Airports / New Mexico / CAO
Clayton Municipal Airpark.
Clayton, New Mexico · 4,965 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.5/5
Google rating
6 ratings
0
Operators based
4,965
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
#10 / 29
New Mexico airports by Google rating
4.5★ across 6 Google ratings , ranked against 29 rated NM fields.
39 nm
To the nearest alternate
Dalhart Municipal Airport (DHT).
Overview
Clayton Municipal Airpark (KCAO / CAO) is a general aviation field serving Clayton, New Mexico. The airport sits 4,965 feet above sea level. With no scheduled airline service, it caters to private, charter, and general aviation traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into CAO for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Dalhart Municipal Airport (DHT, 39 nm), Tucumcari Municipal Airport (TCC, 79 nm), and Guymon Municipal Airport (GUY, 81 nm). With 2 runways, the longest 6,307-foot paved runway, CAO can typically accommodate aircraft as large as VIP airliners.
Charter pricing from CAO depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Clayton.
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Field capability
ICAO
KCAO
IATA
CAO
FAA / Local
CAO
Elevation
4,965 ft
Coordinates
36.4462° N · 103.1670° W
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Small
Scheduled svc
No
Elevation vs NM fields
state range 3,295–8,380 ft
At 4,965 ft, CAO sits higher than 53% of the 32 New Mexico fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
2 runways
longest 6,307 ft
- 02/206,307 ft × 75 ftAsphaltLighted
- 12/304,105 ft × 60 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 6,307 ft
CAO's 6,307 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation, and at 4,965 ft this field's density altitude can extend the runway a jet actually needs on warm days. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 39nmDHTDalhart Municipal AirportDalhart
- 79nmTCCTucumcari Municipal AirportTucumcari
- 81nmGUYGuymon Municipal AirportGuymon
- 100nmLAASoutheast Colorado Regional AirportLamar
- 102nmAMARick Husband Amarillo International AirportAmarillo
- 107nmLVSLas Vegas Municipal AirportLas Vegas
Location
Open the full mapKCAO · Clayton Municipal Airpark · Clayton, NM
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from CAO on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Denver (DEN) | 217 nm | 54m |
| Aspen (ASE) | 242 nm | 58m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 261 nm | 1h 0m |
| Dallas (DAL) | 380 nm | 1h 17m |
| Scottsdale (SCF) | 462 nm | 1h 28m |
| Austin (AUS) | 466 nm | 1h 29m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 488 nm | 1h 32m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 553 nm | 1h 41m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use CAO?
- Clayton Municipal Airpark's longest paved runway is 6,307 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at CAO?
- Clayton Municipal Airpark has 2 runways; the longest measures 6,307 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to CAO?
- The closest alternate is Dalhart Municipal Airport (DHT), about 39 nm away, followed by Tucumcari Municipal Airport (TCC) at 79 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from CAO to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Denver about 54m (217 nm), Aspen about 58m (242 nm), Vail / Eagle about 1h 0m (261 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.