Santa Monica Municipal Airport (KSMO)
Medium airport · Santa Monica, California, United States
Airport data
| Name | Santa Monica Municipal Airport |
|---|---|
| ICAO | KSMO |
| IATA | SMO |
| Elevation | 170 ft (52 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | N 34°0'57" W 118°27'4" 34.01580, -118.45100 |
| Location | Santa Monica, California, United States |
| Scheduled service | No |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03/21 | 3,500 ft (1067 m) | 150 ft | Asphalt | Yes |
Santa Monica Municipal Airport at a glance
Santa Monica Municipal Airport is a medium airport in Santa Monica, California, United States, known to airline systems as SMO. The field elevation of 170 ft (52 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at KSMO 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, 03/21, offers 3,500 ft (1067 m) of asphalt surface, with runway lighting for night operations. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 03 points roughly 30° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for KSMO 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 Santa Monica Municipal Airport
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles International Airport | KLAX | 9 km (5 NM) |
| Jack Northrop Field Hawthorne Municipal Airport | KHHR | 15 km (8 NM) |
| Van Nuys Airport | KVNY | 22 km (12 NM) |
| Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport | KBUR | 22 km (12 NM) |
| Long Beach International Airport | KLGB | 36 km (19 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for Santa Monica Municipal Airport
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 170 ft field elevation of Santa Monica Municipal 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 Santa Monica Municipal Airport
What is the ICAO code of Santa Monica Municipal Airport?
The ICAO identifier of Santa Monica Municipal Airport is KSMO, and its IATA code is SMO. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is Santa Monica Municipal Airport above sea level?
Santa Monica Municipal Airport sits at an elevation of 170 feet (52 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is Santa Monica Municipal Airport located?
The airport lies at 34.0158, -118.4510 — in Santa Monica, California, United States, in the northern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Los Angeles International Airport, about 9 km away.
Does KSMO publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for KSMO 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 Santa Monica Municipal Airport?
Santa Monica Municipal Airport has one runway. The longest, 03/21, measures 3,500 ft (1067 m) with a Asphalt surface.