Airports / California / SMO
Santa Monica Municipal Airport.
Santa Monica, California · 170 ft elevation. 2 charter operators based here.
4.7/5
Google rating
263 ratings
2
Operators based
170
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Based operators
FBOs on field
Field elevation
Field standing
#17 / 152
California airports by Google rating
4.7★ across 263 Google ratings , ranked against 152 rated CA fields.
2 operators
Charter fleet based on the field
More resident charter operators than 58% of the 651 US fields with a based fleet on the register.
5 nm
To the nearest alternate
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), 6 fields within 50 nm.
Overview
Santa Monica Municipal Airport (KSMO / SMO) is a mid-sized airport serving Santa Monica, California. The field lies at an elevation of 170 feet. The field has no airline schedules, which keeps it focused on private and general aviation flying.
Charter departments call it home: Action Air Express and Air Fuga base aircraft at SMO. Useful alternates include Los Angeles International Airport (LAX, 5 nm), Jack Northrop Field Hawthorne Municipal Airport (HHR, 8 nm), and Van Nuys Airport (VNY, 12 nm). SMO offers a single 3,500-foot paved runway, which supports charter types through the light jet class.
Quotes for flights out of SMO vary with aircraft type, repositioning, and schedule flexibility. The airport is also known as Clover Field. Use the cost estimator to model a trip from SMO, or browse verified operators serving the area.
1 FBO serves KSMO. Run one? Become the preferred FBO
Ramp services
FBOs on the field
Atlantic Aviation Santa Monica
Your FBO? Claim it, freeLand at Atlantic Aviation SMO, take a deep breath of fresh ocean air and leave the rest to us! Located in the heart of Santa Monica just three miles from the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic SMO is where beauty, convenience and world-class service intersect.
- Fuel
- Hangar
- Mon-Sun 0600-2230 (open 24/7 to serve aircraft needs)
- Unicom 122.95
- Executive lounge
- Conference room
- Wi-Fi
- Courtesy car
- Car rental
- Hangar
- Parking
- Fuel
- +6 more
- Phone
- Website
- Address
Directory data, unpaid. FBOs can take the Preferred slot above.
Field capability
ICAO
KSMO
IATA
SMO
FAA / Local
SMO
Elevation
170 ft
Coordinates
34.0158° N · 118.4510° 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 CA fields
state range -210–7,135 ft
At 170 ft, SMO sits lower than 61% of the 164 California fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 3,500 ft
- 03/213,500 ft × 150 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 3,500 ft
SMO's 3,500 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to light jets.
- 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.
Based charter operators2
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 5nmLAXLos Angeles International AirportLos Angeles
- 8nmHHRJack Northrop Field Hawthorne Municipal AirportHawthorne
- 12nmVNYVan Nuys AirportVan Nuys
- 12nmBURHollywood Burbank AirportBurbank
- 19nmLGBLong Beach International AirportLong Beach
- 24nmKSLILos Alamitos Army Air FieldLos Alamitos
Location
Open the full mapKSMO · Santa Monica Municipal Airport · Santa Monica, CA
From the ramp
Google Places photography of Santa Monica Municipal Airport, tap any frame to view full-screen, then cycle with the arrows or your keyboard.
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from SMO on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 204 nm | 52m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 289 nm | 1h 4m |
| Scottsdale (SCF) | 327 nm | 1h 10m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 510 nm | 1h 35m |
| Aspen (ASE) | 639 nm | 1h 53m |
| Vail / Eagle (EGE) | 648 nm | 1h 54m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 679 nm | 1h 59m |
| Denver (DEN) | 747 nm | 2h 8m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use SMO?
- Santa Monica Municipal Airport's longest paved runway is 3,500 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to light jets. 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 SMO?
- Santa Monica Municipal Airport has one runway; the longest measures 3,500 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- Are there charter operators based at SMO?
- Yes. 2 charter operators list Santa Monica Municipal Airport as a home base, including Action Air Express, Air Fuga. You can also request quotes from operators that reposition aircraft into the field.
- Which FBOs are at Santa Monica Municipal Airport?
- One FBO serves SMO: Atlantic Aviation Santa Monica. Phone, website, hours, unicom and services for each are listed on this page. Call ahead for fuel, ramp space, and ground handling.
- What is the nearest major airport to SMO?
- The closest alternate is Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), about 5 nm away, followed by Jack Northrop Field Hawthorne Municipal Airport (HHR) at 8 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from SMO to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Las Vegas about 52m (204 nm), San Francisco about 1h 4m (289 nm), Scottsdale about 1h 10m (327 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.