McMinnville Airport, McMinnville, OR
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McMinnville Municipal Airport (MMV, KMMV) is a public, non-towered general aviation airport located 3 miles SE of McMinnville, Oregon. It is owned by the City of McMinnville, which sits in Yamhill County. There are two runways, as follows:
| Direction | Length | Surface |
| 4/22 | 5,420 ft. x 100 ft. | Asphalt (Excellent) |
| 17/35 | 4,340 ft. x 75 ft. | Asphalt (Excellent) markings are not good. |
There is both AvGas and Jet A here. There are also tie-downs, major airframe, and engine repair on this field. Bulk oxygen is available M-Sat.
This is a very small airport, I’m sure, with limited funds, and certain things need upgrading. I’m not convinced either runway should be rated excellent, but that’s not my call. (late 2023) However, one of them is still decent, and the destination is worth it.
Transportation
Both Uber and Lyft are available in McMinnville. Depending on the time of year and time of day, you may have a bit of a wait. They do have a taxi service, Rick Shaw Taxi, but there could also be a long wait time, and they’re only open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. If you want to try it, there is a local bus service, and although it’s free, it’s also infrequent. The best bet is to rent a bike or grab a rental car from Enterprise.
Where To Stay
For a unique one-of-a-kind stay, the A‘ Tuscan Estate Bed & Breakfast is a good choice. If you don’t want a chain hotel, the character of this 1928 Colonial will make your day with a 3-course gourmet breakfast and a beautiful outdoor space for your ‘going to bed’ glass of wine.
If you’re looking for a great location, Douglas on Third is perfectly placed to get you anywhere you want to go in this town. It’s a family-owned apartment-type hotel with kitchens. The luxurious Atticus Hotel and Pacific Northwest chain The McMenamins Hotel Oregon are also great locations if you want to explore downtown.
To compare chain hotels, prices, and amenities, go to Expedia.com or Hotels.com
Where To Drink
McMinnville is in the heart of wine country, so if you’re looking for some of the world’s finest Pinot noir, you’ve come to the right place. There are approximately 220 wineries and vineyards to enjoy in and around this small city. It is truly a wine lover’s paradise. It’s impossible to narrow this list down. My advice: choose your favorite wine type and ask the locals where to find it. For one with a tasting room that is right downtown on SE 5th Street, go to the Dobbes Family Winery.
The rooftop bar at McMenamins has a great view, but they also have a pub downstairs. The Golden Valley Brewery is nice. Jae’s Landing, Blue Moon Lounge, and Mac Taps are also highly rated. Mac Taps is also dog-friendly in case you brought your best friend.
Things To Do
Of course, the best thing to do in McMinnville is to visit the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum. This is the home of the Howard Hughes H-4 Hercules, better known as the Spruce Goose. This aircraft is so large that my pictures do not do it justice. It is truly awe-inspiring and dwarfs everything around and under it.
There is so much to see here that it will take a while. There are four large buildings with more than 50 different aircraft. Including a B-17G, the Martin Titan II SLV Space Satellite booster rocket, and an SR-71 Blackbird. The simulators here are out of this world. Almost literally, there’s one for landing the space shuttle, one for docking a Gemini capsule, and one to land and operate the Lunar Excursion Module. The Titan rocket is so tall that they had to build two floors beneath what you see at ground level, so it would fit inside the building.
There’s also the Wings and Waves Waterpark built around an old Boeing 747 at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, and the city of McMinnville hosts a UFO festival every year.
As added attractions, McMinnville is also the home of Linfield University and some pretty amazing Farmers’ Markets.
Why Fly Here?
McMinnville is at the heart of wine country in the Willamette Valley. About 40 miles NE sits Portland, and a little over 25 miles SE is Salem. This great small city is also only 50 miles from the coast. It’s a nice in-between place, so you can choose any direction or just stay put and enjoy your surroundings.
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Safe travels,
jo@jettreks