Appleton International Airport, Appleton, WI
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Airport Basics
Appleton International Airport (ATW, KATW) is a public, towered airport located approximately 5 miles west of downtown Appleton, Wisconsin. This airport is owned and operated by Outagamie County and has 2 runways as follows:
| Designation | Diminsions | Surface | Condition |
| 12/30 | 8.002′ x 150′ | Asphalt | Good |
| 3/21 | 6,501′ x 150′ | Asphalt | Good |
FBO & Services
Appleton Flight Center is a full‑service FBO offering 100LL, Jet A, full‑service and self‑service fueling, hangar space, pilot amenities, maintenance support, oxygen service, GPU, and flight training.
The airfield is home to a Gulfstream Aerospace facility as well as a Civil Air Patrol squadron (Fox Cities Composite Squadron). There are no flight schools on this field, but Pilot Institute or Rod Machado’s Aviation Learning Center are great online resources for beginners or anyone adding a new rating.
This airport has grown considerably since the first time I saw it, but it has still retained ease of use and is generally not too crowded. That being said, we all know it’s going to be busy during EAA AirVenture, but it’s much less crowded than Wittman Field if you’re planning on visiting Oshkosh. It’s also smaller than the Green Bay-Austin Straubel Airport. If you want to see a Packers game at Lambeau Field, it’s a little over 34 miles from this airport. Check out ScoreBig.com, pay less, play more! If you are attending AirVenture, it’s about 24.5 miles SSW.
Transportation
Appleton Flight Center can provide a courtesy car, though availability varies. It’s best to call ahead to confirm it’s ready when you arrive. For longer stays or guaranteed transportation, ATW has on‑field rental car options, including Hertz, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, National, and Alamo, all located inside the terminal and easily accessible. Uber and Lyft operate reliably throughout Appleton, and local taxi services such as Fox Valley Cab and Yellow Cab Appleton provide additional ground transportation choices.
If you’d rather skip hauling bulky or weighty cargo through the airport, you can ship it ahead with Send My Bag and travel light instead. Use this link and sign up with an email, and get 5% off your first order. SendMyBag.com.
EAA AirVenture photos from Oshkosh!
EAA AirVenture is known as the air traffic controllers’ Super Bowl! This wonderful gathering occurs every year, usually the last week of July.
Oshkosh!
Where to Eat and Drink!
Appleton International Airport offers two terminal dining options — Fratellos ATW and Biergarten ATW — providing travelers with quick food and drink choices.
If you want a little local flavor, The Fox River Brewing Company makes its home in both Appleton and Oshkosh. It’s a casual place for a get-together with friends or family, with a varied menu and lots of choices for their own local favorite brews. The one in Appleton is at the Fox River Mall. The Oshkosh version is right on the Fox River and a great place for sunset watching. Both establishments have outdoor seating available. For Italian, Fratellos Riverfront Restaurant and its patio dining are just right for a warm summer evening.
If you’re looking for something a little more refined, Vince Lombardi’s Steak House or the Rye Restaurant are both just right down the street from Lawrence University. If you’re a football fan, I would suggest Lombardi’s just for the pictures on the wall. Both are more upscale with great wine selections, atmospheres, and service.
If you want something fun and different, try The Melting Pot. Cheese fondue as only Wisconsin can do. Pair it with a craft beer or a nice glass of wine and skip right to a decadent dessert, or have a four-course meal. Neither one will disappoint, although it can get a little steamy with a cooktop at every table. If you or someone in your party is always cold, this is the place to go.
Things To Do In Appleton!
Appleton is home to the first private residence in the world to use electric lighting generated by a centrally located hydroelectric station. As you might guess, it’s located near the Fox River. This lovely old Queen Anne-style home, known as the Hearthstone Historic House, has been turned into a museum. There are guided tours at 10:00 a.m. daily except Sunday, when they don’t start until 1:00 p.m. Monday-Wednesday is reserved for groups, while Thursdays-Sundays are for the rest of us. The last tour starts at 3:30 p.m. The museum contains many original fixtures, switches, and Edison wiring. Also, if you time it right, you could join one of their “Mystery at the Mansion” events. After all, a little murder mystery never hurt anyone!
Appleton was also the boyhood home of Harry Houdini! There’s an interactive display along with static displays of things like his leg irons and straitjackets in the History Museum at the Castle. The legend lives on, and the kids will love it. There is also a Houdini walking tour that encompasses sites from his childhood if you need a little exercise. Be advised, the museum is closed on Mondays.
If you need a nice gift for someone or if you just want to see and appreciate fine and beautiful things, you should visit the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass. It’s right by Riverside Park, which is lovely, by the way, and admission is free, although exiting can cost if you leave via the gift shop.
Fishing Around Appleton
If you are part of my fishing crowd, opportunities for bass, trout, and Walleye abound around Appleton. The river runs through it, as they say, and it is filled with fishing dreams. There are multiple parks throughout town where public fishing is allowed, and if you want to go further afield, there are charters galore from Lake Winnebago to Lake Michigan. Fishing excursions up here will run you anywhere from $275 to $600, depending on what you want. Please visit https://dnr.wisconsin.gov for rules and regulations governing fishing in the state of Wisconsin.
Lake Winnebago is a great place for fishing, boating, seaplanes, and family!
Golf Around Appleton
For the golf crowd, there are 26 golf courses within 20 miles of Appleton, but only 23 are public, and only 2 are in Appleton. The oldest course around is the 18-hole Butte des Morts, which opened in Appleton in 1926, but it is a private course. The other course not far from town is the Reid Golf Course. The best-rated course is the High Cliff Golf and Event Center, but it is in the village of Sherwood near Lake Winnebago. Apparently, it’s beautiful, challenging, and worth the drive, but I haven’t seen this one personally. Once again, http://golfnow.co is an excellent resource for tee times and descriptions.
Why Fly Here?
Appleton International Airport offers an easy, well‑run gateway to the Fox Cities region with reliable FBO service, on‑field rental cars, and quick access to downtown Appleton. The airport sits close to popular dining and riverfront spots like Fratellos, Rye, and The Melting Pot, and it’s a convenient base for exploring nearby attractions, including the Fox River, local museums, and Green Bay’s Lambeau Field. Whether you’re stopping for business, a weekend getaway, or a connection to Oshkosh events, ATW provides a smooth, traveler‑friendly experience without the congestion of larger airports.
My family is at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh every year-we hope to see you there!
Links & Tips
Pilot supplies: Pilot Headquarters
Headphones: LightSpeed.com
Travel Fatigue: renuebyscience.com
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