Fuel, food, fun en route to EAA AirVenture 2025

Wisconsin

Platteville Municipal Airport in Platteville: Best suited for pilots entering Wisconsin from the southwest, Platteville offers crosswind-friendly paved Runways 15/33 and 07/25. Between July 18 and 28 the FBO will offer 50 cents off per gallon of fuel (avgas and Jet A) for pilots en route to Oshkosh. Free tent camping, $20 overnight hangars, and a pancake breakfast on July 27 are also offered to transient pilots.

Manitowoc County Airport in Manitowoc: Just 39 nautical miles from Oshkosh on the shore of Lake Michigan, this nontowered field offers a relatively long 5,001-foot runway along with a 3,341-foot secondary runway. The airport will waive tiedown fees from July 21 to 27 and makes a great alternate option for Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.

Portage Municipal Airport in Portage: Located in central Wisconsin, this small field lies just 48 nautical miles south of Oshkosh. The airport will offer free lunches on July 17, 18, and 19 for pilots headed to AirVenture.

Illinois

De Kalb Taylor Municipal Airport in De Kalb: For pilots coming in from the east wanting to avoid the Mode C and ADS-B Out veil around Chicago (or flying under the shelf of the Class B airspace), DeKalb is a nontowered field just over 30 nautical miles west of Chicago O’Hare International Airport. Between July 16 and 28, pilots will be offered a free first overnight with fuel purchase, along with complimentary hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, bottled waters, and freeze pops.

DuPage Airport: Located under the shelf of the Chicago O’Hare International Airport Class B airspace, DuPage has three runways and is surrounded by hotels, restaurants, and other amenities. The DuPage Flight Center will offer self-serve fuel rates on the main ramp and a hot dog in its café Monday through Friday between July 12 and August 3.

Indiana

DeKalb County Airport: A free lunch and a 20-cent-per-gallon discount on full-service 100LL are available for pilots between July 19 and 27. A pilot lounge and crew car to the nearby city are also on offer to en route travelers.

Freeman Municipal Airport in Seymour: This large nontowered field will offer 20 cents off per gallon between July 17 and August 19 with no landing or tiedown fees and a spacious ramp. A free bag lunch and picnic areas are available. Self-service 100LL and Jet A are available 24/7 with full-service Jet A available during business hours.

Goshen Municipal Airport: You can take a courtesy car to the nearby town or enjoy a free lunch with 20 cents off each gallon of full-service 100LL at this nontowered field. Free lunches and a pilot lounge are also in place to make your transit to Oshkosh more enjoyable.

LaPorte Municipal Airport in La Porte: Twenty-four-hour access to showers, restrooms, a fridge, microwave, and sofas make the nontowered field a solid option for pilots en route to Oshkosh. Food is available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time on weekdays, with donations accepted. The field also sports a courtesy car, self-serve 100LL and recreational 90, full-service 100LL and Jet A, as well as hangars available for $10 with calling ahead required.

Porter County Regional Airport in Valparaiso: Right around 15 miles south of Lake Michigan, Porter County features a crosswind runway and a 15- to 20 cent-per-gallon discount on avgas. The local EAA chapter will be running a “Food & Fuel” fundraiser with brats, burgers, and hot dogs between July 17 and 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time.

Iowa

Clinton Municipal Airport in Clinton: Located right across the Illinois border and around 40 nautical miles south of Wisconsin’s border, Clinton promotes free under-wing camping and discounted transient hangars between July 14 and 28. The FBO also offers a free pulled pork sandwich, chips, and drink with every fuel-up. In the summer flying heat, free showers during business hours are also a nice touch. The FBO will open on weekends from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. local time during the event.

Michigan

Frankfort Dow Memorial Field in Frankfort: Conveniently located right across Lake Michigan from Green Bay, the airport is next to the popular Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The FBO will discount 100LL 10 cents per gallon during the event. A crew car, tiedowns, and Wi-Fi are also available.

Nebraska

Norfolk Regional Airport/Karl Stefan Memorial Field: This nontowered field in eastern Nebraska offers a 50-cent-per-gallon discount on 100LL and $25-per-night hangars for general aviation aircraft on a first come, first served basis. Snacks, hot dogs, chips, and drinks are available as well as on-site camping. Norfolk charges no landing, ramp, or tiedown fees.

North Dakota

Bismarck Municipal Airport: Deal-oriented pilots might want to consider making a stop at the Executive Air Taxi Corp. FBO in North Dakota for a $1- per-gallon discount on 100LL by mentioning AirVenture. With an 8,794-foot runway and 6,600-foot runway, as well as a 24-hour FBO, Wi-Fi, complimentary crew cars, and “sleeping pods,” Bismarck can accommodate just about any pilot’s needs.

Wyoming

Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport in Rock Springs: Although a long shot from Oshkosh, the deals at Sweetwater Aviation might be worthwhile for some Oregon, California, and Idaho pilots headed to the fly-in, with a 50-cent-per-gallon discount on avgas. On top of that, a free daily cookout, free Wi-Fi and DirectTV, multiple courtesy cars, and 50-percent-off hangar space are also available for pilots en route to Oshkosh.