With a history tracing back 11,000 years, unlimited hot springs, thriving wildlife, and an area scattered across three states, Yellowstone national park is worth visiting.
How to get to Yellowstone? Most travelers got confused with that, as the park has 5 entrances. If you’re coming by air, here’re your best routes:
| Entrances To Yellowstone | Located At | Nearest Airport | Airport To Entrance Point Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Entrances | Gardiner, MT | Bozeman Airport | 78 miles (90-minute drive) |
| Northeast Entrances | Silver Gate, MT | Cody Airport | 55 miles (60 minutes drive) |
| East Entrance | Cody, WY | Cody Airport | 52 miles (60 minutes drive) |
| South Entrances | Jackson Hole, WY | Jackson Hole Airport | 60 miles (70 minutes drive) |
| West Entrances | West Yellowstone, MT | West Yellowstone Airport | 3 miles (6 minutes drive) |
West Yellowstone is the nearest airport to the Yellowstone national park.
Well, if you’re planning of moving to Montana, close access to the national park is just another cherry on top!
Done with the entrance points and closest airports? Now, let’s have a detailed insight into the closest airport near Yellowstone national park.
6 Airports Near Yellowstone National Park For Hustle-Free Journey
The season you are planning to visit Yellowstone is very crucial.
It is essential because, as mentioned earlier, Yellowstone has five entrances, and according to the season, it stays open or closed.
If you plan to visit in April, you can enter through the west or north entrance.
So, always decide the season or month, along with the duration, and it will help you plan your budget correctly.
Now, let’s start the dictionary of the best yet top 6 airports near Yellowstone without wasting much time.
1. Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport
- Bozeman airport to Yellowstone North Entrance – Mammoth, Gardiner
- Best for – Travelers who are willing to explore Glacier along with Yellowstone/Teton.
- Duration – at max 1 hour 50 minutes
Southwest Montana is immensely well-known for Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, as it gives you direct entry to Yellowstone’s North and West entrances.
You might reach here within two hours.
Further, you can travel to Glacier National Park on the East side of Montana within 5 hours by car.
You’ll encounter Mammoth Village and Hot Springs at the North entrance – the best way to enjoy your vacation at Yellowstone.
Direct Flights For Bozeman Airport
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.
2. Yellowstone Airport West Entrance
- Best for – Travelers who are after convenience and planning for a fleeting trip.
- Yellowstone Airport to Yellowstone West Entrance
- Distance – 3 miles
Are you the one who is looking for the closest airport to Yellowstone national park? Yellowstone Airport will not disappoint you, located in West Yellowstone.
The Yellowstone National Park’s West entrance looks like a resort just a few km away.
Since it is the closest airport, there is only one route to travel to the west entrance: Salt Lake City.
And for this, the most convenient airline is Delta Airlines, or you can book any other Airline from your origin airport.
The Downside Of Yellowstone Airport
The downside here is you can reach West Yellowstone through Salt Lake City, Utah, only. So, the airport is closest to Yellowstone, but you have to put in a lot of effort to get here.
Take note of the scheduling of flights as they are open for scheduling from late Spring until late Fall only.
3. Salt Lake City International Airport
- Best for – Travelers who are planning road trips in Wyoming and Utah.
- Ideal for Grand Teton National Park.
- Distance – 330 miles via I-15 S
Whether it is a South entrance or West, SLC is the most convenient choice of many.
It has many direct and non-stop flights from European, Canadian, and Mexican cities that land you directly at the SLC.
This airport is favorable for visiting Wyoming as Yellowstone and Grand Teton are just a few miles away.
Salt Lake City residents can reach out to the Grand Teton within or less than 5 hours. However, if you are in Denver and want to visit Yellowstone, it will take 8+ hours.
Beware Of The Busy Airport
SLC receives 70 percent of traffic as it is the major hub of Delta Air Lines. In 2021, the airport served 22,378,989 passengers, and 26,808,014 back in 2019.
In North America, it ranks 21st and, in the world, 70th position for the busiest airport when it comes to passenger numbers.
4. Cody Yellowstone Regional Airport
- Best for – Travelers who are less interested in spending more can choose this airport and grab the best deals.
- Cody Airport to Yellowstone East Entrance, Yellowstone Lake
- Distance – 70 miles
Cody is the best spot to enter Yellowstone’s east entrance; it takes approximately 2 hours. However, it lacks flight options, and times exist.
Most tourists prefer Cody to spend a day, while a road trip between the two regions is from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone.
Moreover, in a blink of an eye, you’ll reach North Fork Highway to Yellowstone’s East entrance. The best place to discover real wildlife.
Never make the mistake of visiting the East entrance in heavy snow, as it is closed during heavy snowfall.
What airlines fly out of Cody?
SkyWest/Delta Airlines, SkyWest/United Express, and Mesa Airlines/United Express you can take to fly out of Cody and reach your destination.
5. Jackson Hole Airport
- Best for – Travelers who have a healthy budget and want to explore both parks in less time.
- Jackson Hole airport to Yellowstone South Entrance – West Thumb, Old Faithful
- Distance – 50 miles
If you belong to the US, it is pretty obvious you are more inclined to the nearby airports. The good news for you is there is one airport inside the US, Jackson Hole Airport.
But it is in the Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone’s south entrance.
So, here is the catch: you can explore both parks on the same tour by picking the Jackson Hole Airport.
The center point is to start and end your journey, and you can witness a scenic view that you have seldom come across before.
Nonstop Flights To Jackson Hole Airport
Many US airports have non-stop flights to Jackson Hole; a few of them are Minneapolis, Chicago, Atlanta, Denver, Salt Lake City, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, Seattle, JFK, Newark, Charlotte, San Jose.
6. Denver International Airport
- Best for – Affordable and frequent flight options are available, both domestically and internationally.
- Denver airport to Yellowstone South entrance – West Thumb, Old Faithful
- Distance – 515 miles
On the list of airports near Yellowstone National Park, we can not overlook Denver International Airport.
It is the closest airport to Yellowstone, offering better domestic and international services. However, the longer drive time is much more than in Salt Lake City.
There is no better place than Denver for a more extended Western US road trip to begin your journey. Here, you have two options – Utah to the West or Wyoming to the Northwest.
International Flights To Denver Airport
The list of international airports from where you can get non-stop flights are – 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.
Yellowstone States – Where Is Yellowstone National Park?
Yellowstone national park is a 3500 sq mile of absolute wilderness atop of volcanic hotspot. It touches on the three states.
- Wyoming – over 96% area
- Montana – 3%
- Idaho – 1%
Even though around 96% of the area lies in the Wyoming state but ironically, the park is often associated with the Montana state.
Principally, it is situated in northern-western Wyoming, partly in southern Montana and eastern Idaho.
So, if you ever wonder again, “What state is Yellowstone in?” the answer is Wyoming.
Nearest Airport to Yellowstone FAQs
What is the Best Airport to fly into for Yellowstone National Park?
There are many and best airports to reach Yellowstone National Park. A few of the best ones are Yellowstone Airport-WYS, Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, Jackson Hole Airport, and Yellowstone Regional Airport.
However, the best airport to fly into for Yellowstone National Park depends on where you are flying or located. In such situations, taking the nearest airport to Yellowstone would be an excellent preference.
Where do you fly into Southwest Yellowstone?
For Yellowstone’s south or west entrance, you can undoubtedly pick the Salt Lake City International Airport, Utah, as it is near Yellowstone National Park. Moreover, the most convenient way to visit Wyoming.
What airline flies into West Yellowstone?
Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are the exclusive ones in terms of commercial carriers. For domestic flights, you can rely on other ones.
Can you fly directly to Yellowstone?
Well, there are a few airports closest to Yellowstone that directly land you to the nearest spot of Yellowstone. Bozeman (BZN) and Jackson (JAC) are the closest airports to Yellowstone.
Wrapping It Up!
The word traveling fills us with lots of emotions and the urge to get things perfect.
Every individual has a different plan and budget; some want to stay for a longer period and some for short; accordingly, they plan their budget.
The topmost priority should be the flights’ availability and the season you pick to visit. Not to forget, Yellowstone has five entrances, out of which 3 are in Montana and 2 in Wyoming.
Besides this, we have listed the top #6 airports near Yellowstone national park to make your tour more calming.
- Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport
- Yellowstone Airport West Entrance
- Salt Lake City International Airport
- Cody Yellowstone Regional Airport
- Jackson Hole Airport
- Denver International Airport
We hope this list will help you plan your tour prior and more in apple-pie order.