what you can find on your trip at each airport. I've biked the airports with the and I expect you'll have fun with these too. If you're interested in finding bike trails, be sure to check the Bicycling layer in Google Maps. I hope my adventures encourage you to get out to fly and bike.

Arizona

Page Muni (KPGA) - AZ

Bike into town for accomodations and restaurants. Bike down the hill to the Glen Canyon Dam and Visitor Center. Take a tour of Antelope Canyon. Be sure to bike the Page Rim Trail for some great views of the canyon and Lake Mead. There's also the John Wesley Powell Museum.

Grand Canyon (KGCN) - AZ

Get a pickup from the south rim lodge and bike the canyon rim area from Hermit's Rest to the Visitor's Center.

Marble Canyon (L41) - AZ

Land within a half mile of the upper Grand Canyon and bike to the Navajo Bridge. Have lunch at the Marble Canyon Lodge. You can take a short bike ride across the Colorado River. You can stay overnight and take a rafting trip in the canyon from here down a road to Lee's Ferry. This KML file of my flight into Marble Canyon airport. Download it and open it in Google Earth.

Colorado

Leadville/Lake County (KLXV) - CO

Fly into the highest paved runway in the U.S. at 9933 MSL. The airport is on a mesa in a large mountain valley. Watch your density altitude. Bike the Mineral Belt Trail.
Here's a flight around the Rocky Mountains and into Leadville. Download and open in Google Earth.

Gunnison (KGUC) - CO

High in the Rockies is Gunnison. This small town is walking and biking distance from the airport.

Florida

Everglades (X01) - FL

The town is near as well as Everglades Park National Park. Air boat rides are just around the corner.

Cedar Key (KCDK) - FL

Cedar Key is a great stop on the way to central Florida. Bike to the restaurants. Or there is a taxi who listens to the Unicom frequency.

Key West (KEYW) - FL

This is a natural for biking given the size of the island. You can bike to Key Largo on the Florida Overseas Heritage Trail

Michigan

Charlevoix (KCVX) - MI

The airport is just a quick sidewalk bike ride from the town of Charlevoix. Be sure to bike the side streets with the Mushroom Houses. Stay at a bed & breakfast and bike the Lake to Lake trail. It's a great day ride up to Petosky and back.

Mackinac Island (KMCD) - MI

You need a bike since there are no cars allowed on the island. There's a wonderful paved trail that circles the island. The roads on the island are easy to navigate with many interesting sites to see from forts to old graveyards.

Kalamazoo (KAZO) - MI

The Kal Haven trail goes from Kalamazoo to South Haven on Lake Michigan. And don't miss the Air Zoo at the airport.

Sebewaing Township (98G) - MI

Bike into this small town on the thumb of Mighican on Saginaw Bay. Check if bikes are available at the airport.

Cherry Capital Airport - Traverse City (KTVC) - MI

There's a great network of bike trails along western Michigan. Check if bikes are available at the airport.

New Mexico

Los Alamos (KLAM), NM

It's a short bike into town. Check out the museum and Oppenheimer's house on Bathtub Row.

North Carolina

First Flight (KFFA) - NC

This is a must for any pilot. It's a large place so a bicycle helps get around the birthplace of powered flight.

Dare County (KMQI) - NC

Take the bike trail into Manteo. Stay overnight at a bed & breakfast. Visit the Ft. Raleigh outdoor museum on the north end of the island. Be sure to visit the museum in the FBO with displays of Civil Air Patrol and U.S. Navy from WWII.

Ocracoke Island (W95), NC

This is a nice small island to explore.

Ohio

Bowling Green (KBWG) - OH

The airport is right across the street from the town and Bowling Green State University. It's an easy ride into town and lots of restaurants downtown.

Burke Lakefront (KBKL) - OH

Downtown Cleveland awaits: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Great Lakes Science Center, USS Cod Submarine, International Women's Air & Space Museum in the terminal. Easily connects through Cleveland to Tremont and the Cuyahoga Valley bike trail to Zoar and eventually New Philadelphia.

Carroll County Airport (KTSO) - OH

Just across the road from the airport is a gravel drive that leads to the Bluebird Farm Park with a small covered bridge. Continue over the bridge and the road leads up into Carrollton.

Cincinnati West (I67) - OH

Just about a 1 mile ride to the east is the Cincinnati Whitewater Forest.

Delaware Co. (KDLZ) - OH

Out the gate to the north, it's an easy ride through a housing development with nicely paved sidewalks but the street is wide and has little traffic. The town of Delaware and Ohio Wesleyan University are not far away.

Freeman Swank Farms Airport (0OH5) - OH

This is a well kept grass strip near Butler, Ohio. The owner welcomes visitors. Call to check field conditions. It's a short ride to the 18.5 mile rural scenic Richland B&O Trail from Butler to Mansfield.

Greene County (I19) - OH

Bike out the access road downhill to the Creekside Trail. The hill out of the airport is steep, so be prepared on your trip back. The road links you to the large Dayton area bike trail system. The USAF Museum is about 15 miles on a paved rail trail.

Geauga Co. (7G8) - OH

Amish country and town of Middlefield is just north of the airport. The Maple Highlands Trail goes right past the airport. You can bike north on this trail to Chardon, Ohio.

New Philadelphia (KPHD) - OH

Shoenbrunn Village is just south of the airport. There is an antique carousel in the Tuscora Park. A bike trail from Cleveland is planned to be extended to New Philly.

Newark (KVTA) - OH

City streets and sidewalks to Newark Earthworks. There are two sites. Be sure to check the northern section at the golf course built around the mounds.

Parr (42I) - OH

Bike into Zanesville via city streets and try out the "Y" bridge.

Put-In-Bay (3W2) - OH

You're on an island! Bike to Perry's Monument. Catch a boat to North Bass. Enjoy the restaurants and beaches.

Urbana (I74) - OH

There's an easy ride into downtown Urbana, Ohio. One 1-mile south of the airport is the Simon Kenton Trail. Bike to Springfield, Dayton, and Cincinnati via bike trails.

Willard (8G1) - OH

Bike into Willard. East of Chicago Pizza across the street; try their pizza buffet.

Pennsylvania

Beaver County (KBVI) - PA

With city streets and some sidewalks, you can bike into town and down to the river.

Franklin (KFKL) - PA

Town of Franklin and access to the Samual Justus Trail in the valley. Check the hill before you try this one. You can also get the courtesy car for a few hours to get you to the trail in the valley.

Gettysburg (W05) - PA

A bicycle ride through the battlefield will give you a perspective you can't get in a car or tour bus. Bike along the high water mark of the battlefield. See what it was like to make it up Little Round Top. Bike past the Wheatfield and Devil's Den. The park Visitor Center has a wonderful Cyclorama of the battle.

Piper Memorial (KLHV) - PA

Bike to the Piper Aircraft Museum or into town.

Williamsport (KIPT) - PA

Easy access to town and the Susquehanna Greenway Trail runs right near the airport.

Zelienople (KPJC) - PA

Visit the small town of Harmony.

Virginia

Abingdon (KVJI) - VA

You can bike into town from the airport. Check out the plays at the Barter Theatre. Abingdon is mile 0 on the 34 mile Virginia Creeper Trail. There are numerous trestles with a beautiful ride through forested Virginia. From Damascus, you can get a ride to the top of Whitetop Mountain and bike back, all downhill.

Luray (W45) - VA

Bike to the Luray Caverns or into town.

Tangier Island (KTGI - VA

Bike or hike from the airport on this island in Chesapeake Bay.

Washington

Boeing King Co. (KBFI) - WA

If you like biking and exploring cities, Seatle is a bike friendly city. Exit to the north and there are bike lanes into the city.

Wisconsin

Lake Chetek Municipal (Y23) - WI

Bike a small town in the North country of Wisconsin and enjoy Lake Chetek. Check if bikes are available at the airport.

Oshkosh (KOSH) - WI

The EAA Museum is right at the airport. It's easy to bike off the airport and right into town. Don't forget to bring your bike for EAA AirVenture.

Shell Lake Municipal (KSSQ) - WI

Bike a small town in the North Wisconsin and enjoy Shell Lake. Check if bikes are available at the airport.

Waukesha (KUES) - WI

This airport gives you easy access to the town of Waukesha, Bike Trails, and hotels. There's a small museum in the FBO.

Washington Island (2P2) - WI

Another island! You'll see from their island map there are plenty of things to do. Schoolhuse Beach is a short distance north of the airport and has a magnificient stone beach with crystal clear water. Check for a fishboil fly-in. Just be careful, and plan for the short grass strip.

Wausau (KAUW) - WI

Bike to Memorial Park on the Wisconsin River. The airport is right next to a residentala area. It should be an easy ride to a restaurant or other parrs of town. Check if bikes are available at the airport.

West Virginia

Potomac Airpark (W35) - WV

Bike across the bridge to Hancock, MD. There's a bike shop in town if you need it and a number of restaurants. The C&O Towpath Trail is part of the Great Allegheny Passage and runs from Pittsburgh to Washington, DC. Ft. Frederick, a French and Indian War fort, is 15 miles down the trail to the east.

Summersville (KSXL) - WV

Land on this penninsula and take the Long Point Trail that's right next to the airport.

Wyoming

Cheyenne (KCYS) - WY

Bike trails border the airport with access to Cheyenne.

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