SNA-Spot1
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January 17, 2022John Wayne Orange County Airport – Spotting Guide
- last modified on March 20, 2025
John Wayne/Orange County airport was first opened in November 1941. Today you can see John Wayne is still a busy airport with an average of 850 movements a day and over 10 Mio pax in 2019. You can expect to see anything ranging from GA all the way up to 757-200 and A300 sized aircraft at one of the two runways SNA provide. The airport is served by all major US carriers with flights throughout the states. Air Canada and West Jet are the only international airlines providing flights to and from Canada. UPS and FedEx are the only cargo carriers at SNA with only a few daily flights.
GA can commonly be seen working patterns at this airport, and airliners are known to do short field takeoffs which makes for quite the show. You can also see museum aircraft flying around, such as the C-47 they have on hand.
Written by Jake M. Youngs, Grant Gladych, Tylor Nelson and Alex Crail. Last Update: March 2025 – new Spot 4 added
| Rating | |
| Movements |  |
| Airline Variety |  |
| Photo Locations | |
| Weather |  |
| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 02L/20R | 1.737m (5700 ft) Grooved Asphalt |
| 02R/20L | 880m (2886 ft) Grooved Asphalt |
| Terminals | |
| Terminal A | Air Canada, American, Delta, Sun Country, Westjet |
| Terminal B | Alaska Airlines, United Airlines |
| Terminal C | Allegiant Air, Frontier, Southwest, Spirit |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | At spot 4 a six foot ladder or truck bed equivilant. |
| Car/Public Transport | Cars are not required to get to any of the spotting locations, however they are preferred. There are multiple bus stops and Uber pickup zones scattered around the airport. |
| Drinks/Food | There are a couple or restaurants scattered around in various spots around the airport. You can also find vending machines in or near most spotting locations. |
| Hotels | Various locations around the airport. Hotels can typically be found within 2 miles of each spotting location. |
| Season | The weather tends to stay fair in Orange county. Heat haze doesnt become much of an issue unless your are photographing something at the opposite end of the airport. |
| Security | No notable security issues. |
| Runway Usage | |
| General Info | 20L/R are in use about 90% of the time. 02L/R movements are rare and only occur when the Santa Ana winds come. |
| 02L/20R | The longer runway and typically used for airliner/jet traffic, as well as anything based on the north side of the field. |
| 02R/20L | Is used for GA aircraft and some exec jets. You can see GA aircraft working the pattern using this runway pretty much all day, any given day of the week. |
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Spot #1 – Terminal Parking garage |
|---|---|
| WHERE | Get to the terminal complex and drive to the A1 parking garage, next to Terminal A. Get to the northeast corner of the top level next to the fence. Of course you can easily walk from terminal to this place. |
| WHAT | Runways 20L/R are both visible from this spot, along with most of the north ramp, and some of the gates Delta uses. |
| TIME | This spot works sunrise to mid afternoon. |
| MISC. | Be aware you are shooting through the mesh at this spot so telephoto shots are preferred. Vending machines and restrooms are available inside the airport terminals. Parking fees |
| FOCAL LENGTH | A320/737 arrival = 200-300mm 757 taxiway = 200mm |
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Spot #2 – Executive park garage |
|---|---|
| WHERE | The spot is a bit off the airport limits, north of the interstate 405 within an office complex with a parking garage where you can shot from. Access to the complex is from Main St which can be reached from the terminal by driving northwards on MacArthur Blvd and turning left after crossing the I405. The closest nearby address is 32 Executive Park, Irvine, CA 92614 |
| WHAT | Aircraft on final for 20L/R |
| TIME | This spot works from sunrise to mid-afternoon. |
| MISC. | It’s safe to assume restrooms and vending machines are inside nearby office buildings, but access has never been gained. Some fast-food chains can be found at Main St and Mac Arthur Blvd. Be aware that security has kicked spotters out of this spot after spending too much time there. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 737/A320=100mm |
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Spot #3 – Airport Loop Drive |
|---|---|
| WHERE | There is a nice place at a dead-end road next to a crash gate where you can watch the traffic landing on runway 20L/R. To get there you have to get to the west side of the airport. From the terminal drive northwards on MacArthur Rd and turn left into Main Rd after passing the I405. Take the next left into Red Hill Ave to pass the I405 again. Turn left at the next junction into Airport Loop Dr and drive till the end. Park your car on the side of the road without blocking the crash gate and start spotting. Closest nearby address is 3198-A2, Airport Loop Dr, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 |
| WHAT | Anything on short final to Runways 20L/R |
| TIME | Best used in the late afternoons. |
| MISC. | Nothing nearby. No ladder needed if you stand back from the fence. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | A321 = 100mm; 737 = 120mm; PC-12 = 260mm |
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Spot #4 – Business Complex – Runway movements, taxiway, line-up |
|---|---|
| WHERE | Nice location off the end of the runway in a business complex. The location is similar to spot #5 but it serves as 20R departures and 2L arrivals. Just take Airway Ave S, and then turn in when GPS tells you to. Proceed to the back of the building, along the fence line and you can take photos there. Closest nearby address is 2960 Airway Ave b101, Costa Mesa, CA 92626.
The fence is fairly tall, though not high compared to other fences around the airport. Definitely need a truck bed or ladder for ground & terminal shots, though most jets will be high enough up by the time they pass you if you don’t have access to a ladder or similar sort. |
| WHAT | Runway 20R action (departures & arrivals), runway 2L action (arrivals and departures), as well as taxiway(s) Bravo and Delta. 2L movements are rare and only occur when the Santa Ana winds come. |
| TIME | Best used in the late afternoons. In summer months it gets too hazy for terminal photos and other long range shots, but the haze is still fine for belly shots upward. |
| MISC. | No issues with security or police, just keep a low profile and be respectful to the employees who work there. It is private property and they could easily ask you to leave. There are also no food or restrooms close as it is an office building. Closest restrooms are in the Lyon Air Museum (~1 mile) |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 70-400 depending on what you are shooting. |
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Spot #5 – Clinton Rd – 02L arrivals |
|---|---|
| WHERE | The spot is located at the turning around at the dead end of Clinton Rd, next to runway 02L threshold. Access is via Red Hill Ave. Once at the end, park by the road side and position yourself around this area. |
| WHAT | Runway 02L arrivals only (rare) |
| TIME | Best used in the late afternoons. |
| MISC. | Nothing nearby. Some fast food restaurants and hotels are at the next bigger junction after the bridge crossing HWY73. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | Ramp:20-70mm Runway 737/A320 = 100mm |
 |
Spot #6 – Red Hill Ave Bridge – 20 Movements |
|---|---|
| WHERE | This is an amazing location standing on the sidewalk on the northeastern side of the Red Hill Ave Bridge. To get there from the airport you can either take the shuttle that services to Main St Parking: John Wayne Airport provides a shuttle that services to/from the Main St Parking lot (17971 Sky Park Cir, Irvine, CA 92614) that you can take after exiting the terminal. From there it’s about a quarter of a mile walk to this location.
Or you can drive north on MacArthur and cross the I405 where you can make a left on Main St. Follow Main St until you approach Executive Circle. Make another left at the stoplight, then find desired parking close to the bridge and then walk out of the complex to the sidewalk and up the bridge. |
| WHAT | Runway 20L/R arrivals and departures holding short 20L/R. Plus you can also see T1 and T2 gate pushbacks and ground ops, but these are very far away and mostly hazy. |
| TIME | Best used in the late afternoons till sunset. |
| MISC. | Keep a low profile along the busy road here to avoid issues and police visits. Nothing around here. Heat haze is a huge issue here. That’s why the spot is only useable just before sunset in summer, in winter haze is fine mostly. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 150-500mm |
Spot #4 Ike Jones Road/Lyon Air Museum is unusable until August of 2027. The nearby FBO Clay Lacy is constructing a new apron and area and as a result all of the private jets have been relocated directly in front of the viewing spot.
Thanks for the update, I left a notice.
-Julian
FYI – May 4th, 2022 Alaska Airlines 737 (1st flight NEW livery Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge) 737 will be arriving SNA tail # N538AS @1100. May the 4th (force) be with you!
Sna plane spotting
I visited spot 2 earlier this month. From the corner nearest the airport it you need about 100mm on a full-frame and 70 on a crop sensor for a 737.
Fyi, no 757-300 fly there. Biggest is 757-200 and the a300
Fixed it, thx.
-Julian
I wish we would get bigger aircraft. The biggest is the A300 by fedex, and UPS sends it only for about 1 to 2 weeks in December before Christmas. A few C-17 have come in before in the past also. But thats it.
The runway is only like 5,700 feet long so I think they can barely accommodate a 757-200 let alone a 767-300. Also all the space around the airport is full of office buildings so expansion is not an choice.
They use to get a lot of the 757-200 back in the day. They can handle that plane perfectly fine at that airport. Never had a problem. Delta and ups fly them in every day.