So, you have decided to visit Yellowstone National Park?! Great idea! So, first things first, we have to make a decision on how to get you there.
That’s where this post comes in. We are going to tell you about all of the airports near Yellowstone National Park to help you make the most informed decision for you and your family!
While a lot of people load up the car and head out on a road trip, some people might prefer (or need) to fly into the area instead.
We will cover the closest airport to Yellowstone National Park, the best International airport for Yellowstone National Park, regional airports, gate entry based upon the airport you choose, and other travel tips to make planning your trip to Yellowstone National Park as easy as possible.
Yellowstone National Park is a huge National Park, covering over 2 million acres. This means that you are going to need a car to get around the park, so keep that in mind when choosing your airport as well.
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Planning Your Trip to Yellowstone National Park
A trip to Yellowstone National Park is often a once-in-a-lifetime trip. Yellowstone National Park is home to the highest concentration of hydrothermal features in the world.
Of course, the first step to planning your visit Yellowstone National Park is to determine the best time to visit Yellowstone.
The next step in your planning is choosing transportation.
Your third focus will be where to stay in or around Yellowstone National Park.
Here are a few things to think about when planning your Yellowstone itinerary:
- Which season are you vacationing in? This affects what airport, roads, and accommodations are open.
- Are you planning to see other areas near Yellowstone National Park like Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole, or the Rocky Mountains?
- Will you be flying in from the United States or internationally?
- What is your budget for the trip?
Airports Near Yellowstone National Park
While planning our trip to Yellowstone, we quickly learned that flying into the small airports that are close to Yellowstone National Park is not the most cost-efficient option.
The airports we will cover in this post are:
- (West) Yellowstone Airport, West Yellowstone, Montana (WYS)
- Cody/Yellowstone Regional Airports, Cody, Montana (COD)
- Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, Belgrade, Montana (BZN)
- Bert Mooney Airport, Butte, Montana (BTM)
- Logan International, Billings, Montana (BIL)
- Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson Hole, Wyoming (JAC)
- Idaho Falls Regional Airport, Idaho Falls, Idaho (IDA)
- Salt Lake City International Airport, Salt Lake City, Utah (SLC)
- Denver International Airport, Denver, Colorado (DEN)
Yellowstone Airport, West Yellowstone, Montana (WYS)-West Yellowstone Entrance
The West Yellowstone Airport is located in West Yellowstone, MT, and is the closest airport to Yellowstone National Park.
The town of West Yellowstone is located right at the west entrance to Yellowstone National Park, making flying into the West Yellowstone airport convenient for sure! This close proximity is why many choose to stay in West Yellowstone during their time visiting Yellowstone National Park.
This little town of West Yellowstone reminded me a lot of Estes Park. West Yellowstone has great restaurants, souvenir shops, lots of accommodation choices, and other amenities right by the west entrance to Yellowstone National Park.
The bad thing about flying into West Yellowstone is the lack of carriers. Only one route is available to access this airport.
Commercial flights are only provided to West Yellowstone by Delta Air Lines with a connection through Salt Lake City, Utah. So, you have to book a connection in Salt Lake coming and going from West Yellowstone in order to utilize the closest airport to Yellowstone.
Another downfall with using the West Yellowstone airport is that it only operates flights from late May until the end of September.
Location
- About 1 mile north of the west entrance of Yellowstone National Park
Pros of Using Yellowstone Airport
- The airport is located the closest to Yellowstone National Park
- Staying in West Yellowstone or using the west entrance is convenient
Cons of Using Yellowstone Airport
- Commercial flights to West Yellowstone are only offered through Delta Air Lines
- Must book a connection to/from Salt Lake City
- Only operates in the spring and summer
Best For
- People who are visiting on a limited time frame
Yellowstone Regional Airport, Cody, Wyoming (COD)-East Entrance or Northeast Entrance
Yellowstone Regional Airport is located in Cody, MT puts visitors within a 2-hour drive to Yellowstone National Park.
Visitors can access the east entrance in 1 hour and 30 minutes from Cody, and the Northeast Entrance in just under 2 hours. Many people love taking Beartooth Highway to the Northeast Entrance. It is know as one of the most beautiful drives in America.
Check the connecting flights to this airport to see if it is economical to add this connection to your trip or not before booking. There are usually connecting flights from Los Angeles and New York.
While the town of Cody has a lot to offer, don’t make this your home base when visiting the park as it is a long drive to access the park attractions.
- About 53 miles from the park
Location
Pros of Using Yellowstone Regional
- Less than a 2 hour of drive time from the airport to Yellowstone east entrance or northeast entrance
- Denver connections fly here all year
Cons of Using Yellowstone Regional
- Few flight options are available-must connect through Denver or Salt Lake City
- Salt Lake City connections only fly here in the summer
- Close to the east entrance which closes in heavy snow
Best For
- Landing close to the park if connecting flights here are cheaper
Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, Belgrade, Montana (BZN)-West Entrance or North Entrance
Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport is in Belgrade, MT. Landing at Bozeman, MT will put you about 2 hours away from the park’s north entrance and the west entrance.
Keep in mind that the north gate is the only entrance that remains open all year but it is close to Old Faithful! If you are planning to visit in the winter, then Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport will probably be your airport of choice.
Serving Bozeman, MT, most of Southwest Montana, and Yellowstone National Park, the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport is the busiest airport in the state. You can easily get here from Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, and other major cities.
The benefit of this is you will more flight options as more airlines service this airport. Of course, that often means cheaper prices than the regional airports also.
Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport also services Glacier National Park as it is about 5 miles away.
The north gate puts you close to Mammoth Village and Mammoth Hot Springs. The west entrance will put you in between Old Faithful and the Norris Geyser Basin.
Location
- 90 miles from the west and north entrances (close to Old Faithful and Mammoth)
Pros of Using Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport
- The busiest airport in Montana, so many airlines service this location (Delta, United, Alaska Air, Frontier, Allegiant, and Jet Blu in the summer)
- Within 2 hours drive time of Yellowstone
- Closest to the north entrance, which remains open in the winter
- Finding a rental car or other transportation is generally easy
Cons of Using Bozeman, MT Airport
- Not all airlines offer daily service so plan accordingly
Best For
- Those traveling in the winter season
- Those planning to visit Glacier National Park in addition to Yellowstone
Bert Mooney Airport, Butte, Montana (BTM)-West or North Entrance
Bert Mooney is another small airport on our list. Located in Butte, MT, Bert Mooney Airport will have you about 2 hours and 30 minutes away from the west or north entrance of the park.
The Bert Mooney Airport is open all year and is serviced by SkyWest airlines, a connecting airline of Delta Airlines. Like Yellowstone Airport, these daily flights require a connection in Salt Lake City.
There are rental car agencies on-site to assist in your ground transportation needs.
Location
- 150 miles north of Yellowstone
Pros of Using Bert Mooney
- Small airport that is easy to navigate
- 2.5 hours from Yellowstone
Cons of Using Bert Mooney
- Must connect via Salt Lake City
- Only one airline carrier services the airport
Best For
- People who can get a good price connecting from Salt Lake City
Logan International, Billings, Montana (BIL)-Northeast Entrance
Logan International is located in Billings, MT, and is the second-largest airport in the state.
The northeast entrance is about 130 miles from the airport, so getting to Yellowstone National Park from Logan International will take you about 1 hour and 30 minutes of drive time.
This drive through Montana and Wyoming on Highway 212 (Beartooth Highway) is highly recommended. Beartooth Highway is a scenic drive into Yellowstone National Park!
It is important to note that this airport is well served with approximately 30 commercial passenger flights per day.
Logan is serviced by several airline companies including Alaska, Allegiant, American, Cape, Delta, Frontier, and United.
Location
- 130 miles from the northeast gate park entrance
Pros of Using Bert Mooney
- Well served by daily flights from multiple airlines
- 1.5 hours of drive time to the park
Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson Hole, Wyoming (JAC)-South Entrance
You will find Jackson Hole Airport in Jackson Hole Wyoming, just over one hour from the south entrance of Yellowstone.
Jackson Hole Airport is the only airport located inside of a National Park, Grand Teton National Park to be exact.
That means Jackson Hole Airport is a great option if you are visiting Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park on the same visit.
Many people choose to make the town of Jackson, WY their home base while visiting here, making the Jackson Hole Airport even more convenient.
The drive through the Tetons into the South park entrance of Yellowstone National Park is beautiful, thus making the Jackson Hole Airport a very popular airport and making the town of Jackson, WY a very popular place to stay.
Of course, all of that popularity comes at a price. Prices are generally higher at Jackson Hole as are rental cars.
The airport is serviced by American, United, and Delta Airlines. All airline companies offer direct flight options from several major cities including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and New York.
Location
- 56 miles south of Yellowstone, just over a one hour drive
Pros of Using Jackson Hole Airport
- Beautiful location inside of Grand Teton National Park
- Short distance to drive to the south entrance of Yellowstone National Park (just over one hour)
- Easy to see two National Parks
- Service provided by several carriers
Cons of Using Jackson Hole Airport
- Can be expensive due to the popularity
- Some flights are only offered seasonally
Best For
- Travelers wanting to visit both Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park who are short on time and willing to spend the money
Idaho Falls Regional Airport, Idaho Falls, Idaho (IDA)-South or West Gates
Idaho Falls Regional Airport is located about 1 hour and 30 minutes from Yellowstone’s west entrance.
This regional airport will get you quite close to the west gate and is often cheaper than flying into West Yellowstone.
Several companies service this regional airport, including, Delta, United, and Allegiant. They also make connections through several major cities including Denver, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, and more.
Yellowstone’s west gate is accessible vis highway U.S. 20. You can easily rent a car or take the Jackson Hole Express Shuttle into Jackson, WY if you want to spend a day or two there.
If choosing to take the shuttle into Jackson, you can then get a rental car in Jackson and drive north on highway U.S. 191/89 and drive through the Grand Tetons into Yellowstone’s south entrance. As we mentioned before, both parks are amazing.
Location
- 147 miles from the south entrance
- 110 miles to the west entrance
Pros of Using Idaho Falls Regional Airport
- Services provided by several airline companies
- Both parks (Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park) are easily accessible
- Rental cars are usually readily available
- Distance to the parks is under 2 hours
- Shuttle into Jackson, WY and stay a day or two there
Cons of Using Idaho Falls
- Can be more expensive than the larger airports
- The west and south gates are not open year-round
Best For
- Travelers that want to get close to both parks and not spend a ton of money
Salt Lake City International Airport, Salt Lake City, Utah (SLC)-South or West Entrances
This international airport is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, just over 300 miles from the nearest entrance to Yellowstone.
While that sounds like a lot of miles to travel, it really isn’t too bad. You can reach the west gate from Salt Lake City in about 4.5 hours.
Air travel passengers can take direct flights into Salt Lake City from domestic and international cities. Flights land here from almost any medium to large size domestic airport, several European cities, Mexico, and Canada.
This international airport is very popular for people to want to see numerous parks during their time in the area. Not only can you easily visit Yellowstone, Grand Teton National Park, Arches, and Zion National Parks.
The amount of air traffic into Salt Lake City International Airport means cheaper prices on flights and rental cars.
You can also transfer flights to one of the smaller, closer airports easily from Salt Lake City International Airport
Location
- 323 miles to the west gate (4.5 hours via highway I-15 N, US 20 E)
- 351 miles to the south gate (just over 6 hours via highway I-15N)
Pros of Using Salt Lake City Airport
- Services provided by several airline companies
- Good for international travelers
- Both parks (Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park) are easily accessible
- Rental cars are usually readily available
- Cheaper prices on flights and cars
- Connections to the smaller airports are available
Cons of Using Salt Lake City Airport
- Driving distance to the park from Salt Lake City is further than other airports
- The west and south gates are not open year-round
Best For
- International travelers that can get a good price
- Travelers who would like to go to multiple National Parks
Denver International Airport, Denver, Colorado (DEN)-South or East Entrance
I know you might be wondering why we included Denver International Airport on this list since it is over 500 miles to the nearest entrance to Yellowstone National Park.
I chose to add Denver International Airport as it is one of the biggest major airports that gets you within a day’s drive within Yellowstone. (Don’t forget to download some great songs about travel to listen to while driving!)
Here, you can spend a few days in the Denver area and you can also include a visit to Rocky Mountain National Park if you choose to do so.
You could easily start in Denver and then fly home out of one of the closer airports if you chose to do so, just check prices and see what works best for you.
Location
- 515 miles to the south entrance of Yellowstone National Park (just over 8 hours via highway US-287 N)
- 560 miles to the east entrance Yellowstone National Park (8.5 hours via Highway I-25 N, US 20-W)
Pros of Using Denver Airport
- Services provided by several airline companies including many domestic budget carriers
- More flight choices
- Rental cars are usually readily available
- Can include the Denver area and Rocky Mountain National Park into your itinerary
- Cheaper flights and cars
- You can connect to one of the smaller airports closer to the park if you want
Cons of Using Denver Airport
- Drive time to Yellowstone National Park is over 8 hours
Best For
- Those wanting cheaper flight options with more flexibility and time in their schedule
Please visit our other planning guides to help you plan your trip to this amazing National Park:
Best Time to Visit Yellowstone National Park
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Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight:
We love using CheapOAir, Kayak, and Kiwi to search for the best flight prices. We love using these search engines because they search the web for airlines worldwide to ensure you get the best deal! In addition to flights, you can also find great hotel prices on Kayak and Kiwi.
Book Your Vacation Package:
If you want to book an entire vacation package, we suggest using Expedia. We love how easy Expedia is to use, and we always find good deals on entire vacation packages on their site.
Another great site for vacation packages is BookVIP. BookVIP offers super cheap vacation packages to incredible destinations. You are sure to save money using their site!
For full guided vacations, including hotels, some meals, transportation, and guides, then we book with Trafalgar. Trafalgar is a trusted tour company that will meet all your needs while ensuring a great experience.
Trip.com allows you to book flights, hotels, train tickets, rental cars, airport transfers, tours, and more all on one site. Owned by the parent company that also owns Skyscanner, this is a trusted resource for travel booking and a great “one-stop shop.”
Book Your Accommodations:
We always begin our search by checking out honest reviews on TripAdvisor hotels. This allows us to narrow our search for specific properties once we are ready to book. Of course, you can also book directly on the TripAdvisor site!
There are several accommodation sites that we like to use. One of our favorites is Booking.com because it offers a wide variety of hotels and guesthouses at a good price.
Another “go-to” hotel booking site for us is Hotels.com. We love their loyalty program that allows you to earn free nights, and their “secret prices” for members are fabulous deals!
HotelsCombined is another cool site. They allow you to compare all the top travel sites with one search to ensure you find the best deal out there. Kayak works in this way as well.
If you want a luxurious all-inclusive vacation, consider checking out the Sandals/Beaches properties. Sandals properties are for couples only and Beaches are for families. We have visited Sandals in the past and absolutely love the attention to detail and the service they provide.
Tour Companies We Trust:
We love taking guided tours when visiting new places. Our go-to tour companies are Viator.com and Get Your Guide. Both of these companies have been in business for years and provide excellent customer service. You can trust booking tours from their sites for sure!
For a guided city tour, check out City Sightseeing and BigBus Tours. These bus tours are so much fun and easy to hop on and hop off at top attractions in cities around the world.
CityPass is a great way to save money when visiting large cities. CityPass allows you to get free admission to major attractions once you buy their pass. The savings add up quickly with this pass, often saving 50% with combined admissions.
Another great pass to save money in larger cities is the Sightseeing Pass. This pass allows you to save valuable time and money by combining admissions to major attractions. They also have a handy app that keeps everything you need at your fingertips.
Looking to Save Time and Money?
Check out our resource page for all of our favorite vendors. These companies help us to save time and money on our travels!
About The Author
Michelle Snell is a travel writer, history buff, wine lover, and enthusiast of different cultures. Michelle enjoys bringing places to life through her informative writing style on her blogs, That Texas Couple and Totally Texas Travel. Her practical tips and suggestions help make travel dreams a reality while immersing her readers in the history, culture, and food of a region. She is happiest sipping wine in Italy or chilling on a beach with her husband, Marty.
Ildiko
Sunday 26th of September 2021
Very useful informantion. Great post. Pinned. I would love to visit Yellowstone some day.
thattexascouple
Monday 27th of September 2021
Thank you so much! I hope you get to go!
Lasma
Saturday 25th of September 2021
Great list, thank you for sharing! :) Will have to pin it down for future!
Missy
Sunday 29th of August 2021
This is such an invaluable post! Really important factors to consider when planning a trip to Yellowstone. Great information.
thattexascouple
Sunday 29th of August 2021
Thank you so much! I am so glad that you found it useful!!