Payette Lake · Resort
Shore Lodge
A lakefront lodge with a spa, marina and fine dining.
Official details for Shore LodgeIdaho · Couples · Two nights
McCall & Payette Lake
A lake town at the edge of the backcountry.
McCall sits on the shore of Payette Lake in Idaho’s central mountains, and to pilots it is the jumping-off point for the Frank Church backcountry and its legendary airstrips. Land at McCall Municipal, stay at Shore Lodge on the water, bike the old-growth pines of Ponderosa State Park, paddle the lake, and in winter see the ice sculptures of the McCall Winter Carnival.
Mountain lakeBackcountryOutdoors
YOUR ROUTEKMYR to KMYL
STRAIGHT-LINE DISTANCE~1835 NM
ILLUSTRATIVE FLIGHT TIME~12 hr 29 min
WEEKEND STYLETwo nights · Walk, bike or courtesy car
Time illustration: direct distance at 150 KTAS plus 15 minutes for departure and arrival, matching the discovery page. Use ForeFlight for your actual flight plan.
01 / Aviation & getting around
A mountain airport in town.
KMYL, McCall Municipal, is a non-towered city airport at 5,024 feet with a 6,101-foot runway, about five minutes from downtown and the lake.
The FBO
McCall Aviation
208-634-7137McCall Municipal Airport, McCall, ID
Another FBO: Dew Aircraft (208-634-4088). The U.S. Forest Service smokejumpers practice parachute jumps near the airport. Landing and parking fees are collected by a third party; see mccallairport.com. The parallel taxiway is closed December to April. No live fuel price is shown.
Mountain flying: high density altitude on summer afternoons, mountain wave and strong winds over the ridges, afternoon thunderstorms from July to September, wildfire smoke in late summer, and winter snow and icing. Consider a mountain-flying course before you go. About 1840 nm from Myrtle Beach: two long days each way with several fuel stops. Plan a week, or overnight on the way out and back.
02 / Where to stay
Lakeside lodging.
Rates and availability need travel dates. Book early for summer and the Winter Carnival.
Downtown · Boutique hotel
Hotel McCall
A small hotel steps from the lake and downtown.
Official details for Hotel McCallLocal guide
More places to stay
Cabins and lake rentals.
Visit McCall for More places to stay03 / Where to eat
Lodge dinners and local beer.
Reserve weekend dinners.
Saturday dinner · Fine dining
Shore Lodge restaurants
Steaks and lake views at the lodge.
Official details for Shore Lodge restaurantsFriday dinner · Brewpub
McCall Brewing Company
Local ales and pub food downtown.
Official details for McCall Brewing CompanyLocal guide
More restaurants
Restaurants in McCall.
Visit McCall for More restaurants04 / Things to do
Lake, forest and backcountry.
Backcountry strips need training and current local knowledge.
05 / What’s happening
Sometimes the season is the reason to fly.
This prototype links to the local visitor site. It does not yet match events to your travel dates.
Late January–early February
McCall Winter Carnival
Ice sculptures, a parade and fireworks.
Visit McCall for McCall Winter CarnivalJune–September
Lake and backcountry season
The best flying and paddling weather.
Visit McCall for Lake and backcountry seasonDecember–April
Ski season
Brundage Mountain.
Brundage for Ski seasonConcerts, festivals & local happenings
Check the local calendar when choosing a weekend, and confirm dates and tickets with the organizer.
06 / Suggested itinerary
Friday in. Sunday home.
A sample McCall weekend. This is a two-day flight each way; plan a week. No bookings or availability confirmed.
Day trip version
Just for the day
- Arrive
Land at KMYL mid-morning.
- Midday
Lunch in town.
- Afternoon
A short walk, then back to the airport.
DAY 1
Arrive
- Arrival
Land at KMYL, subject to weather, density altitude and your actual flight plan.
- Afternoon
Walk downtown and the lakeshore.
- Evening
Dinner at McCall Brewing.
DAY 2
Explore
- Morning
Bike Ponderosa State Park.
- Afternoon
Paddle Payette Lake.
- Evening
Dinner at Shore Lodge.
DAY 3
Morning & home
- Morning
Coffee by the lake.
- Before leaving
Compute takeoff performance and allow time at the FBO.
- Fly home
Mountain afternoons bring wind, turbulence and storms; leave early.
Longer stay · Add a day
With an extra day
- Morning
The main sight.
- Afternoon
Explore.
- Evening
Dinner in town.
07 / Good to know
Keep the weekend easy to change.
These details make the difference between an appealing list and a usable getaway.
Book in this order
Lodging first.
Very long flight
About 1,840 nm from Myrtle Beach: two long days each way.
Backcountry
Get training before flying the Idaho strips.
Best seasons
June to September, and Winter Carnival.
Reviewed · Destination 255
Reviewed November 6, 2026.
Picks and links reviewed by WingAway Weekends. Hours, prices, menus and availability change often, so confirm directly with each place before booking. Spotted something out of date, or have a favorite we missed? Email us at [email protected].
WingAway Weekends helps you discover the destination. Use ForeFlight and current official aviation information for route, performance, weather, NOTAMs and preflight decisions. Flight planning and PIC responsibility stay with the pilot.