Alpine County Airport (M45), California
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Alpine County Airport (M45) is an unattended public-use field near Markleeville, California, at 5,872 ft elevation. Its single paved runway serves general aviation traffic in a mountainous area, with the nearest customs airport of entry at Reno (KRNO), roughly 46 nm away.
Runways
Alpine County Airport has one paved runway, 17/35, 4,443 ft long and 50 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
The airport has no control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Alpine County Airport does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Reno / Tahoe International (KRNO), 46 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Climate
Alpine County Airport averages 4.4 snow days in January.
Weather station is 2.6 NM from the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Alpine County Airport has published operating constraints in three categories: weight restrictions, runway notes and other notes.
Runway 17/35 is limited by the airport operator to 4,800 lbs single wheel and 9,600 lbs dual wheel.
Large stones line the edge of the runway off the graded surface.
Loose gravel is present on the runway.
There is no snow removal; the airport closes when snow is on the runway.
Trees penetrate the transitional surfaces east and west of the runway.
Soil conditions off the runway are poor in wet conditions. Contact Public Works for additional information.
For clearance delivery, contact Oakland ARTCC.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Alpine County Airport has five airfields within 32 NM. The closest is Lake Tahoe (KTVL), 14.33 NM northwest.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at M45
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.
$600.00 catering order at M45.
Unchanged.
What the kitchen invoices us is what your quote reads.
One line, fixed.
The $75 minimum applies below $862.50.
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 is the weight limit at Alpine County Airport (M45)?
Alpine County Airport (M45) restricts Runway 17/35 to 4,800 lbs single wheel and 9,600 lbs dual wheel, per airport operator limits. Operators should confirm compliance before planning any heavier arrival, since this cap is set locally rather than by pavement strength data.
Is fuel available at M45?
Alpine County Airport does not report confirmed fuel types in current data. The field is unattended, so operators should plan for self-sufficiency and verify fuel status directly with the airport before dispatch.
Does M45 stay open in winter conditions?
Alpine County Airport has no snow removal, and the airport closes whenever snow is present on the runway. The field sits at 5,872 ft elevation and shows measurable snow days across most months, so winter operations require direct confirmation of runway condition.