4/ 5 reviews
Staff & service
“The staff was friendly and helpful, always ready to assist with any questions I had.”
Fred Nunez5★ on Google
Airports / Illinois / MDH
Medium airport · MDH
Southern Illinois Airport.
Murphysboro, Illinois · 411 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.6/5
Google rating
48 ratings
0
Operators based
411
Elevation ft
Murphysboro, IllinoisELEV 411 FTMedium airport
4.6
Google rating
48
Google reviews
ratings on Google
411
Field elevation
feet above sea level
11
Nearest alternate
nm to MWA
Field standing
#15 / 42
Illinois airports by Google rating
4.6★ across 48 Google ratings , ranked against 42 rated IL fields.
11 nm
To the nearest alternate
Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois (MWA), 3 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Located in Murphysboro, Illinois, Southern Illinois Airport (KMDH / MDH) operates as a mid-sized airport. The field lies at an elevation of 411 feet. The field has no airline schedules, which keeps it focused on private and general aviation flying.
MDH has no resident charter fleet; trips here are typically flown by operators repositioning from surrounding airports. Useful alternates include Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois (MWA, 11 nm), Cape Girardeau Regional Airport (CGI, 36 nm), and Barkley Regional Airport (PAH, 49 nm). MDH offers 3 runways, the longest 6,506-foot paved runway, which supports charter types through the VIP airliner class.
Quotes for flights out of MDH vary with aircraft type, repositioning, and schedule flexibility. The airport is also known as Carbondale. Use the cost estimator to model a trip from MDH, or browse verified operators serving the area.
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What fliers highlight.
From the stored review texts
2/ 5 reviews
Easy in & out
“The airport's convenient location and efficient operations made for a smooth and stress-free travel experience.”
Fred Nunez5★ on Google
2/ 5 reviews
Terminal & facilities
“The airport was clean, well-maintained, and well-organized, making navigation and finding my way around very easy.”
Fred Nunez5★ on Google
Themes counted by keyword across Google review texts for Southern Illinois Airport, every quote is verbatim from a real review.
Field capability
ICAO
KMDH
IATA
MDH
FAA / Local
MDH
Elevation
411 ft
Coordinates
37.7781° N · 89.2520° W
Airspace
D · DeltaClass D, DeltaA control tower runs the immediate airspace. Pilots establish two-way radio contact before entering, typical for busy business-aviation fields.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Medium
Scheduled svc
No
Elevation vs IL fields
state range 321–871 ft
At 411 ft, MDH sits lower than 92% of the 51 Illinois fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
3 runways
longest 6,506 ft
- 18L/36R6,506 ft × 100 ftAsphaltLighted
- 06/244,163 ft × 100 ftAsphaltLighted
- 18R/36L3,498 ft × 60 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 6,506 ft
MDH's 6,506 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.
- 11nmMWAVeterans Airport of Southern IllinoisMarion
- 36nmCGICape Girardeau Regional AirportCape Girardeau
- 49nmPAHBarkley Regional AirportPaducah
- 54nmBLVScott AFB/Midamerica AirportBelleville
- 77nmALNSt Louis Regional AirportAlton/St Louis
- 79nmSTLSt. Louis Lambert International AirportSt Louis
Location
Open the full mapKMDH · Southern Illinois Airport · Murphysboro, IL
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from MDH on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville (BNA) | 158 nm | 46m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 260 nm | 1h 0m |
| Dallas (DAL) | 475 nm | 1h 30m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 559 nm | 1h 42m |
| Houston (HOU) | 573 nm | 1h 44m |
| Austin (AUS) | 618 nm | 1h 50m |
| New York (TEB) | 728 nm | 2h 6m |
| Denver (DEN) | 731 nm | 2h 6m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use MDH?
- Southern Illinois Airport's longest paved runway is 6,506 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 MDH?
- Southern Illinois Airport has 3 runways; the longest measures 6,506 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to MDH?
- The closest alternate is Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois (MWA), about 11 nm away, followed by Cape Girardeau Regional Airport (CGI) at 36 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from MDH to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Chicago about 1h 0m (260 nm), Dallas about 1h 30m (475 nm), Washington DC about 1h 42m (559 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.