Deer Park Airport

Deer Park Airport sits roughly 15 miles north of Spokane, Washington, serving the small city of Deer Park and its surrounding agricultural communities. It operates as a general aviation airport with a single asphalt runway, no commercial airline service, and no control tower. The airport handles a steady flow of private aircraft, flight training operations, and occasional light jets, all within an atmosphere that feels distinctly rural and unhurried. For pilots looking for an alternative to the busier Spokane International Airport, Deer Park offers lower costs, a welcoming community, and facilities that cover the essentials well.

Getting There

Deer Park Airport is located at 709 West Crawford Street, about 2 miles east of downtown Deer Park. From Spokane, take US Highway 2 north for approximately 12 miles, then turn left onto Washington State Route 395 and continue another 3 miles. The airport entrance is on the right. The drive takes roughly 20–25 minutes depending on traffic. No public bus service serves the airport directly. Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft operate in the Spokane area but may be limited in Deer Park itself. A taxi from Spokane costs around $40–50. Most visitors arrive by private vehicle or rental car. The airport has a gravel parking area adjacent to the FBO building, with designated accessible spaces near the entrance.

Inside the Terminal

Deer Park Airport does not have a conventional passenger terminal. The primary building is the Deer Park Air Center FBO, which houses a pilot lounge, restrooms, a small office, and a waiting area with basic seating. The lounge is a casual space where pilots and visitors can relax after flights, with a few chairs, a table, and a television. A commuter car is available for pilots to run errands or grab a meal in town—ask at the FBO desk. The airport is wheelchair-accessible: the entrance has a ramp, the toilet is accessible, and the parking area includes marked spaces. There are no food or drink concessions, vending machines, or shops. The atmosphere is quiet and unpretentious. Arriving passengers simply walk from the parking lot into the FBO or directly onto the ramp. Security is not an issue since there are no commercial flights. The airport is uncontrolled, so pilots self-announce on CTAF 122.7. Activity can be busy despite the lack of a tower, especially on weekends and during flight training hours, so situational awareness is essential.

Deer Park Airport and Deer Park

Deer Park itself is a small city of about 4,000 residents, located in Spokane County amid rolling hills and farmland. The area is predominantly agricultural, with wheat, hay, and cattle operations defining the landscape. The city has a modest downtown along Main Street, with a handful of restaurants, a grocery store, and a few antique shops. For outdoor recreation, the nearby Spokane River offers fishing and kayaking, while Riverside State Park and Mount Spokane State Park provide hiking and camping within a 20-mile radius. The airport weaves into this rural fabric. Farmers work the fields around the runway—one local farmer even bales hay in the infield and enjoys watching airplanes come and go. The aviation community is tight-knit. The FBO is run by Deer Park Air Center, owned by Darrel Schultz, who is known for being straightforward and helpful. The airport hosts model airplane enthusiasts who gather to fly their crafts on calm days. Flight training is a major activity, with instructors like Matt Brown teaching students in a variety of single-engine aircraft, from basic trainers to complex retractable-gear planes. Burrows Aviation provides on-site aircraft maintenance and annual inspections, and the heated hangars offer protection during cold Eastern Washington winters. Fuel prices here are consistently lower than at Spokane International, drawing pilots from across the region just to fill up. The overall tone is relaxed—a place where a solo student pilot can practice touch-and-goes without feeling overwhelmed, where an instructor can patiently work through maneuvers, and where visiting pilots can tie down for a while and chat in the lounge.

Practical Information

Deer Park Airport is open during daylight hours for aircraft operations. The FBO office typically opens at 8:00 AM and closes around 5:00 PM, but hours can vary; it is advisable to call ahead. The airport is not open 24 hours. Contact the Deer Park Air Center at +1 509-276-3379 or visit the city’s airport page at http://www.cityofdeerparkwa.com/index.asp?SEC=2C00277E-CF20-4194-9DA5-7FD48FEA2E9A&Type=B_BASIC. There is no control tower; pilots use common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) 122.7. The runway is 4,000 feet long and 75 feet wide, suitable for most single-engine and light twin aircraft. Self-serve fuel is available 24/7 via credit card, while full-service fuel is available during FBO hours. Tie-downs are free for transient aircraft; hangar space may be rented by the night if available. The busiest times fall on Monday at 11 AM, Tuesday at 11 AM, Wednesday at 3 PM, and Thursday at 12 PM—weekends are generally quieter. One concrete piece of advice: if you plan to fly in for fuel, call ahead to confirm the FBO is staffed, as smaller airports can sometimes be unattended outside posted hours.