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10 Best Airports Near Yellowstone For US + International Visitors

10 Best Airports Near Yellowstone For US + International Visitors

Planning a Yellowstone National Park itinerary can be overwhelming, we know from first hand experience. If you’re flying into the region from a distant part of the US or internationally, which of the many airports near Yellowstone are closest and which works best for your itinerary?

Yellowstone is an extraordinary landscape but at 2.2 million acres in size and with 5 entrances spanning all compass directions, choosing the best airport (or airports) is crucial to saving time and money. 

We will walk you through each of the 10 most convenient airports close to Yellowstone National Park, including:

  • Best and closest airports for each Yellowstone entrance
  • Flight frequency and typical flight paths to each airport
  • Driving distances and directions to the park
  • Things you can do on the way to or from Yellowstone

We want you to get off to the best possible start with your vacation to Yellowstone, so let’s get right into your most efficient and cost effective airport options!

Table of Contents show

What Is The Closest Airport To Yellowstone?

The closest regional airport to Yellowstone National Park is West Yellowstone Airport just 3 miles from the West Entrance to the park, and the closest major international airport to Yellowstone is Salt Lake City International around 325 miles to the South.

Both are worth serious consideration but there are several other excellent options which we will cover in this guide to the best airports to use near Yellowstone National Park.

Remember, Yellowstone is among the top bucket list US vacation spots, so you’ll need to plan your trip in advance to avoid disappointment.

Which Other Airports Near Yellowstone Are Worth Considering?

West Yellowstone Regional and Salt Lake City International are just two of the top 10 airport options near Yellowstone featured in our guide.

Let’s take a look at the complete list.

Best Airports For Domestic US Travel To Yellowstone

Here are the 8 best regional airports near Yellowstone National Park for domestic US travelers to fly non stop or for international travelers to consider connecting into:

  1. Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, Montana (BZN)
  2. Billings Logan International Airport, Montana (BIL)
  3. Cody / Yellowstone Regional Airport, Wyoming (COD)
  4. Rapid City Regional Airport, South Dakota (RAP)
  5. Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming (JAC)
  6. Idaho Falls Regional Airport, Idaho (IDA)
  7. Boise Airport, Idaho (BOI)
  8. West Yellowstone Airport, Montana (WYS)

Best Airports For International Travel To Yellowstone

Here are the 2 major international airports for travelers arriving into the US from abroad to consider (for a total of 10 airports near Yellowstone):

  1. Salt Lake City International Airport, Utah (SLC)
  2. Denver International Airport, Colorado (DEN)
Vibrant colors of Morning Glory Pool in Yellowstone National Park near south entrance and Jackson airport
Morning Glory Pool in Upper Geyser Basin

Your Yellowstone Travel Itinerary

Yellowstone and Grand Teton are the two most popular places to visit in Wyoming and everyone visits the parks in a different way. Some will fly in, spend a quick weekend in the park and fly out. Whereas others might be on a 2 week road trip encompassing the best of Wyoming and Utah.

No matter how you intend to spend your vacation in Yellowstone, there are two important parts of planning.

  • Firstly, you need to choose which airports you will fly into and out from.
  • Secondly, you need to choose the best hotels and know the best places to stay at Yellowstone.

The most logical airports near Yellowstone for you to fly into and out from on your trip will depend on your exact travel plans.

What do you want to see and do? How much time do you have?

Travel Plans

Here are some key aspects to consider:

  • Are you planning to visit Grand Teton National Park at the same time?
  • Maybe you’re planning a combined Wyoming and Utah road trip in one unforgettable vacation?
  • Are the Rocky Mountains of any interest to you?
  • Or are you simply flying in to see Yellowstone alone?
  • Do you have an unlimited budget or are you looking for cheap flights?
  • Which season are you visiting? Are regional airports operational?
  • Finally, are you flying into the US from abroad on a longer trip?

Remember – In order to be most efficient, arriving into one airport, hiring a car, traveling through Yellowstone and leaving via a different airport could be the best solution.

That way you don’t end up driving back on yourself. Trust us, Yellowstone is huge!

Please note that in Winter, the only road open into Yellowstone is North entrance (Mammoth Hot Springs, Gardiner, Bozeman MT).

If you visit Yellowstone in Winter, you should use Bozeman or Billings MT as your transport hub.

 

Resources For Planning Your Yellowstone Visit

Let’s take a quick look at the top resources we use and recommend for booking your vacation to Yellowstone.

Flights: We highly recommend using Skyscanner flights search engine to find best prices for flights between your origin airport and each of the 10 airports near Yellowstone in this list.

Always compare prices between airports to find best value for your itinerary.

Hire car: If you’re flying into one of these airports, you’ll need to pick up a hire car for your trip. Search for best value vehicles using Rental Cars search engine.

Hotels: You will need to book a number of hotels in and around Yellowstone. Booking accommodation inside the park can only be done through Yellowstone National Park Lodges.

If you want to stay in small towns around the park, we recommend using Booking.com to find the very best deals.

Road Trip: If you are planning to include Yellowstone as part of wider vacation, read our top tips on how to plan a road trip and our ultimate road trip packing checklist.

Are you visiting Yellowstone in Fall? Read our 10 essential things to know about Yellowstone in October for important information.

Snow and white northeast entrance to Yellowstone National Park perfect for flying into Cody or Bozeman or Denver
Snowy road on the way into Yellowstone from Cody

Things To Consider Before Booking Flights

Flying as close as possible to Yellowstone might not always be the most convenient or cost effective option for you depending on your budget and travel plans.

Do you want to see any other natural attractions in the US northwest in the same trip?

Our best advice here is to jump on Skyscanner and check prices for flying into each of the arrival airports near Yellowstone from your departure airport. Then look at prices back to your origin airport from all other airport options near Yellowstone.

Work out the best price vs convenience vs attractions ratio, taking into account any flight transfers and drive times.

Carefully consider the season you are visiting and which entrances to the park are open. For example, visiting Yellowstone in April means you can enter via West or North entrance only.

Before booking any flights, you can read our 15 top tips for finding cheap flights. It’s a long read but includes practical steps you can take to save money on flights.

Need help organizing your visit to Yellowstone? Our popular 60+ page Yellowstone Guidebook can help you with planning every aspect of your trip.

10 Best Airports Near Yellowstone National Park

Let’s take a deep dive into each of the 10 closest domestic and international airports close to Yellowstone National Park.

Important: Airports are listed in compass direction order from Yellowstone starting with north before moving around to east, south and west.

This helps plan your trip when looking at map.

Blue colored water geyser billowing steam on a clear day
Geyser billowing steam on a clear day in April

1. Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, Montana (BZN) – North or West Entrance

Bozeman is located in Southwest Montana and is ideally positioned to serve both Yellowstone’s North and West entrances in under 2 hours drive.

It also offers access to the East side of Montana’s Glacier National Park in around 5 hours drive time. Many visitors to the area wishing to combine Glacier with Yellowstone and Grand Teton will use Bozeman airport a transport hub.

As we mentioned above, North entrance via Gardiner is the only way into Yellowstone during Winter months, which makes Bozeman airport one of the more logistically important on this list.

Airports Flying Non Stop Into Bozeman Yellowstone

You can book direct non-stop flights from 21 US airports to Bozeman, MT:

Minneapolis, Chicago, Boston, New York JFK, New York La Guardia, Newark, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta, Nashville, Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle.

If arriving into the US internationally, you will need to book a flight to any of the 21 airports listed above and change flights to Bozeman.

However, unless you can find good value flights with a short layover we would suggest flying into either Denver or SLC and driving up from there instead.

Airlines Flying Into Bozeman Yellowstone

Airlines flying into Bozeman, MT include:

Alaska, Allegiant, American, Delta, jetBlue, Southwest, Sun Country and United.

For further information, here is the Bozeman airport website.

Drive Times And Distances To Yellowstone From Bozeman Airport

Bozeman airport to Yellowstone North Entrance (Mammoth, Gardiner): 

  • Distance: 88 miles
  • Time: 1h 33m
  • Route: I-90 E and US-89 S

Bozeman airport to Yellowstone West Entrance (West Yellowstone):

  • Distance: 91 miles
  • Time: 1h 50m
  • Route: US-191 S

Things To Do Between Bozeman And Yellowstone

There’s not a huge amount to do between Bozeman and Yellowstone, especially when compared to some of the other routes in this guide.

You won’t need to plan any stops before arriving or after leaving Yellowstone if Bozeman airport is your start or end point, except taking a good look around museums and restaurants in the city of Bozeman.

Who Should Fly Into Bozeman?

Bozeman is the best airport near Yellowstone for travelers planning to visit Glacier in addition to Yellowstone and Grand Teton.

Personally, we think Bozeman MT is the best airport close to Yellowstone for domestic US travelers to consider booking either one way or return flights.

Mammoth Hot Springs looking back over the village and distant hills in sunlight
Geysers covered in snow at Yellowstone National Park

2. Billings Logan International Airport, Montana (BIL) – Northeast Entrance

Billings is located in Southern Central Montana around 140 miles east of Bozeman. The city of Billings is Montana’s largest and it sits right alongside the Yellowstone River.

Billings Logan airport is very close to the downtown area of the city and it is the largest airport serving Yellowstone’s Northeast entrance at Cooke City.

Cooke City is the gateway to Lamar Valley, which is the premiere wildlife spotting area inside Yellowstone National Park.

Airports Flying Non Stop Into Billings

You can book direct non-stop flights from 9 US airports to Billings, MT:

Minneapolis, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Portland and Seattle.

If arriving into the US internationally, you will need to book a flight to any of the 9 airports listed above and change flights to Billings.

However, unless you can find good value flights with a short layover we would suggest flying into either Denver or SLC and driving up from there instead.

Airlines Flying Into Billings

Airlines flying into Billings, MT include:

Alaska, Allegiant, American, Cape Air, Delta and United.

For further information, here is the Billings airport website.

Drive Times And Distances To Yellowstone From Billings Airport

Billings airport to Yellowstone Northeast Entrance (Lamar Valley): 

  • Distance: 130 miles
  • Time: 2h 44m
  • Route: I-90 W and US-212 W

Things To Do Between Billings And Yellowstone

Outside of exploring the city of Billings, you will need to plan time for wildlife spotting in Lamar Valley on your way in or out of Yellowstone in this direction.

Wildlife is more active in this area early in the morning and later in the day around dawn and dusk. Highway 212 from Cooke City to I-90 is known as Beartooth Highway and it is extremely scenic.

Who Should Fly Into Billings?

Billings is the best airport near Yellowstone for travelers who want to plan a timed visit into Lamar Valley for the best chance of seeing active wildlife.

Bison jam on a road big herd of buffalo walking past cars in wyoming
Bison jam on the Yellowstone loop road

3. Cody / Yellowstone Regional Airport, Wyoming (COD) – East or Northeast Entrance

Cody WY is conveniently located under 2 hours from Yellowstone east entrance but very few flight options and times exist here which makes it a frustratingly difficult place to access.

It’s a shame because Cody is a lovely little town right on the doorstep to east entrance.

North Fork Highway, which is also known as Buffalo Bill scenic byway, begins in Cody and leads directly into Yellowstone East entrance as you approach the park.

This is a very scenic entrance filled with wildlife and it is not on the typical list of best place to see wildlife in Yellowstone. Think of it as a bit like a hidden gem for animal spotting.

You would enter at Yellowstone Lake and either turn left to West Thumb Geyser Basin or right to Canyon once inside the park.

Cody Alternate Entrance

Yellowstone East entrance closes in heavy snow and we experienced this first hand the first time we visited Yellowstone. We were forced to drive North and West to Cooke City, before entering Yellowstone via Northeast entrance.

The good news is you get the unique opportunity to drive WY-296 which is also known as Chief Joseph Highway and it is exceptionally picturesque.

Airports Flying Non Stop Into Cody Yellowstone

You can book direct non-stop flights from just 2 US airports to Cody, WY:

Denver year round and Salt Lake City in Summer only.

With just 2 airports serving Cody, this airport is only an option if flight times and prices work out for you with a change in either Denver or Salt Lake City.

Airlines Flying Into Cody Yellowstone

Airlines flying into Cody, WY include:

Delta and United.

Check Cody flight schedules here.

Drive Times And Distances To Yellowstone From Cody / Yellowstone Regional Airport

Cody airport to Yellowstone East Entrance (Yellowstone Lake): 

  • Distance: 70 miles
  • Time: 1h 30m
  • Route: US-14 W

Cody airport to Yellowstone Northeast Entrance (Tower Roosevelt, Hayden Valley):

  • Distance: 83 miles
  • Time: 1h 50m
  • Route: WY-296 scenic byway (scenic drive)

Things To Do Between Cody And Yellowstone

If you make it to Cody, be sure to plan a day for exploring the small town and its main museum the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. You could also check out Cody’s Old Trail Town.

Once on the way into Yellowstone from Cody, you will pass by a series of craggy mountains. This route opens up potential see a lot of wildlife depending on how busy it is, what season it is and the time of day you are driving.

Experienced hikers might want to consider hiking the strenuous trail to Avalanche Peak on the way to Yellowstone Lake.

Who Should Fly Into Cody?

Cody is the best airport near Yellowstone for travelers who want to get closer to the east side of the park and explore some of the Buffalo Bill or Wild West attractions in town.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Lower Falls from Artists Point
Lower Falls from Artists Point on South Rim Drive

4. Rapid City Regional Airport, South Dakota (RAP) – East Entrance

Rapid City is located on the outskirts of the stunning Black Hills in South Dakota. Many visitors to Yellowstone and Grand Teton will also visit South Dakota’s Black Hills region in the same trip.

If you are planning a road trip from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone, Rapid City is the perfect place to start or end this popular route.

We would suggest aiming for Yellowstone East entrance via Devils Tower, Cloud Peak Skyway and Cody.

Airports Flying Non Stop Into Rapid City

You can book direct non-stop flights from 8 US airports to Rapid City, SD:

Minneapolis, Chicago, Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, Salt Lake City, Phoenix and Las Vegas.

If arriving into the US internationally, you will need to book a flight to any of the 8 airports listed above and change flights to Rapid City.

However, unless you can find good value flights with a short layover or you want to explore South Dakota’s Black Hills, we would suggest flying into either Denver or SLC and driving up from there instead.

Airlines Flying Into Rapid City

Airlines flying into Rapid City, SD include:

Allegiant, American, Delta and United.

Check Rapid City airport schedule here.

Drive Times And Distances To Yellowstone From Rapid City

Rapid City airport to Yellowstone East Entrance (Yellowstone Lake): 

  • Distance: 475 miles
  • Time: 8h 10m
  • Route: I-90 W, US-16 W, WY-431 W, WY-120 W and US-14 W

Things To Do Between Rapid City And Yellowstone

If you decide to visit South Dakota’s Black Hills before or after Yellowstone, you are in for a treat with a range of fun things to do near Mount Rushmore.

The drive across Wyoming is easy going and super scenic. Don’t miss Spearfish Canyon, Devils Tower and driving Cloud Peak Skyway over the Bighorn Mountains.

Who Should Fly Into Rapid City?

Rapid City is the best airport near Yellowstone for travelers who want to visit the best of South Dakota’s Black Hills and the best of Wyoming in one amazing trip.

Powerful Waterfall Close Up with Telephoto Lens
Close up of Lower Falls in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

5. Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming (JAC) – South Entrance

Jackson Hole airport is the only airport inside a National Park in the United States. But it isn’t in Yellowstone, it’s in Grand Teton National Park just South of Yellowstone.

Both popular landscapes are among the very best USA national parks and the town of Jackson WY is a fantastic place to set up base for a few days to visit Grand Teton before or after Yellowstone.

If you’re planning to visit both parks in a short weekend vacation and you are a domestic US traveler, Jackson Hole airport is a great place to start and/or end your trip.

Flying into Jackson Hole airport may be convenient but it is popular and expensive. This is not the place to fly if you are traveling on a low budget.

However, hiring a car at Jackson Hole airport means you’re already inside one of the two parks you plan to visit and gets you off to the most efficient start.

You will pay more but remember it is about price vs convenience, particularly if you’re short on time.

Airports Flying Non Stop Into Jackson Hole

You can book direct non-stop flights from 16 US airports to Jackson Hole, WY:

Minneapolis, Chicago, Atlanta, Denver, Salt Lake City, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, Seattle, JFK, Newark, Charlotte, San Jose.

Many of the larger US airports fly non stop direct services into Jackson Hole but be sure to check on flight frequency depending upon season.

In Winter, fewer flights are scheduled and some airports are only connected outside of Winter months.

International travelers can fly into any of the 16 major airports listed above and book a connection to Jackson Hole for maximum efficiency.

Airlines Flying Into Jackson Hole

Airlines flying into Jackson Hole, WY include:

Alaska, American, Delta and United year round. Frontier and Sun Country seasonally.

Important – If you can travel light, low cost airlines Frontier and Sun Country will offer cheaper flights seasonally. The problem is being able to pack everything you need into personal item or carry on only baggage.

For a full list of flights and times, here is the Jackson Hole airport website.

Drive Times And Distances To Yellowstone From Jackson Hole Airport

Jackson Hole airport to Yellowstone South Entrance (West Thumb, Old Faithful):

  • Distance: 50 miles
  • Time: 1h 10m
  • Route: US-191 N

Things To Do Between Jackson Hole And Yellowstone

The resort town of Jackson is one of our favorite around the outskirts of Yellowstone. Jackson has a relaxed upscale feel and there are plenty of great places to stay in town.

If you fly into Jackson Hole, chances are high you are visiting the area to explore both Yellowstone and Grand Teton.

Personally, we can’t get enough of the sheer beauty of Grand Teton and we strongly recommend you allow for two full days in Grand Teton before moving on to Yellowstone.

Two unmissable spots in the Tetons are Mormon Row and Schwabacher Landing, particularly around sunrise.

Who Should Fly Into Jackson Hole?

Jackson Hole is the best airport near Yellowstone for travelers who want to spend more time in Grand Teton or those on time constraints and want to get straight into the action.

Vibrant colors of Grand Prismatic Spring one of the most popular places to visit in Yellowstone located near west entrance and airport
Vibrant colors of Grand Prismatic Spring on a sunny day

6. Idaho Falls Airport, Idaho (IDA) – West Entrance

Idaho Falls is a wonderful metropolitan city located in eastern Idaho, slightly to the west of the Teton Range and Grand Teton National Park. Both Jackson and West Yellowstone can be reached in under 2 hours drive.

After our second visit to Yellowstone we drove to Idaho Falls and spent a relaxing evening walking the Idaho Falls River Walk and Falls trail before eating dinner on the banks of the Snake River.

Idaho Falls is also just 1 hour 20 minutes drive from Craters of the Moon National Monument which you can also visit if you have enough time in your itinerary.

However, Craters is in the opposite direction to Yellowstone, so it might work better if you are traveling on to Oregon or Washington afterwards.

Airports Flying Non Stop Into Idaho Falls

You can book direct non-stop flights from 11 US airports to Idaho Falls, ID:

Minneapolis, Denver, Salt Lake City, Dallas/Fort Worth, San Diego, Los Angeles, Oakland/San Francisco, Phoenix, Seattle, Las Vegas and Portland.

Many of the larger US airports fly non stop direct services into Idaho Falls but be sure to check on flight frequency depending upon season.

International travelers can fly into any of the 11 major airports listed above and book a connection to Idaho Falls.

Airlines Flying Into Idaho Falls

Airlines flying into Idaho Falls, ID include:

Alaska, Allegiant, American, Delta and United.

For a full list of flights and times, here is the Idaho Falls airport website.

Drive Times And Distances To Yellowstone From Idaho Falls Airport

Idaho Falls airport to Yellowstone West Entrance (Norris Geyser Basin, Old Faithful):

  • Distance: 108 miles
  • Time: 1h 40m
  • Route: US-20 E

Things To Do Between Idaho Falls And Yellowstone

Idaho Falls is a great place to explore with a Zoo, a Japanese Friendship Garden, art galleries, museums and of course the Greenbelt River Walk.

Harriman State Park, Caribou Targhee National Forest, Island Park Dam and Henrys Lake State Park are all popular stops on the way to Yellowstone.

Who Should Fly Into Idaho Falls?

Idaho Falls is the best airport near Yellowstone for travelers who want to get closer to West Yellowstone with more flight options. It also works for anyone who would like to see some of Idaho at the same time.

Rocky geyser in upper basin with small smoke stack
Rocky geyser in Upper Basin with small smoke stack

7. Boise Airport, Idaho (BOI) – West Entrance

Boise is the capital and most populous city in Idaho, USA and it is an excellent airport option for Yellowstone for those with more time to explore.

It is located in the far west of Idaho near the border with Oregon, which might put you off considering using the airport for Yellowstone.

However, by flying into or out of Boise, you can easily combine the Yellowstone and Grand Teton areas with Craters of the Moon and the stunning Sawtooth Mountains.

We highly recommend heading up into the mountains to find natural hot springs dotted around the rural mountain region.

Head for Stanley and non stop scenery before looping around to Boise.

Airports Flying Non Stop Into Boise

You can book direct non-stop flights from 23 US airports to Boise, ID:

Minneapolis, Chicago, Idaho Falls, Atlanta, Denver, Salt Lake City, Dallas/Fort Worth, Austin, Houston, San Antonio, San Diego, Palm Springs, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Orange County, Burbank, San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Sacramento, Phoenix, Portland and Seattle.

Many of the larger US airports fly non stop direct services into Boise but be sure to check on flight frequency depending upon season.

International travelers can fly into any of the 23 major airports listed above and book a connection to Boise if visiting this region is part of your plans.

Airlines Flying Into Boise

Airlines flying into Boise, ID include:

Alaska, Allegiant, American, Avelo, Delta, Southwest, Spirit and United.

For a full list of flights and times, here is the Boise airport website.

Drive Times And Distances To Yellowstone From Boise Airport

Boise airport to Yellowstone West Entrance (Norris Geyser Basin, Old Faithful):

  • Distance: 387 miles
  • Time: 5h 30m
  • Route: I-84 E and US-20 E

Things To Do Between Boise And Yellowstone

Explore the best of downtown Boise from the Botanical Garden to the countless museums and hiking trails on the Northeast side of the city.

Take ID-21 N all the way through Boise National Forest as far as Stanley, before dropping down through the Sawtooth Mountains on state highway 75 to US-20 and Craters of the Moon.

You can then visit Idaho Falls on the way into Yellowstone.

Who Should Fly Into Boise?

Boise is the best airport near Yellowstone for travelers who want to explore the Sawtooth Mountains, Craters of the Moon or any other part of Southern Idaho in addition to Yellowstone.

Old Faithful Geyser at Yellowstone National Park near South Entrance Grand Teton and Jackson Hole Airport
Old Faithful erupting with a rainbow in the background

8. (West) Yellowstone Airport, Montana (WYS) – West Entrance

Yellowstone airport is located in West Yellowstone, which is like a resort town on the outer boundary of Yellowstone National Park’s West entrance.

Plenty of hotels and restaurants make West Yellowstone a great place to set up base if there is no availability (or you don’t want to pay big bucks for!) accommodation within the park.

West Yellowstone is the most convenient and closest airport with access to Yellowstone National Park. But only one route is available daily and that is with Delta Airlines from Salt Lake City.

Similarly to Jackson Hole, you will pay for this convenience. In addition, with just one route available daily, you are forced to book flights to Salt Lake City from your origin airport.

Airports Flying Non Stop Into West Yellowstone

Salt Lake City daily and Denver on weekends only.

You can only reach West Yellowstone via Salt Lake City in Utah or Denver in Colorado. Flights are scheduled from late Spring until late Fall only and Denver only flies to West Yellowstone on weekends.

International travelers must fly into Salt Lake City or Denver and book a connection to West Yellowstone.

Although this airport is the closest to Yellowstone, it is also the most difficult to organize logistically and it is expensive.

Airlines Flying Into West Yellowstone

Airlines flying into West Yellowstone, MT include:

Delta and United.

For a full list of flight times, here is the schedule for West Yellowstone airport.

Drive Times And Distances To Yellowstone From Yellowstone Airport

Yellowstone airport to Yellowstone West Entrance (Norris Geyser Basin, Old Faithful):

  • Distance: 3 miles
  • Time: 5 minutes
  • Route: US-191 S

Things To Do Between West Yellowstone And Yellowstone

There’s not a huge amount to do in West Yellowstone. It is set up essentially as a resort town for day tripping into the park, coming back and eating out before crashing at your hotel.

West entrance follows the Madison River and enters the park close to Gibbon Falls, which is well worth a stop.

Norris Geyser Basin to the North or Lower Geyser Basin to the South are first major stops once in the park.

Who Should Fly Into West Yellowstone?

West Yellowstone is the best airport near Yellowstone for travelers who want the most convenience or are the shortest on time.

Old Faithful erupting from afar smoke billowing high into the sky near south entrance and several airport options
Old Faithful erupting from way back in Upper Geyser Basin

9. Salt lake City International Airport, Utah (SLC) – South or West Entrance

Salt Lake City is the most convenient major international airport near Yellowstone National Park. A handful of European, Canadian and Mexican cities fly direct non-stop flights into SLC.

Domestically in the US, almost all mid to large sized airports will fly direct to Salt Lake City, so we won’t list them all below!

Driving an amazing Salt Lake City to Yellowstone and Grand Teton road trip is one of the most popular ways to visit the popular national parks in Wyoming.

Why SLC Is The Best International Airport Near Yellowstone

Drive time from SLC to the nearest park (Grand Teton) is under 5 hours, whereas from Denver you’re looking at 8+ hours to reach Yellowstone as the closest park.

Beginning or ending your trip in SLC means you can drive through Grand Teton National Park (similarly to Jackson Hole but SLC has far greater flight options and cheaper prices).

Salt Lake City is also the perfect place to use as a gateway for visiting both Wyoming and Utah. You can loop each state, see everything and return to SLC without driving back on yourself at all.

Remember, you can transfer flights to any of the smaller regional airports near Yellowstone listed above through SLC airport. This applies to domestic and international travelers.

As a bonus, Salt Lake City is a lovely place to spend at least one day before or after driving one of the very best USA road trip routes into Wyoming.

Airports Flying Non Stop Into Salt Lake City

Over 80 domestic routes from large and medium sized airports across the US fly non stop in to SLC airport. Here are just some of the international airports you can use to fly direct into Salt Lake City:

Amsterdam, Calgary, Cancun, Guadalajara, London, Los Cabos, Mexico City, Paris, Puerto Vallarta, Toronto and Vancouver.

Salt Lake City airport is a major hub for US and international travelers who want to visit the American Southwest or head north to Wyoming.

For those with no interest in visiting Grand Teton, you can head directly to West Yellowstone entrance, which is under 5 hours drive directly from SLC airport.

Airlines Flying Into Salt Lake City

Airlines flying into Salt lake City, UT include:

Aero Mexico, Air Canada, Alaska, American, Delta, Eurowings, Frontier, jetBlue, KLM, Spirit, Southwest and United.

See more information about flight schedules to SLC here.

Drive Times And Distances To Yellowstone From Salt Lake City Airport

Salt Lake City airport to Yellowstone West Entrance (Norris Geyser Basin, Old Faithful):

  • Distance: 323 miles
  • Time: 4h 45m
  • Route: I-15 N, US-20 E

Salt Lake City airport to Yellowstone South Entrance (West Thumb, Old Faithful):

  • Distance: 351 miles
  • Time: 6h 15m
  • Route: I-15 N, loads of scenic roads and Grand Teton

Things To Do Between Salt Lake City And Yellowstone

Start by spending at least one day in Salt Lake City walking around town, seeing Temple Square and going inside the Tabernacle.

Alternatively, you could visit the Natural History Museum of Utah or head East into the mountains for a range of hiking trails.

On the way up to Yellowstone you could stop at the Great Salt Lake, Antelope Island State Park, Bear Lake State Park, Afton, Jackson and of course Grand Teton National Park.

Who Should Fly Into Salt Lake City?

Salt Lake City is the best airport near Yellowstone for international travelers entering the US on a long haul flight.

SLC beats Denver simply because of more convenient road links to the main towns around Yellowstone, which makes it easier with a wider range of flight arrival times.

The short drive time to Grand Teton and West Yellowstone keeps costs down by not taking a connecting flight and you won’t lose as much time on the road.

Bison silhouetted against a yellow dusk in Yellowstone National Park near Hayden Valley
Bison silhouetted on a hill during sunset

10. Denver International Airport, Colorado (DEN) – South or East Entrance

Denver is the second closest major airport near Yellowstone National Park, but it is a much bigger hub than SLC and offers far more domestic and particularly international flight options.

However, Denver is at least 3 hours longer drive time to Yellowstone when compared to Salt Lake City.

You will also arrive into Yellowstone on the south or east side, which means you will need accommodation your first night in one of these two areas after a long drive to the park.

Benefits Of Using Denver As Your Airport For Yellowstone

If you plan to visit spectacular Rocky Mountain National Park in the same vacation as Grand Teton and Yellowstone, you should definitely plan to begin or end your trip in Denver, Colorado.

Denver is also a fantastic place to begin a longer Western US road trip as the furthest point east on the typical route, with Utah to the West and Wyoming to the Northwest.

Plus, visiting the mile high city of Denver itself is reason enough to consider Denver airport as your start or end point for your visit to Yellowstone.

Another benefit to using Denver as your airport hub for Yellowstone is greater access to budget airlines and cheaper flights when flying with domestic US airlines or even long haul international services.

Note that budget airlines are only ‘cheap’ when you can keep your baggage to a minimum.

Drive Times And Distances To Yellowstone From Denver Airport

Denver airport to Yellowstone South entrance (West Thumb, Old Faithful):

  • Distance: 515 miles
  • Time: 8h 20m
  • Route: US-287 N

Denver airport to Yellowstone East entrance (Yellowstone Lake):

  • Distance: 560 miles
  • Time: 8h 40m
  • Route: I-25 N, US-20 W

Airports Flying Non Stop Into Denver

Almost all mid sized to large airports in the US will fly non-stop direct into Denver airport, so we will not list those below.

Domestic US travelers to Denver will benefit from a higher flight frequency each day and flights on more days of the week. This means you can be more flexible and selective over your vacation dates and prices.

Here are just some of the international airports you can use to fly direct into Denver:

Tokyo, Cancun, Cozumel, Chihuahua, Guadalajara, Mexico City, Puerto Vallarta, San Jose del Cabo, Grand Cayman Islands, Nassau, Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Belize City, Costa Rica, Panama City, San Jose, London Heathrow and Gatwick, Frankfurt, Munich, Paris, Reykjavik and Zurich.

Denver is likely to be the best bet for most international travelers to pick up a great deal on flights.

However, the 8+ hour drive to Yellowstone South or East entrance could be long enough to justify paying for an expensive connecting flight to one of the smaller regional airports near Yellowstone, or simply choosing to fly into Salt Lake City instead.

You can of course hire a car at Denver and take a slower journey up through Grand Teton National Park but you will need the extra time.

Airlines Flying Into Denver

Airlines flying into Denver, CO include:

Aero Mexico, Air Canada, Air France, Alaska, Allegiant, American, Boutique Air, British Airways, Cayman Airways, Copa Airlines, Delta, Edelweiss, Frontier, Iceland Air, jetBlue, Lufthansa, Spirit, Southwest, Sun Country, United, Volaris and WestJet.

See more information about flight schedules to Denver here.

Things To Do Between Denver And Yellowstone

Start by exploring the best of Denver, including exploring Denver Botanic Gardens, visiting Union Station, driving Mount Evans Scenic Byway and visiting several excellent museums.

On the way up to Yellowstone you can make stops in Boulder, Rocky Mountains, Medicine Bow Routt, Flaming Gorge, Sinks Canyon, Jackson and Grand Teton National Park.

Just make sure you have plenty of time on your itinerary to make stops in these other areas of outstanding natural beauty.

Who Should Fly Into Denver?

Denver is the best airport near Yellowstone for travelers looking for cheaper and more frequent flight options domestically and internationally, or those also visiting Rocky Mountain National Park and Denver.

Where Are Those Morgans Yellowstone Guidebook

FAQ’s For The Best Yellowstone Airports

Let’s finish by taking a look at the most asked questions about the closest airports to Yellowstone National Park.

Which Airport Do You Fly Into For Yellowstone National Park?

You can choose between 10 feasible airports close to Yellowstone. However, Bozeman airport in Montana is best for domestic US travelers and Salt Lake City in Utah is best for international travelers visiting Yellowstone National Park.

What Is The Cheapest Airport To Fly Into Near Yellowstone?

Salt Lake City airport in Utah and Denver airport in Colorado are the two cheapest airports near Yellowstone, particularly for international travelers. Low cost airlines operate in both SLC and DEN airports, from where you can hire a car and drive to Yellowstone National Park.

How Far Is Salt Lake City Airport From Yellowstone?

Salt Lake City international airport is 320 miles or 4 hours 40 minutes drive from the town of West Yellowstone and the west entrance kiosk with entry into Yellowstone National Park.

What Airport Is Closest To Yellowstone And Grand Teton?

If you are looking for convenience and want the closest airport to Yellowstone and Grand Teton as a pair, you should fly into Jackson Hole airport which is inside Grand Teton National Park boundaries.

More Airport Guides

We hope this travel planning guide helps you decide which airport near Yellowstone is best for your plans!

Which of the closest airport to Yellowstone options did you fly into?

Please let us know if you have any questions or need any help planning your visit.

Happy Flying,

Mark and Kristen

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Forrest Ihler

Tuesday 27th of September 2022

Idaho Falls Airport is another great option. It has multiple different airlines that fly into it and it’s less than 2 hours from West Yellowstone and Jackson Hole. Also it’s the biggest city compared to Bozeman, Jackson, and Cody, so it’ll have plenty of amenities and supplies for anyone gearing up to head out on their National Park road trip. Also there is plenty of recreation to go around between Idaho Falls and West Yellowstone or Grand Teton.

Mark and Kristen Morgan

Thursday 29th of September 2022

Thanks for getting in touch with a great suggestion, Forrest. We have updated the guide to include several more convenient airport options near Yellowstone, including Idaho Falls.

Mary

Thursday 3rd of February 2022

The Idaho Falls airport is often overlooked as a great option for visiting the Yellowstone/Grand Teton area. It’s about the same distance from West Yellowstone as the Bozeman airport, with a faster (but admittedly less scenic) drive to West Yellowstone. Also—the Jackson Hole airport will be closed from April through June in 2022 (and possibly longer if the project gets behind schedule in this challenging year…), so Idaho Falls will be the closest option for Grand Teton during this time.

Mark and Kristen Morgan

Thursday 3rd of February 2022

Hi Mary, that's great thank you for the information about Jackson Hole and Idaho Falls airports. We will be updating all of our Yellowstone content in the next few weeks and we'll be sure to include both in our updates.