High-Elevation Airport Density Altitude Reference
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Density altitude at any airport depends on field elevation, current temperature, and altimeter setting. This reference provides base field elevations and typical hot-day DA scenarios using summer temperature averages for each location. Always calculate actual DA with current conditions using the Density Altitude Calculator — these are planning estimates, not operational values.
DA scenario methodology: summer afternoon temperature estimate + altimeter setting 29.82 inHg (slightly low pressure, common on hot days).
Extreme High-Elevation Airports (Above 8,000 ft)
| Airport | ICAO | Field Elev | Typical Summer Temp | Typical Hot-Day DA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leadville (Lake County) | KLXV | 9,934 ft | 72°F (22°C) | ~13,000 ft |
| Telluride Regional | KTEX | 9,069 ft | 75°F (24°C) | ~12,000 ft |
| Steamboat Springs | KSBS | 6,882 ft | 82°F (28°C) | ~9,500 ft |
| Gunnison-Crested Butte | KGUC | 7,664 ft | 78°F (26°C) | ~10,300 ft |
| Taos Regional | KTSS | 7,095 ft | 85°F (29°C) | ~9,800 ft |
| Show Low Regional (AZ) | KSOW | 6,415 ft | 85°F (29°C) | ~9,300 ft |
Leadville (KLXV) — North America’s Highest Public-Use Airport
At 9,934 ft MSL, Leadville regularly produces density altitudes of 13,000+ ft on summer afternoons. A Cessna 172’s service ceiling is approximately 14,000 ft — meaning at Leadville on a 75°F day, the aircraft has fewer than 1,000 ft of performance margin before reaching its ceiling. Most normally aspirated light aircraft have serious performance concerns here.
Telluride (KTEX) — Highest Commercial Airport in the US
Surrounded by mountains reaching 14,000 ft, Telluride has no go-around option in most directions. Summertime DA regularly exceeds 12,000 ft. Commercial service is provided by high-performance turboprop and jet aircraft with turbocharging or turbine engines. Light piston aircraft require careful planning and often morning-only departures.
High-Elevation Airports (5,000–8,000 ft)
| Airport | ICAO | Field Elev | Typical Summer Temp | Typical Hot-Day DA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe Municipal | KSAF | 6,348 ft | 88°F (31°C) | ~9,500 ft |
| Flagstaff Pulliam | KFLG | 7,014 ft | 79°F (26°C) | ~9,700 ft |
| Reno/Tahoe Int’l | KRNO | 4,415 ft | 95°F (35°C) | ~8,200 ft |
| Salt Lake City Int’l | KSLC | 4,228 ft | 96°F (36°C) | ~8,000 ft |
| Albuquerque Int’l | KABQ | 5,355 ft | 92°F (33°C) | ~9,000 ft |
| Denver Int’l | KDEN | 5,431 ft | 90°F (32°C) | ~8,700 ft |
| Colorado Springs | KCOS | 6,183 ft | 85°F (29°C) | ~9,000 ft |
| Elko Regional (NV) | KEKO | 5,135 ft | 93°F (34°C) | ~8,700 ft |
| Boise Airport | KBOI | 2,871 ft | 98°F (37°C) | ~6,700 ft |
| Las Vegas (KLAS) | KLAS | 2,181 ft | 108°F (42°C) | ~7,100 ft |
Denver (KDEN) — The Frequently Underestimated Airport
Denver is often treated as “just a major hub” by transient pilots unfamiliar with high-altitude operations. At 5,431 ft and 90°F summer temperatures, density altitude routinely reaches 8,500–9,000 ft. Underpowered light aircraft with full loads can exceed usable runway length on hot afternoons. Denver has IFR traffic separation that prevents low-performance departures from causing separation issues, but performance calculations remain the pilot’s responsibility.
Las Vegas (KLAS) — Low Elevation, Extreme Temperature
Las Vegas is below 2,200 ft MSL but summer temperatures regularly exceed 105–115°F. This temperature alone drives DA to 6,500–8,000 ft — comparable to many mountain airports on normal days. Pilots accustomed to sea-level performance who transit LAS in July are operating at density altitudes they would never experience at their home airport.
Moderate-Elevation Airports (2,000–5,000 ft)
| Airport | ICAO | Field Elev | Summer Scenario | Typical Hot-Day DA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Sky Harbor | KPHX | 1,135 ft | 110°F (43°C) | ~6,000 ft |
| Tucson Int’l | KTUS | 2,641 ft | 100°F (38°C) | ~6,500 ft |
| El Paso Int’l | KELP | 3,958 ft | 98°F (37°C) | ~7,500 ft |
Phoenix (KPHX) — Extreme Summer DA at Low Elevation
Phoenix sits at only 1,135 ft MSL, but summer temperatures of 108–115°F push DA to 5,500–6,500 ft. Summer afternoon operations at KPHX require density altitude awareness comparable to a mountain airport, driven entirely by temperature rather than elevation.
What These Numbers Mean for Light Piston Aircraft
| DA Range | Performance Impact | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Under 4,000 ft | Near-normal | Standard planning |
| 4,000–7,000 ft | Noticeable degradation | Verify runway length, consider weight reduction |
| 7,000–10,000 ft | Serious degradation | Precise POH chart use required; consider morning departure |
| 10,000–13,000 ft | Severe — at or near service ceiling | Only high-performance or turbocharged aircraft |
| Above 13,000 ft | Most NA engines cannot sustain climb | Turbine or turbo-normalized required |
For understanding how engine power responds to these DA conditions, see the Engine Performance at Density Altitude guide. For weight reduction strategies when DA is high, see Density Altitude Weight and Fuel Strategies.