Pierce County / Thun Field (KPLU), Washington
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Pierce County / Thun Field (KPLU) is a non-towered general aviation airport in Puyallup, Washington, with a single paved runway. Customs clearance is not available onsite; the nearest customs airport is KTCM, about 8 nautical miles away.
Runways
Pierce County / Thun Field has one paved runway, 17/35, 3,651 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
Pierce County / Thun Field has 100LL available on the field. Fueling is available from 8am to 2pm, daily, and the airport has no control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Pierce County / Thun Field does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is McChord Field (joint Base Lewis-McChord) (KTCM), 8 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Pierce County / Thun Field recorded 307 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in May. Business aviation traffic at KPLU peaks in May and October, according to 2025 FAA TFMSC data.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month May, 36 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Pierce County / Thun Field averages 1.4 days above 90°F in July, 14.0 freeze days in December and 0.8 snow days in December. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 76.5°F, and December the coldest, at 45.0°F.
Weather station is 2.3 NM from the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Pierce County / Thun Field has published operating constraints in four categories: access, runway notes, noise procedures and other notes.
Ultralights are prohibited.
For clearance delivery, contact Seattle Approach.
REIL for runways 17 and 35, PAPI for runways 17 and 35, and MIRL for runway 17/35 are pilot-activated via CTAF.
The area is noise sensitive in all quadrants.
Fuel is available 24 hours with a credit card.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Pierce County / Thun Field has five airfields within 21 NM. The closest is McChord Field (joint Base Lewis-McChord) (KTCM), 7.99 NM west.
Part of the Seattle area.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KPLU
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 KPLU.
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
Is fuel available at KPLU outside attended hours?
Yes, fuel is available 24 hours at Pierce County / Thun Field via credit card, according to the airport remarks. The attended schedule for the field itself runs daily from 0800 to 1400 local time. Only 100LL is offered; there is no Jet A on the field.
Where can aircraft clear customs near KPLU?
KPLU has no customs facility onsite. The nearest customs airport is KTCM, located approximately 8 nautical miles away, so aircraft requiring clearance must route there instead of Pierce County / Thun Field.
What is the runway configuration at Pierce County / Thun Field?
Pierce County / Thun Field has one paved runway, 17/35, measuring 3,651 feet long and 60 feet wide with an asphalt surface. Runway lighting includes pilot-activated REIL and PAPI on both ends plus MIRL, controlled via CTAF since the field is non-towered.