Grand Marais / Cook County Airport (KCKC), Minnesota
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Grand Marais / Cook County Airport (KCKC) is a single-runway public-use field on Minnesota's North Shore, roughly 209 nautical miles from the nearest major metro area. The airport is unattended by a control tower but maintains posted attendance hours seven days a week, and it holds a place among Ops Tier 2 fields with modest but steady business aviation traffic. Its 5,002-foot asphalt runway and on-field fuel offerings, including Jet A, support a mix of piston and turbine operators serving the Lake Superior region.
Runways
Grand Marais / Cook County Airport has one paved runway, 10/28, 5,002 ft long and 100 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Grand Marais / Cook County Airport has Jet A and 100LL available on the field. The airport has no control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Grand Marais / Cook County Airport has US Customs and Border Protection clearance available onsite, with general clearance for international arrivals.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Grand Marais / Cook County Airport recorded 129 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in February and August. Business aviation traffic at KCKC peaks in February and August, with the slowest months falling in April and November.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month February, 21 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Grand Marais / Cook County Airport averages 0.6 days above 90°F in July, 30.7 freeze days in January and 5.5 snow days in January. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 69.5°F, and January the coldest, at 21.4°F.
Weather station is 5.7 NM from the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Grand Marais / Cook County Airport has published operating constraints in two categories: runway notes and other notes.
Runway lighting, including REIL on runways 10 and 28, PAPI on runways 10 and 28, and MIRL on runway 10/28, can be activated or set to increased intensity via CTAF. The MIRL on runway 10/28 is preset to low intensity.
This runway end is designated for use during calm wind conditions.
Customs service is available from May 15 through October 15.
For clearance delivery, if unable to contact on the FSS frequency, contact Minneapolis ARTCC.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Alternates
Grand Marais / Cook County Airport has five alternates within 76 NM. The nearest alternate is Thunder Bay International Airport (CYQT), 53.24 NM northeast.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KCKC
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 KCKC.
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
Is customs clearance available at KCKC?
Grand Marais / Cook County Airport (KCKC) offers on-site CBP inspection services, but availability is seasonal. The remarks specify that customs service runs from May 15 through October 15. Outside that window, arriving international flights should plan for alternate clearance arrangements rather than expecting on-field CBP support.
What is the runway length at KCKC?
KCKC has a single paved runway, 10/28, measuring 5,002 feet long and 100 feet wide with an asphalt surface. This is also the airport's maximum paved runway length, giving operators a clear reference for aircraft performance planning at this field. There is no parallel or crosswind runway option at Grand Marais / Cook County.
What fuel is available at Grand Marais / Cook County Airport?
Grand Marais / Cook County Airport (KCKC) stocks both 100LL avgas and Jet A fuel on site. This dual availability supports both piston general aviation traffic and turbine business aircraft using the field. Fuel service aligns with the airport's posted attendance schedule rather than being available on a continuous basis.
What should pilots know about lighting at KCKC?
At KCKC, runway lighting for both ends of runway 10/28 is pilot-controlled via CTAF, covering REILs, PAPI, and MIRL systems. The MIRL is preset to low intensity by default, so pilots should key the appropriate clicks to increase intensity as needed. Since the field has no operating control tower, this self-service lighting setup is standard for after-hours or low-visibility arrivals.