As an airport restaurant, Bessie’s Diner sees people come from near and far, by car and by plane. We love hearing pilots’ stories when they visit us at Bessie’s, and we’ve been fortunate to meet people from all over the country, including Alaska and Virginia.
Not every pilot makes a long trek to Bessie’s Diner. Most are located within driving distance, but, if you can, it’s always more fun to fly!
A majority of pilots who visit Bessie’s Diner call these 10 airports their home base.
Whether you’re flying to or from one of these great airports, make a pit stop at Bessie’s for a stack of cakes and a cup of Joe.
POPLAR GROVE AIRPORT (C77) - 22 mi.
One of the closest airports on our list, C77 is only 22 miles from Bessie’s Diner. C77 has been a family-owned airport since 1972, and it’s also where the most visitors to Bessie’s fly out of!
DUPAGE AIRPORT (DPA) - 63 mi.
What started as a grass strip is now an internationally recognized airport and premier aviation facility. Fun fact: The Navy used DPA to train pilots during WWII and then, in 1946, sold the airport to DuPage County for $1 after the war was over.
CHICAGO EXECUTIVE AIRPORT (PWK) - 67 mi.
PWK started out as Gauthier’s Flying Field, a 40-acre grassy area with dirt runways, in 1925. Today, it’s one of the nation’s busiest reliever airports, which provide relief when the area’s commercial airport reaches capacity, and covers over 400 acres with three active runways.
DANE COUNTY REGIONAL AIRPORT (MSN) - 39 mi.
Major airlines, like Delta and United, fly out of MSN, but so do Bessie’s diners! At only 39 miles from JVL, Dane County Regional Airport is a hop, skip and a jump from Bessie’s Diner.
WAUKESHA COUNTY AIRPORT/CRITES FIELD (UES) - 50 mi.
Only 20 minutes outside of downtown Milwaukee, UES is Wisconsin’s busiest general aviation airport, serving both corporate and recreation pilots.
WAUKEGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT (UGN) - 61 mi.
UGN is a reliever airport for Chicago’s O’Hare International. It has been in operation since 1956 and offers a centralized location between Chicago and Milwaukee.
KENOSHA REGIONAL AIRPORT (ENW) - 57 mi.
More than 270 aircrafts are based at ENW, which is more than any other airport in Wisconsin! Kenosha Regional Airport is another reliever airport for the Chicago/Milwaukee corridor.
AURORA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (ARR) - 65 mi.
The only airport in the Chicago area with direct tollway access, ARR is a full-service corporate aircraft facility just 35 miles outside of Chicago and 8 miles from downtown Aurora.
MIDDLETON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (C29) - 42 mi.
The city of Middleton purchased the airport in 1998, and now C29 sees about 40,000 operations per year with 100 aircrafts based there.
LAKE IN THE HILLS AIRPORT (3CK) - 46 mi.
3CK is a reliever airport for Chicago O’Hare–that makes this the seventh reliever airport on our list!
WHAT OTHER AIRPORTS ARE BESSIE'S DINERS COMING FROM?
