Airports / Nevada / DRA
Desert Rock Airport.
Mercury, Nevada · 3,314 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
5.0/5
Google rating
1 rating
0
Operators based
3,314
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
38 nm
To the nearest alternate
Homey (Area 51) Airport (KXTA), 2 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Desert Rock Airport (KDRA / DRA) is a mid-sized airport serving Mercury, Nevada. The airport sits 3,314 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 DRA for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Homey (Area 51) Airport (KXTA, 38 nm), North Las Vegas Airport (VGT, 47 nm), and Harry Reid International Airport (LAS, 53 nm). With a single 7,515-foot paved runway, DRA can typically accommodate aircraft as large as VIP airliners.
Charter pricing from DRA depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. In directories and search listings it also appears under Formerly DRA. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Mercury.
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Field capability
ICAO
KDRA
IATA
DRA
FAA / Local
NV65
Elevation
3,314 ft
Coordinates
36.6194° N · 116.0330° 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
Medium
Scheduled svc
No
Elevation vs NV fields
state range 1,870–6,259 ft
At 3,314 ft, DRA sits lower than 70% of the 30 Nevada fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 7,515 ft
- 02/207,515 ft × 100 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 7,515 ft
DRA's 7,515 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. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 38nmKXTAHomey (Area 51) AirportGroom Lake
- 47nmVGTNorth Las Vegas AirportLas Vegas
- 53nmLASHarry Reid International AirportLas Vegas
- 53nmLSVNellis Air Force BaseLas Vegas
- 70nmBLDBoulder City Municipal AirportBoulder City
- 85nmBYSBicycle Lake Army Air FieldFort Irwin/Barstow
Location
Open the full mapKDRA · Desert Rock Airport · Mercury, NV
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from DRA on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles (VNY) | 188 nm | 50m |
| Scottsdale (SCF) | 271 nm | 1h 2m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 309 nm | 1h 7m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 314 nm | 1h 8m |
| Aspen (ASE) | 461 nm | 1h 28m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 467 nm | 1h 29m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 485 nm | 1h 32m |
| Denver (DEN) | 569 nm | 1h 43m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use DRA?
- Desert Rock Airport's longest paved runway is 7,515 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 DRA?
- Desert Rock Airport has one runway; the longest measures 7,515 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to DRA?
- The closest alternate is Homey (Area 51) Airport (KXTA), about 38 nm away, followed by North Las Vegas Airport (VGT) at 47 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from DRA to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Scottsdale about 1h 2m (271 nm), San Francisco about 1h 7m (309 nm), Salt Lake City about 1h 8m (314 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.