Dare County Regional (KMQI), North Carolina
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Dare County Regional (KMQI) is a public-use airport in Manteo, North Carolina, serving general and business aviation traffic along the Outer Banks. The field is non-towered and handled a total of 3,596 annual operations in 2025 according to FAA TFMSC data, with business aviation accounting for the majority of that traffic. Two paved runways support operations, and the airport sits at a low elevation of 13 feet, near coastal waters that bring seasonal waterfowl activity to the area. Customs clearance is not available on site, with the nearest customs airport located at Norfolk International.
Runways
Dare County Regional has two paved runways. The longest, 05/23, is 4,306 ft long and 100 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Runways are listed longest first.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Dare County Regional has Jet A1+ and 100LL available on the field. Fueling is available from 8am to 7pm, daily, and the airport has no control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Dare County Regional does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Norfolk International (KORF), 63 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Dare County Regional recorded 2,662 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in June, July and August. Business aviation traffic at KMQI concentrates in the summer months, peaking from June through August according to 2025 FAA TFMSC data.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month June, 331 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Dare County Regional averages 9.4 days above 90°F in July, 11.4 freeze days in January and 0.3 snow days in January. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 85.8°F, and January the coldest, at 50.7°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Dare County Regional has published operating constraints in three categories: access, runway notes and other notes.
For clearance delivery, contact Cherry Point Approach, or contact Washington ARTCC when approach is closed.
Runway 05 has a 15-foot drop-off located 40 feet from the threshold.
PAPI for Runway 05 and 23 operates continuously from sunset to sunrise via CTAF activation. REIL for Runway 05 and 23, and MIRL for Runway 05/23 and 17/35, are pilot-activated via CTAF.
A 7-foot fence is located 100 to 300 feet from the end of pavement on both sides of centerline. A 15-foot road is located 90 feet from the end of pavement, also on both sides of centerline. A 12-foot truck obstruction is located 193 feet from the end of pavement, offset 120 feet left of centerline.
A 9-foot brush obstruction is located 131 feet from the end of pavement, offset 16 feet right of centerline.
The approach slope at the displaced threshold is 6:1.
The approach slope at the displaced threshold is 11:1, due to a 15-foot road located 378 feet from the displaced threshold on both sides of centerline.
The approach slope at the displaced threshold is 16:1, due to 86-foot trees located 1,597 feet from the displaced threshold, offset 154 feet right of centerline.
Banner towing operations occur 200 feet west of Runway 05.
100LL fuel is available after hours through self-service with a credit card.
Migratory waterfowl are present from October through February.
A seaplane ramp is located near the apron.
Taxiway F is permanently closed.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Dare County Regional has five airfields within 33 NM. The closest is First Flight (KFFA), 6.03 NM north.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KMQI
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 KMQI.
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 runways are available at KMQI?
Dare County Regional operates two paved asphalt runways. Runway 05/23 is the longer strip at 4,306 feet with a width of 100 feet, while Runway 17/35 measures 3,303 feet by 75 feet. Neither runway has an air traffic control tower, so operations are coordinated over CTAF. Pilots should account for a displaced threshold and approach slope restrictions on Runway 05.
Is jet fuel available at KMQI?
Dare County Regional stocks both 100LL and Jet A fuel, listed in the data as A1+. The field operates on an attendance schedule of 0800 to 1900 daily. Outside those hours, 100LL is available through a self-service credit card system, according to airport remarks. Jet A availability outside attended hours is not indicated in the same self-service terms.
Does KMQI have customs clearance on site?
Dare County Regional (KMQI) does not have customs service on site. The nearest customs airport is Norfolk International, listed as KORF, located approximately 63 nautical miles away. Pilots arriving from international destinations should plan to clear customs there before or after a stop at Dare County Regional. Onsite customs status is not confirmed in current airport data.
What obstructions should pilots know about near KMQI runways?
Dare County Regional lists several close-in obstructions affecting approach and departure paths. These include a 7-foot fence and a 15-foot road within a few hundred feet of runway ends, plus a 12-foot truck obstruction offset from centerline. Approach slopes at the displaced threshold vary by direction, ranging from 6:1 up to 16:1 due to trees roughly 1,597 feet from the threshold. Pilots should review these figures before planning approaches at KMQI.