Polson Airport (8S1), Montana
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Polson (8S1) serves the Flathead Lake area of northwest Montana with a single paved runway and a water landing area for floatplane operations. The field is uncontrolled and operates on a self-service fuel basis, with attendance recorded from 0800 to 1700 daily. Customs clearance is not available onsite; the nearest customs airport is Glacier Park International (KGPI), roughly 37 nautical miles north. Business aviation traffic here is modest, consistent with an airport supporting regional and recreational flying rather than sustained corporate operations.
Runways
Polson Airport has two runways. The longest, 18/36, is 4,194 ft long and 75 ft wide, with an asphalt surface.
Runways are listed longest first.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
Polson Airport has Jet A+ and 100LL available on the field. Fueling is available from 8am to 5pm, daily, and the airport has no control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Polson Airport does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Glacier Park International (KGPI), 37 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Polson Airport recorded 229 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in August. Business aviation traffic at Polson (8S1) concentrates heavily in the summer months, with July and August together accounting for more than a third of annual operations.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month August, 55 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Polson Airport averages 6.1 days above 90°F in July and 27.2 freeze days in December. July is the warmest month, with average highs of 82.8°F, and December the coldest, at 33.1°F.
Weather station is on the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Polson Airport has published operating constraints in two categories: runway notes and other notes.
PAPI is pilot-activated for runway 18 and 36; MIRL for runway 18/36 is controlled via CTAF.
A 10-foot ditch lies 168 feet from the runway end across the centerline, dropping to 60 feet at 60 feet to the right.
Use caution when landing due to activity from an adjacent river; a ridge rising 405 feet above field elevation is located 8,500 feet from the runway end.
Self-service fuel is available 24 hours a day.
For clearance delivery, contact Salt Lake Center.
Airport surface conditions are unmonitored from 1700 to 0800.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Polson Airport has five airfields within 45 NM. The closest is Ronan, 8.42 NM southeast.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at 8S1
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 8S1.
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
Does KGPI or 8S1 have customs available for arriving aircraft?
Polson (8S1) does not have customs onsite. The nearest customs-equipped airport is Glacier Park International (KGPI), located approximately 37 nautical miles away. Operators planning international arrivals into the Polson area should route clearance through KGPI rather than expecting service at the local field.
What fuel is available at Polson airport (8S1)?
Polson (8S1) offers 100LL and A+ fuel, including Jet A, on a self-service basis available 24 hours a day. There is no attended fuel desk; the listed attendance schedule of 0800 to 1700 applies to general airport oversight rather than fueling access. Pilots should plan for unattended self-service procedures when fueling at this field.
How long is the main runway at 8S1?
The primary paved runway at Polson (8S1), designated 18/36, is 4,194 feet long and 75 feet wide with an asphalt surface. The airport also has a 4,000-foot water landing area, runway 03W/21W, for floatplane operations. There is no additional paved runway, so 18/36 handles all fixed-wing traffic at this Montana field.
When is peak traffic season at Polson airport?
Traffic at Polson (8S1) peaks in July and August, based on FAA TFMSC data, with 50 and 55 business aviation operations recorded in those months respectively during 2025. Activity is markedly lower in the winter months, dropping to single digits from November through February. Operators should expect the busiest ramp conditions during the summer season.