As excitement builds for the grand opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota, one question has sparked widespread curiosity: Where can President Donald Trump’s Air Force One actually land?
The White House’s Freedom 250 initiative has confirmed that President Trump is expected to visit the library on July 1, joining members of Theodore Roosevelt’s family, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and other dignitaries for the historic opening.
But despite Medora’s growing national significance, the closest airport isn’t capable of handling the aircraft most people know as Air Force One.
Although “Air Force One” is technically the radio callsign for any U.S. Air Force aircraft carrying the President, it is most commonly associated with the VC-25A, the highly modified Boeing 747-200 operated by the U.S. Air Force. That massive aircraft typically requires around 10,800 feet (3,292 meters) of runway for takeoff under operational conditions.
The Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport, the nearest commercial airport to Medora, has a main runway measuring just 7,301 feet (2,225 meters)—far too short for the presidential VC-25A. Likewise, Montana’s nearby Dawson Community Airport has an even shorter 5,400-foot runway, making it unsuitable for the iconic Boeing 747.
According to aviation officials, the most likely airports capable of accommodating the presidential aircraft are Bismarck Municipal Airport and Billings-Logan International Airport. Bismarck, about 140 miles (225 km) from Medora, has previously welcomed Air Force One and possesses the infrastructure needed to support a Boeing 747.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time aircraft limitations have influenced a presidential visit. During President Trump’s 2017 trip to North Dakota, ongoing runway reconstruction in Bismarck meant the larger VC-25A couldn’t operate there, so he instead arrived aboard a smaller Boeing 757. Similarly, Vice President JD Vance visited Medora in 2025 using Dickinson Airport, demonstrating that smaller government aircraft can easily access the region.
If President Trump arrives aboard the VC-25A this time, he could land in Bismarck before completing the final leg to Medora by helicopter or motorcade—a strategy used by previous presidents, including Barack Obama during his 2014 North Dakota visit.
Hosting a presidential visit involves months of planning, extensive Secret Service coordination, and careful consideration of airport infrastructure, security, and logistics. While Air Force One is one of the world’s most capable aircraft, even it has operational limits—and North Dakota’s airport network highlights just how much planning goes into every presidential journey.
