If you’ve only heard of one US National Park, there’s a pretty good chance it’s Yellowstone. Visitors have been flocking here to witness the wide open plains, roaring waterfalls, roaming bison, and geothermal weirdness since 1872.

In addition to being the first national park, it’s also one of the largest — almost half the size of Slovenia — which can make it a bit daunting when you’re in the early stages of planning. 

The first decision you’ll need to make? Where to begin your adventure! Because this massive park has a total of five entrances, Yellowstone visitors can fly in and out of several different airports dotted around the region. Each one comes with its own pros and cons, but all are within a day’s drive of the park. 

I’m here to break down some of the most popular airports near Yellowstone and help you decide which one is right for your trip. Before we get going, keep these three things in mind:

• Each one of these towns host plenty of tour companies, so non-drivers can also take their pick from any of these options.
• Aside from one stretch of park inside the North Entrance, Yellowstone is closed from October-May due to weather. We’ll be focusing on the fully operational months here.
• Have a look at this park map to get your bearings. Note the entrances at the edges of the park; that’s what we’re measuring to get our drive times.

Now without further ado, here's where to fly into Yellowstone!

West Yellowstone (WYS)

Montana

Why fly here?

Proximity to the park! This is the closest airport to Yellowstone. You can leave the airport parking lot and be at the West Entrance in less than ten minutes, and you can make it all the way to Old Faithful in under an hour. The town itself is pretty small but has plenty of accommodations, so you don’t have to sacrifice comfort for convenience either.

The catch? Severely limited flight options. Routes only go through Denver and Salt Lake. But if you don’t mind stopping in one of those cities and splurging for the rarer flights, you’ll be rewarded with the most seamless park access that a visitor can get.

• Distance: 5 minutes from the West Entrance
• Available routes: Non-stops to DEN, SLC (May-October) exclusively
• Airlines: Delta, United (regional networks only, not the primary airline)
• Rental Car Agencies: Avis, Budget

Jackson Hole (JAC)

Wyoming

Why fly here?

You’ll be right between Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park, its slightly less famous but just as beautiful neighbor (pictured below). This is the closest airport to Grand Teton, but it’s also one of the most convenient options for Yellowstone.

Jackson Hole is a charming mountain town that grew around visitors like you, so this option is perfect for people who want a comfortable homebase with accessibility to both parks. Spend your days hiking and paddling, then come on back for fine dining or local brews! 

Routes are still a bit limited here, but way more varied than West Yellowstone’s. Plus, take-offs and landings come with absolutely stunning views.

• Distance: 1 hour from the South Entrance
• Available flight routes: Daily flights to some major US airports, no international non-stops
• Airlines: Alaska, American, Delta, United
• Rental Car Agencies: Avis/Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National

Bozeman (BZN)

Montana

Why fly here?

Bozeman offers a little of everything: it’s not as close to the park as Jackson or West Yellowstone, but it’s pretty close. It doesn’t have as many flight options as SLC, but it’s got quite a few. It’s not the cheapest choice, nor is it the most expensive. If you’re looking for the middle ground between the other options, you just found it!

Bozeman is a good-sized city with all the amenities you could need, but a lot of folks prefer to drive down from BZN to the small town of Gardiner, Montana and stay there instead. It’s just a few minutes from the North Entrance, which is the closest to Mammoth Hot Springs (pictured below).

If you plan to visit Yellowstone in winter, this should be your top pick — that North Entrance is the only one open during the snowy months.

• Distance: 1.5 to 2 hours from the North Entrance
• Available routes: Solid coverage around the US, and the closest city that offers routes with budget airlines. No international non-stops.
• Airlines: Alaska, Allegiant, American, Avelo, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, Sun Country, United
• Rental Car Agencies: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Go Rentals, Hertz, National, Thrifty

Salt Lake City (SLC)

Utah

Why fly here?

Salt Lake isn’t exactly close to the parks, but it’s the closest major city with a big international airport. That all means it's usually the cheapest airport to fly into Yellowstone. And that extra time in the car won’t be a slog — this is an established road trip route.

With by FAR the most options for routes and airlines, this is also typically the best choice for people flying into Yellowstone from overseas. We’re talking hundreds of dollars cheaper than the other airports at times! And while it’s not exactly convenient, the drive is totally doable in one day, so you need not spend any extra cash on hotels if you don’t want to. 

And since you’ll already be in Utah, you could even tag another week or two onto your trip and see the Mighty Five parks while you’re there.

• Distance: 6 hours from south entrance
• Available routes: Regular non-stops all over the US, several to Canada and Mexico, and international non-stops to London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Seoul.
• Airlines: Alaska, Aeromexico, Air Canada, Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian, JSX, JetBlue, KLM, Southwest, Spirit, Sun Country, United, WestJet
• Rental Car Agencies: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless,Thrifty, plus other options off-site with shuttle service

Honorable Mentions

That STILL wasn’t all your Yellowstone airport options! The previous four are the most popular, but if none of those quite satisfy you, here are four other sleeper picks to peruse...

• Idaho Falls (IDA): 2 hours from the West Entrance. It’s another option with only limited domestic routes, but it comes with a side of pretty Idaho scenery. This is the closest airport to Craters of the Moon.
• Denver (DEN): 8-9 hours from the East Entrance. SLC is a better road trip starting point for Yellowstone, hands down, but the Denver airport is massive. If you’re coming from somewhere with minimal flights to the US, this might be your best pick.
• Billings (BIL): About 2.5-3 hours from the North Entrance. It’s further from the park and has fewer routes than Bozeman, but might be worth a look if you like the pros and cons of BZN but can’t find a good flight.
• Cody (COD): One hour from the East Entrance. This one didn't make the cut because it only flies one route (Denver), and only with United, who doesn't include a carry-on. But if you don't mind packing light and stopping at DEN, this one can get you pretty close to the park.

And if you want to get the best deal on your flight to Yellowstone, you know who to follow :-)

FAQ

Q: "Can you fly to Yellowstone National Park?"

A: Yes! You have several airports to choose from, and all offer rental cars and tour options.

Q: "What's the closest airport to Yellowstone National Park?"

A: West Yellowstone Airport (WYS) is the closest to Yellowstone National Park.

Q: "What is the cheapest airport for Yellowstone National Park?"

A: It depends where you're coming from, but most likely Salt Lake City (SLC) or Denver (DEN).

Q: "What is the best airport to fly into for Yellowstone National Park?"

A: That depends on whether you want to prioritize price, proximity, or flexibility! The closest airport to Yellowstone NP is West Yellowstone airport, while Salt Lake City and Denver have the best choice of domestic and international flights.