- Joined
- Jan 29, 2024
- Messages
- 32
- Reactions
- 64
- Age
- 24
- Location
- Raleigh, United States
- Site
- youtube.com
Finding a place where you can fly a drone is one thing.
Finding a place where you’ll actually enjoy flying is another.
Some locations are technically legal but stressful, crowded, or poorly suited for flying. Others might not look obvious on a map—but turn out to be excellent drone spots used by pilots all the time.
So how do you find the best places to fly your drone?
That approach misses a big piece of the puzzle.
A location can be:
For example:
The best flying spots are often the ones that are known and used by other pilots, not just theoretically allowed.

When pilots repeatedly fly in the same locations, it usually means:
It combines:
This makes it easier to:
Instead of starting from scratch, you’re learning from pilots who have already been there.
Check it out here:
Finding a place where you’ll actually enjoy flying is another.
Some locations are technically legal but stressful, crowded, or poorly suited for flying. Others might not look obvious on a map—but turn out to be excellent drone spots used by pilots all the time.
So how do you find the best places to fly your drone?
What makes a “good” drone flying spot?
The best drone spots usually share a few traits:- Clear takeoff and landing areas
- Minimal foot traffic or bystanders
- Open sightlines and safe surroundings
- Interesting scenery or landmarks
- Low risk of enforcement issues
Why legality alone isn’t enough
Many pilots rely solely on airspace maps or regulations to find places to fly.That approach misses a big piece of the puzzle.
A location can be:
- legal in the air
- allowed on paper
- but still a terrible place to fly
For example:
- parks with heavy foot traffic
- areas with conflicting or unclear enforcement
- locations where pilots are frequently asked to leave
The best flying spots are often the ones that are known and used by other pilots, not just theoretically allowed.
Look for places pilots actually fly
One of the most reliable ways to find good drone spots is to see where pilots already fly without issues.
When pilots repeatedly fly in the same locations, it usually means:
- the area is workable in practice
- takeoff and landing are tolerated or allowed
- enforcement is minimal or predictable
- the spot is suited to drone operations
How I solved this problem:
I got tired of guessing which places might be a good idea to fly. Instead I built DroneMap to surface popular drone locations based on real pilot activity, not guesses.It combines:
- pilot reviews and reports
- repeat activity at locations
- local context and rules around flying conditions
This makes it easier to:
- discover proven flying spots
- avoid locations that look good but don’t work
- explore new areas with more confidence
Instead of starting from scratch, you’re learning from pilots who have already been there.
Check it out here:
DroneMap - The Community Drone Map
DroneMap is a community-driven map of where you can fly. See airspace, ground rules, pilot activity, and user reviews of specific locations. Contribute reports and earn reputation.
dronemap.com