Custer County Airport (KCUT), South Dakota
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Custer County Airport (KCUT) sits at 5,620 feet elevation in the Black Hills of South Dakota, serving general aviation and business traffic near Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial. The field offers a single paved runway and non-towered operations with self-serve fuel available around the clock. Its proximity to high-altitude terrain and heavy sightseeing air traffic around the monuments makes local situational awareness a routine part of operations here.
Runways
Custer County Airport has one paved runway, 08/26, 5,500 ft long and 60 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Custer County Airport has Jet A and 100LL available on the field. Fueling is available from 3pm to 12am, daily, and the airport has no control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Custer County Airport does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Casper / Natrona County International (KCPR), 134 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Custer County Airport recorded 92 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in July. Business aviation traffic at KCUT concentrates in the summer months, peaking in July with 20 operations, while January through March show no recorded business aviation activity.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month July, 20 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Custer County Airport averages 3.0 days above 90°F in July and 30.4 freeze days in January. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 79.2°F, and December the coldest, at 34.9°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Custer County Airport has published operating constraints in four categories: access, runway notes, environmental and other notes.
Strong crosswinds and windshear may occur on final approach during windy conditions.
For clearance delivery, contact Ellsworth Approach; when approach is closed, contact Denver ARTCC.
Runway lights (MIRL) for runway 08/26 and PAPI for both runway 08 and runway 26 are pilot-activated via CTAF.
A 10-foot wildlife fence surrounds the airport perimeter.
Confirm winter conditions with the airport manager.
Be alert: check density altitude and lean the mixture for best performance given the airport's elevation.
Fuel is available 24 hours a day using a credit card.
A high volume of aircraft operates in the vicinity of Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial at or below 7,500 feet; pilots are advised to monitor 122.85 for traffic advisories.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Custer County Airport has five airfields within 34 NM. The closest is Hot Springs Municipal (KHSR), 24.13 NM southeast.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KCUT
We arrange catering, fuel and trip support here. Supplier prices reach you unchanged; our coordination fee sits on its own line.
The same order, priced two ways.
$1,200.00 catering order at KCUT.
Unchanged.
What the kitchen invoices us is what your quote reads.
One line, fixed.
It does not move with the size of the order.
At cost.
Passed on at the exact amount the processor took.
Market practice figures are industry averages, not a specific competitor.
Frequently asked questions
What runway does KCUT offer for arrivals and departures?
Custer County Airport (KCUT) has a single runway, 08/26, measuring 5,500 feet long and 60 feet wide with an asphalt surface. Runway lighting (MIRL) and PAPI on both ends are pilot-controlled through CTAF, since the airport is non-towered. Crews should be aware that strong crosswinds and windshear can develop on final under windy conditions.
Is fuel available at KCUT outside staffed hours?
Yes, fuel is available 24 hours at Custer County Airport (KCUT) via credit card, independent of the field's staffed attendance schedule of Monday through Friday, 1500 to 0000. This makes KCUT usable for fuel stops even outside normal attendance hours. Pilots should still confirm winter condition status with the airport manager during colder months.
Where is the nearest customs facility to KCUT?
Custer County Airport (KCUT) does not have onsite customs processing. The nearest customs-capable airport is Casper-Natrona County International (KCPR), located approximately 133.8 nautical miles away. Flights requiring customs clearance should plan routing through KCPR or another designated port of entry accordingly.
What should pilots know about traffic near Mt. Rushmore when using KCUT?
Custer County Airport (KCUT) lies near an area with a high volume of aircraft operating in the vicinity of Mt. Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorial at or below 7,500 feet. Pilots are advised to monitor frequency 122.85 for traffic advisories while transiting or operating near KCUT. This sightseeing traffic is a routine operational consideration given the airport's location in the Black Hills.