Yellowstone National Park is the first national park in the world, established on March 1, 1872. It is home to 10,000 unique hydrothermal features, the most famous ones being Old Faithful, Norris Geyser Basin, West Thumb Geyser Basin, Grand Prismatic Spring, and Mammoth Hot Springs. The park offers mesmerizing views, scenic spots, and rare flora and fauna.
If you want to plan your trip to Yellowstone National Park, the first and foremost important thing is to find out how to get there. The best option is by air, so you must decide on the closest airport to Yellowstone National Park. It is tricky because this national park is unique in geography, too, as it touches three states: Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana.
There are eight closest airports to Yellowstone National Park, from which you can select the most suitable one. We have divided these eight airports into two categories based on regional and international airports. Factors like budget and time make an airport the best option for you, so let’s dig in!
The closest airports to Yellowstone National Park with only domestic flights are
1. West Yellowstone Airport (WYS)
Located to the west of Yellowstone (Montana), West Yellowstone Airport is the closest airport to Yellowstone National Park, as it is only 3 miles (a 7-minute drive) away. WYS is nearest to the most popular west entrance and near key attractions like Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic.
The airline options are limited. Only two airlines are available: United and Delta. So you need to choose either of the options. Also, only two rental companies provide car service: Budget and Avis.
A significant disadvantage of this airport is that it is only operational during the summer months. Therefore, it is not the best option if you want to arrange your trip to Yellowstone during the winter months.
2. Jackson Hole Airport (JAC)
The second closest airport to Yellowstone National Park, Jackson Hole Airport, is inside Grand Teton National Park, which means it is the most scenic airport on this list. It is your best bet if you want to visit two parks in one visit.
The Jackson Hole airport is a one-hour drive (47 miles away from Yellowstone National Park) from the park’s south entrance. It is a bit expensive, but it is best if you want to experience exquisite landscapes. The trip becomes even more exciting when you fly into one park and enjoy it on your way to Yellowstone National Park.
This airport has more and better airline options than WYS: Alaska Airlines, United, Delta, and American Airlines. After landing at the Jackson Hole airport, you can rent a car from a rental service (Avis, Budget, Alamo, Hertz, Enterprise, and Thrifty) or use a shuttle service. If you choose the former option, you will see the most scenic views, but if you go with the latter one, it might be troublesome if you have no plans. You’d have to catch the shuttle from a nearby gateway town, leaving you at the entrance only. However, it should be noted that you need to pay entrance fees for these two parks separately.
3. Yellowstone Regional Airport (YRA)
The third closest airport to Yellowstone National Park is Yellowstone Regional Airport. It is located in Cody, Wyoming, and is closest to the park’s eastern side. The east entrance helps you see two main attractions: Grand Canyon Lake and the Lamar Valley.
The airport is 50 miles from the East entrance (Drive time 1 hr 5 mins). Although it is the best and closest airport to Yellowstone National Park during the summer, you need to use any other alternative in the winter, as the East Entrance road remains closed due to heavy snowfall and is the last one to be plowed.
During the summer months, you can see out-of-this-world scenic beauty. Another advantage is that you can avoid the crowd at the east entrance.
Only three airlines (United, United Express, and Delta Air Lines) are available at the Yellowstone regional airport. Also, only one major rental car service is available: Hertz.
4. Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN)
Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport is the fourth closest airport to the Yellowstone National Park. It is situated in Belgrade, Montana, and gives you access to the north entrance of the Yellowstone National Park.
If you select this airport for your trip, you’d have to drive a picturesque road for 90 minutes, as it is 91 miles away from Yellowstone. However, it has more airline and car rental options. Also, it has a shuttle service, but as mentioned earlier, the shuttle might be more of a problem than a solution, as it leaves you at the park entrance only, and you need to go all by yourself further.
Nonetheless, BZN is the best and nearest airport to Yellowstone if you plan to visit during winter because the north entrance is the only open entrance. Major airlines operating at BZN are Southwest, Delta, American, JetBlue, Alaska, and Allegiant. Avis, Budget, Alamo, Thrifty, Enterprise, and Hertz are available car rentals.
Kindly note that contrary to its name, it is not an international airport now.
5. Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA)
Idaho Falls Regional Airport is 110 miles from Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, making it the fifth closest airport to Yellowstone National Park. It enables you to enter from the park’s western entrance, where you can enjoy major hydrothermal features like Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic.
IDA offers Alaska, American, Allegiant, Delta, and United Airlines. It also provides Hertz, National, Alamo, Budget, Enterprise, and Avis car rental services.
6. Billings Logan International Airport (BIL)
Billings Logan International Airport is one of the nearest airports to Yellowstone National Park, with a total distance of 130 miles. As per the distance, you have to drive through the scenic beauty for 3 hours to get to the northeast side of Yellowstone. Lamar Valley and Beartooth Highways are natural wonders when entering Yellowstone from the northeast.
The major airlines at Billings Logan International Airport are Alaska, American, Allegiant, United, and Delta. The major car rental companies are Avis, Alamo, Enterprise, Hertz, National, and Thrifty.
This airport is not international and has a few issues, like limited parking spaces and limited direct flights. The primary concern is security.
The two closest international airports to Yellowstone National Park
7. Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
Salt Lake City International is the closest international airport to Yellowstone National Park. Situated 324 miles from Yellowstone, it can save you a great fortune because it has all major airlines, and car rentals are 50% cheaper than at other regional airports.
You can land at SLC and drive approximately 4 hours and 5 minutes to reach Yellowstone from the park’s west side. SLC is a great starting point for visiting all of Utah’s national parks.
P.S.: SLC is your stop if you plan a budget-friendly trip.
8. Denver International Airport (DEN)
The second closest international airport to Yellowstone National Park is Denver International Airport. DEN is the hub for United Airlines, which gives you easy flights that fit easily in your pocket. Apart from United, many car rentals and all major airlines are available, saving you much money.
This airport is a good option only if your priority is saving money and quenching your thirst for experiencing the world’s beauty because it takes 2 days to reach Yellowstone from Denver. DEN is located at a distance of 548 miles from Yellowstone.
Final thoughts on the best and closest airport to Yellowstone National Park for you!
A few factors, such as time availability, flight cost, shuttle and car rentals, help select the nearest and best airport to Yellowstone National Park. If your primary aim is to have direct flights from major cities, save money, and enjoy nature, we recommend Salt Lake City International Airport. Also, it has direct flights. You can get a connecting flight to the regional airports if you want to minimize drive time, but it will be a bit expensive.
However, if you want to go to Yellowstone National Park but have limited time, go to West Yellowstone Airport. But if you want to spend quality time in nature, go to Jackson Hole Airport, as you will have the opportunity to visit two US national parks.
If you want to catch a shuttle to Yellowstone National Park, select either Jackson Hole International Airport or Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport. However, the shuttle might not be the best option for you as it leaves you at the entrance of the park, and you have to plan to visit the park further.