Ellsworth AFB Airport (KRCA), South Dakota
Landing essentials
Whether you can land, whether you can refuel, and how customs works here.
Overview
Ellsworth AFB (KRCA) is a private-use military airfield near Rapid City, South Dakota, operating under US Air Force Global Strike Command with a single long concrete runway. Civilian and transient business traffic is limited, reflected in FAA TFMSC counts showing modest business aviation activity in 2025, and access for non-DOD operators is constrained by military customs procedures, prior-permission requirements, and coordination windows tied to tower hours. The field sits close to Rapid City Regional Airport, a proximity that the base itself flags as a mid-air collision risk area.
Runways
Ellsworth AFB Airport has one paved runway, 13/31, 13,497 ft long and 300 ft wide, with a concrete surface.
Runway geometry from published threshold coordinates. Not for navigation.
Source: FAA Form 5010.
Fuel and airfield services
The airport has an operating control tower.
Source: FAA Form 5010 / NASR.
Customs
Ellsworth AFB Airport does not clear customs. The nearest port of entry is Casper / Natrona County International (KCPR), 164 NM away.
Source: CBP list of ports of entry.
Business aviation traffic
Ellsworth AFB Airport recorded 4 business aviation movements in 2025. Traffic peaks in January. Business aviation traffic at KRCA is concentrated in the January-February and November period, based on 2025 FAA TFMSC data, with no recorded business aviation operations in several other months.
Business jet movements, FAA TFMSC count. Peak month January, 2 movements in 2025.
Source: FAA TFMSC, business jet movements, 2025.
Climate
Weather station is 5.5 NM from the field. Some values are estimated by the agency. 1991–2020 climate normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI.
Operating constraints
Ellsworth AFB Airport has published operating constraints in four categories: access, runway notes, environmental and other notes.
Caution: high potential for mid-air collision exists with aircraft from Rapid City Airport, located approximately 6.5 nautical miles southeast of the airport.
Restricted: all aircraft must maintain or climb above 7,700 feet with 2,640 feet horizontal separation in the immediate vicinity of Mount Rushmore, and must avoid Devils Tower by 5 nautical miles. Prior permission is required for all full-stop aircraft; contact base operations no earlier than 72 hours prior to ETA.
Restricted: prior permission required with a minimum of 24 hours notice; contact base operations.
Miscellaneous: transient aircraft requesting approach and pattern work require 24 hours notice; contact operations.
From the observation point, weather technicians are unable to see the touchdown zone of both runways.
Lighting: Runway 31 has a non-standard ALSF-1, missing the first three centerline barrettes furthest from the threshold.
Caution: Migratory Bird Act BASH (Phase II) is in effect in May and August through October, or active via NOTAM. Deer hazard exists; report any activity to the tower or airfield management.
Airfield lighting is only available during control tower hours.
Transient alert service is available 1300-2200Z++ Monday through Friday; closed Saturday, Sunday, holidays, and Global Strike Command down days. Fleet service is unavailable.
Miscellaneous: for inbound VIP Code 7 or higher, contact Raymond 33 fifteen minutes prior to block time with name, rank, and purpose of visit.
Global Strike Command reservations apply to Global Strike Command aircraft only.
Extensive general aviation and commercial traffic exists in the vicinity of Rapid City Airport, 6.5 nautical miles southeast of the airport.
Customs, agriculture, and immigration services are limited to US DOD aircraft only, available with 24 hours notice. Imaging service is unavailable for non-DOD personnel; contact 28 OSS/OSAA for further information.
Restricted: aircrew should avoid Bear Butte, defined by the RCA 317/25 fix, by flying no lower than 10,000 feet MSL within 2 nautical miles.
Fuel: Jet A available. Hot refueling is available to B-1 and EA-18 aircraft only.
COMSEC issuing and classified material storage are unavailable from base operations; contact the command post for storage.
Field operates 1400-0730Z++ Monday through Thursday and 1400-0100Z++ Friday. Closed weekends, holidays, and Global Strike Command down days.
Primary frequency is 311.0.
Miscellaneous: the weather station augments visibility reports at or below 3 statute miles when needed. Visibility is limited from northeast to southeast due to buildings.
Verify Powder River Training Complex status before filing an IFR flight plan, via the special use airspace site: https://sua.faa.gov/sua/.
When the control tower is closed, contact Denver ARTCC for clearance delivery.
Miscellaneous: ARFF critical level service is Yellow for all NFPA category and USAF vehicle sets; contact the fire department for further information.
Source: FAA Chart Supplement.
Nearby airfields
Ellsworth AFB Airport has five airfields within 36 NM. The closest is Rapid City Regional (KRAP), 6.31 NM south.
Source: Skystar calculation from official coordinates.
Skystar at KRCA
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 KRCA.
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 KRCA / Ellsworth AFB open to civilian or transient business aircraft?
Ellsworth AFB (KRCA) is a private-use military airfield, not a public civilian airport. Customs and immigration processing on base is limited to US DOD aircraft only, with 24-hour notice required, and imaging service is unavailable for non-DOD personnel. Transient aircraft needing approach or pattern work also require 24-hour notice to base operations. Any full-stop arrival requires prior permission coordinated with base ops well ahead of the ETA.
What customs options exist near KRCA given its restricted access?
Because customs at Ellsworth AFB (KRCA) is limited to US DOD aircraft only, non-military operators need to plan clearance elsewhere. The nearest customs airport is KCPR, located about 164 nautical miles away. Dispatchers routing civilian traffic through the Rapid City area should treat KRCA as unavailable for standard customs processing and build KCPR into the routing instead.
How long is the runway at Ellsworth AFB (KRCA)?
Ellsworth AFB (KRCA) has a single runway, 13/31, measuring 13,497 feet long and 300 feet wide with a concrete surface. This is also listed as the field's maximum paved runway length. The generous dimensions reflect the base's role supporting large military aircraft, though civil access remains restricted regardless of runway capability.
When is airfield lighting available at KRCA?
Airfield lighting at Ellsworth AFB (KRCA) is only available during control tower hours. The tower operates 1400-0730Z++ Monday through Thursday and 1400-0100Z++ on Friday, with the field closed weekends, holidays, and Global Strike Command down days. Operators planning arrivals outside these windows should note that lighting will not be available and coordinate with Denver ARTCC for clearance delivery when the tower is closed.