It appears President Donald Trump is set to make his first trip of the season to his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, perhaps arriving as early as Friday, Oct. 16.
And it also appears Trumpcould be in town for the season-opening party for Mar-a-Lago's Beach Club on Saturday, Oct. 17.
The Federal Aviation Administration plans to issue presidential-level "VIP" temporary flight restrictions for the airspace over Mar-a-Lago from Oct. 16-18, according to Oct. 12 notices from the FAA and the Boca Raton Airport Authority.
There's no official word yet about when South Ocean Boulevard will be closed for several blocks to through-traffic near Mar-a-Lago, as it typically is when the president visits Palm Beach. The road closure effectively divides the town
in two, forcing drivers to detour and on off the island.
According to Mar-a-Lago's website, the Beach Club's season-opening party will take place Oct. 17. The Beach Club fronts the ocean opposite the main club, which remains closed for the off-season.
"Celebrate the start of another unforgettable season at the Beach Club Grand Opening Party!" reads the listing on Mar-a-Lago's "Upcoming Events" page. There will be food, a DJ and cocktails, the club said.
A representative for Mar-a-Lago did not immediately return an emailed request for comment.
A U.S. Secret Service spokesperson declined to comment on presidential travel plans.
Trump is set to make an Oct. 16 visit to Dalton, Georgia, for a "midterm rally," USA Today reported. It appears he plans to head to Hebron, Kentucky, on Oct. 17, according to a "VIP Movement Notification" posted Oct. 12 by the FAA's Safety Team.
Those two stops are among the many Trump has slotted onto his schedule to support Republican candidates in the upcoming midterm elections.
Trump most recently visited Mar-a-Lago from May 1-2. He traditionally does not come to Palm Beach during Mar-a-Lago's off-season, which runs roughly from Mother's Day through the end of October.
The VIP-level temporary flight restrictions issued by the FAA for presidential travel include a set of rules for aviators to follow. Pilots who don't follow those rules could be penalized or even intercepted by F-16 fighter jets.
The "VIP movement" flight restrictions issued for Trump's visits to Palm Beach include two rings of protection.
The inner ring has a 10-nautical-mile radius, where most flights are banned with the exception of approved law enforcement and air ambulance or other emergency flights, as well as regularly scheduled cargo and commercial passenger jets, according to FAA advisories. All emergency operations have to coordinate with air traffic control before take-off.
More movement is allowed with the 30-nautical-mile radius area, or outer ring, of the temporary flight restrictions. Aircraft can pass through but "not loiter," FAA advisories say. All aircraft that do pass through the outer ring must have a specific flight plan filed with air traffic control, which will issue the plane a code. The pilot has to stay in contact with air traffic control throughout their time passing through the restricted area, the FAA says.
The Boca Raton Airport is within the 30-nautical-mile outer ring of the expected upcoming temporary flight restrictions, the airport authority said in its notice.
The authority also reminded tenants that such restrictions can change at the last minute, and pilots and crews should check flight safety notices frequently.
The flight restrictions when Trump visits his home are more broad and tightly controlled than the around-the-clock restrictions put in place by the FAA on Oct. 20, 2025. Those restrictions include 1 nautical mile of airspace around Mar-a-Lago and prevent nearly all planes from flying over the club, whether or not Trump is home.
An FAA proposal would create special air traffic rules over Mar-a-Lago that would effectively put those temporary restrictions into place indefinitely. The restrictions are currently scheduled to expire Oct. 20 of this year.
(This story was updated to add new information.)
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
Kristina Webb is a reporter for Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Network-Florida. You can reach her at kwebb@pbdailynews.com. Subscribe today to support our journalism.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: FAA notices hint Trump set for first Palm Beach County visit of season
