Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (KSDF)

Large airport · Louisville, Kentucky, United States

Airport data

NameLouisville Muhammad Ali International Airport
ICAOKSDF
IATASDF
Elevation501 ft (153 m) above mean sea level
CoordinatesN 38°10'14" W 85°44'6"
38.17060, -85.73508
LocationLouisville, Kentucky, United States
Scheduled serviceYes

About Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport on Wikipedia

Runways

RunwayLengthWidthSurfaceLighted
11/297,251 ft (2210 m)150 ftCONYes
17L/35R8,578 ft (2615 m)150 ftCONYes
17R/35L11,887 ft (3623 m)150 ftCONYes

Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport at a glance

Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport is a large airport in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, known to airline systems as SDF. The field elevation of 501 ft (153 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at KSDF are all figured from it. The airport handles scheduled commercial service, so expect controlled procedures, published approaches and commercial traffic in the pattern.

Of its 3 runways, the longest — 17R/35L — offers 11,887 ft (3623 m) of con surface, with runway lighting for night operations. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 17R points roughly 170° magnetic.

For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for KSDF 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 Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport

Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.

AirportCodeDistance
Bowman FieldKLOU9 km (5 NM)
Godman Army Air FieldKFTK36 km (19 NM)
Blue Grass AirportKLEX100 km (54 NM)
Columbus Municipal AirportKBAK122 km (66 NM)
Monroe County AirportKBMG133 km (72 NM)

Flight-planning notes for Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport

Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 501 ft field elevation of Louisville Muhammad Ali International 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 Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport

What is the ICAO code of Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport?

The ICAO identifier of Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport is KSDF, and its IATA code is SDF. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.

How high is Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport above sea level?

Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport sits at an elevation of 501 feet (153 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.

Where exactly is Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport located?

The airport lies at 38.1706, -85.7351 — in Louisville, Kentucky, United States, in the northern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Bowman Field, about 9 km away.

Does KSDF publish METAR weather reports?

Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for KSDF 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 Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport?

Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport has 3 runways. The longest, 17R/35L, measures 11,887 ft (3623 m) with a CON surface.

Current METAR & TAF for KSDF