Desert Rock Airport (KDRA)
Medium airport · Mercury, Nevada, United States
Airport data
| Name | Desert Rock Airport |
|---|---|
| ICAO | KDRA |
| IATA | DRA |
| Elevation | 3,314 ft (1010 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | N 36°37'10" W 116°1'59" 36.61940, -116.03300 |
| Location | Mercury, Nevada, United States |
| Scheduled service | No |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02/20 | 7,515 ft (2291 m) | 100 ft | ASP | Yes |
Desert Rock Airport at a glance
Desert Rock Airport is a medium airport in Mercury, Nevada, United States, known to airline systems as DRA. The field elevation of 3,314 ft (1010 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at KDRA are all figured from it. There is no scheduled airline service listed here — typical traffic is general aviation, training and local operations.
The single runway, 02/20, offers 7,515 ft (2291 m) of asp surface, with runway lighting for night operations. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 02 points roughly 20° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for KDRA shows the current observation decoded line by line — wind on an instrument dial, visibility, cloud layers and the resulting flight rules — refreshed continuously from official sources.
Nearest airports to Desert Rock Airport
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Homey (Area 51) Airport | KXTA | 71 km (38 NM) |
| North Las Vegas Airport | KVGT | 88 km (48 NM) |
| Harry Reid International Airport | KLAS | 99 km (53 NM) |
| Nellis Air Force Base | KLSV | 99 km (53 NM) |
| Boulder City Municipal Airport | KBVU | 129 km (70 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for Desert Rock Airport
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 3,314 ft field elevation of Desert Rock Airport can translate into a substantially higher density altitude, stretching take-off rolls and flattening climb rates — run the numbers rather than trusting the feel of a standard day. Expect published instrument procedures, controlled airspace and clearance requirements; slots and handling may apply to general aviation traffic.
This entry is one of 917 airports and airfields we list for United States — the country index on the airports hub links the rest. Coordinates above are given in both DMS and decimal degrees so they can go straight into a GPS, a flight planner or a chart plot without conversion.
Where this data comes from
The reference layer behind this page builds on the OurAirports dataset — a public-domain, community-maintained register of the world's airports that many flight planners and apps rely on — with equity records preserved from documented historical listings where the dataset is silent. Figures are carried as published: elevations as surveyed, coordinates as filed, runway dimensions as recorded. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap, and the whole layer regenerates from source on every site build, so corrections upstream arrive here automatically.
Frequently asked questions about Desert Rock Airport
What is the ICAO code of Desert Rock Airport?
The ICAO identifier of Desert Rock Airport is KDRA, and its IATA code is DRA. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is Desert Rock Airport above sea level?
Desert Rock Airport sits at an elevation of 3,314 feet (1010 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is Desert Rock Airport located?
The airport lies at 36.6194, -116.0330 — in Mercury, Nevada, United States, in the northern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Homey (Area 51) Airport, about 71 km away.
Does KDRA publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for KDRA appear on its live weather page on this site, refreshed continuously from the US NWS Aviation Weather Center feed.
How long is the runway at Desert Rock Airport?
Desert Rock Airport has one runway. The longest, 02/20, measures 7,515 ft (2291 m) with a ASP surface.