While the ticket price and travel dates take the center stage, there are other important factors that you must consider when you travel, like making sure your suitcase isn’t over the luggage limit or reaching the gates before the doors close.
Picking an airport that works with your travel plans is essential: researching the airports near Yellowstone is important in planning and scheduling your trip.
This article will guide you to the five airports near Yellowstone National Park including info on distance and route details:
The Closest Airports Near Yellowstone National Park
Jackson Hole Airport in Wyoming is the most frequented and busiest airport while the nearest airport to Yellowstone National Park is West Yellowstone Airport (WYS) in Montana, 3 miles from the West Entrance. There are several Glacier National Park airports that offer services close to the park that vary by price and nearby attractions.
1. Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN), Montana
Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, located just outside of Bozeman, Montana, has daily flights all year round. It serves the communities of Bozeman and Southwest Montana, as well as Big Sky Resort and Yellowstone National Park. BZN is Montana’s busiest passenger airport, servicing over 1.6 million passengers in 2019 alone. It is located just eight miles west of Bozeman and one mile east of Belgrade.
The airport is around 90 miles from Yellowstone National Park’s north and west entrances. BZN is the busiest in the state, serving as a final destination for major airlines, including United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, and Frontier Airlines.
Bozeman Yellowstone is a gateway to Yellowstone Country and the booming college town, offering nonstop flights from several major U.S. cities, including Chicago, Atlanta, New York, Denver, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Seattle, and Salt Lake City. It also provides access to the eastern side of Montana’s Glacier National Park in just about 5 hours. During the winter months, the North Entrance via Gardiner is the sole entry into Yellowstone, making Bozeman airport one of the most operationally significant airports on this list.
Distance and Drive Time:
Bozeman airport to Yellowstone North Entrance – Mammoth, Gardiner:
- Distance: 88 miles
- Time: 1 hour 30 minutes approx.
- Route: Take the I-90 or US–89S
Bozeman airport to Yellowstone West Entrance – West Yellowstone:
- Distance: 91 miles
- Time: 1 hour 50 minutes approx.
- Route: Take the US–191S
2. Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming (JAC) – South Entrance
The log cabin-inspired Jackson Hole Airport is located 45 miles south of Yellowstone National Park in Jackson, Wyoming is the airport near Yellowstone National Park most visitors find themselves using. The airport offers non-stop flights to and from 13 different destinations in the United States.
Additionally, the airport has daily and weekend flights from major cities in the US, including Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New York City.
If you want to visit both parks on the same holiday trip, then Jackson Hole Airport is an excellent site to start and/or conclude your journey. Jackson, a nearby town, is a great place to stay for a night or two in between excursions, with many hotels and restaurants to pick from.
It is the most popular town near Yellowstone and boasts the most picturesque route into the park via the breathtaking Tetons, which is an added plus. Flying to Jackson Hole airport is easy, convenient, and slightly on the higher price point but being the closest airport to Yellowstone National Park makes it a great choice.
Distance and Drive Time:
Jackson Hole airport to Yellowstone South Entrance – West Thumb
- Distance: 50 miles
- Time: 1 hour 15 minutes approx.
- Route: Take the US–191N
3. West Yellowstone Airport, Montana (WYS) – West Entrance
Yellowstone airport is located in West Yellowstone, a resort town on the outskirts of Yellowstone National Park’s west entrance.
With a variety of hotels and eateries, West Yellowstone is an excellent place to base yourself if there is no other option for accommodation within the park.
Although WYS is the most convenient and nearest airport option, you must, however, keep in mind that Delta Airlines only serves one destination: Salt Lake City. Furthermore, because there is only one route available, you must book flights from your departure airport to Salt Lake City.
West Yellowstone may only be reached via Salt Lake City, Utah. Flights are only scheduled from late spring through late fall. International visitors must fly into Salt Lake City and then take a connecting flight to West Yellowstone. Despite the location putting the airport near Yellowstone, it is also the most complex to manage logistically.
Distance and Drive Time:
Yellowstone airport to Yellowstone West Entrance – Norris Geyser Basin
- Distance: 3 miles
- Time: 5-6 minutes approx.
- Route: Take the US–191S
4. Salt Lake City International Airport, Utah (SLC) – South or West Entrance
Salt Lake City International Airport is the closest major international airport to Yellowstone National Park. It’s around 350 miles off, but the essential thing to know is that a few Canadian, European, and Mexican cities have nonstop flights operating into SLC.
Almost all mid-to-large-sized airports in the United States have direct flights to Salt Lake City. The drive time from SLC to the nearest park, the Grand Teton, is approximately 5 hours, but the drive time from Denver to the closest park, Yellowstone, is easily 7+ hours.
You can drive through Grand Teton National Park if you begin or end your adventure in SLC as you do in Jackson Hole, but SLC offers considerably more airline alternatives and lower pricing. Salt Lake City is also a great place to start for your trips to Wyoming and Colorado.
Distance and Drive Time:
Salt Lake City airport to Yellowstone – West EntranceÂ
- Distance: 320+ miles
- Time: 4 hours 45 minutes approx.
- Route: Take the US–20E or I-15N
Salt Lake City airport to Yellowstone – South EntranceÂ
- Distance: 351 miles
- Time: 6 hour 15minutes approx.
- Route: Take the I-15N
5. Cody Yellowstone Regional Airport, Wyoming (COD) – East or Northeast Entrance
Cody, Wyoming’s Yellowstone Regional Airport, is a full-service airport. United Express operates year-round flights to Denver, and Delta Connection operates summer season flights to Salt Lake City. Both airlines provide links to Yellowstone National Park from practically every place in the United States, making traveling to the park feel like a breeze.
Cody city is two hours from Yellowstone’s east entrance. If you’re planning a road trip from Mount Rushmore to Yellowstone National Park, Cody is a great spot to stop for a day in between to rest and enjoy some great food.
As you near the park, the North Fork Highway turns into the Yellowstone East entrance. This is a beautiful sanctuary for wildlife, and should be on everyone’s list of the top places for wildlife watching in Yellowstone. Once in the park, you can make your way to Yellowstone Lake and head left to West Thumb Geyser Basin or right to Canyon.
Cody is a little town with many tourist attractions, including a rodeo, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West, and a world-class museum. It is the nearest settlement to Yellowstone’s East Entrance, located slightly under 60 miles away.
If you decide on flying into Cody Yellowstone Regional Airport, you can be sure of getting first-class service and premier amenities. Before or after your journey, stop at Jedediah’s for breakfast at the airport, with their famed sourdough pancakes and huckleberry syrup, or try lunch or dinner. When visiting Yellowstone National Park, Northwest Wyoming, and the Shoshone National Forest, this is the most convenient airport in the region.
Distance and Drive Time:
Distance and Drive time to Yellowstone – Cody – Yellowstone Regional Airport – East Entrance
- Distance: 70 miles
- Time: 1hours 30 minutes approx.
- Route: Take the I–90E or US-14W
Cody – Yellowstone Regional Airport – Northeast entranceÂ
- Distance: 83 miles
- Time: 1 hour 50 minutes approx.
- Route: Take the WY 296
6. Idaho Falls Regional Airport
Idaho Falls Regional Airport is between 2.5 and 4 hours by road depending on the vehicle you are driving. The location of this airport also provides great access to Grand Teton National Park. The airport is a good option for anyone looking for an airport a little more budget-friendly than West Yellowstone.
After Boise Airport Idaho Falls is the second-busiest in the state and the airport. It covers more than 800 acres and features two runways serviced by airlines such as Delta, United Airlines, and Allegiant.
Distance and Drive Time:
Idaho Falls IDA to Yellowstone West Entrance – West Yellowstone:
- Distance: 140 miles
- Time: 2-3 hours to West Entrance
- Route: Take the US 20 E
7. Billings-Logan Airport
Billings Logan International Airport is located a couple of miles from the northwest regions of downtown Billings, which is in Yellowstone County. This airport is actually the second largest in Montana and is owned by the city of Billings.
The airport sits atop the famous Rimrocks overlooking the city, and the areas serviced by Billings-Logan include the Western Dakotas and Northern Wyoming, along with Eastern Montana.
Services come by way of Delta Air Lines, Allegiant Air, and Alaska Air, with daily non-stop service to 5 or more destinations. Cape Air is also a prominent feature at the airport which it uses for air services to five different Eastern Montana locations.
Some of the additional services available at this airport include car rentals, restaurants, a lounge, and a concourse deli among other things. A nice feature of the airport for anyone with small kids is the play areas.
Another major point of interest regarding this airport near Yellowstone is the fact that it is just across from the Yellowstone County Museum, which displays various historical artifacts in a very western-style setting of a historic log cabin.
Distance and Drive Time:
Billings Airport to Yellowstone West Entrance – West Yellowstone
- Distance: 228 miles
- Time: Approximately 4-6 hours depending on vehicle
- Route: Take the I-90 and the US 191
8. Butte—Bert Mooney Airport
Butte’s Bert Mooney Airport is a public airport named in honor of an aviator who hailed from Butte and was the first to successfully fly mail into the national park region back in 1935. Just 3 miles southeast of Butte in Montana’s Silver Bow County, the airport is owned and operated by the Bert Mooney Airport Authority.
This is an airport with a small town feel that might fit the terms ‘dinky’ or ‘cozy’ to some extent. The operation brings a lot to the community, and reasonably-experienced travelers should navigate the facility with ease.
Distance and Drive Time:
Bert Mooney Airport to Yellowstone North Entrance – Mammoth, Gardiner:
- Distance: 162 miles
- Time: 2-3 hours approximately
- Route: Take the I-90 and the US 89
9. Gardiner Airport
Gardiner Airport is a regional airport designated for public use. The airport covers 38 acres of land in Eastern Montana to the northwest of Gardiner’s central business district. The airport is one of the nearest to Yellowstone but no flights operate due to the short flying distance.
The publicly-owned airport has been in operation since as far back as 1929, which is no surprise when you consider that Gardiner is the oldest named place in the Yellowstone National Park region.
Distance and Drive Time:
Gardiner Airport to Yellowstone North Entrance – Mammoth, Gardiner:
- Distance: 220 miles approximately
- Time: 4 hours approximately
- Route: Take Highway-89 followed by US 191
10. Denver International Airport
Along with Salt Lake City’s air terminal Denver Airport is the closest international airport to Yellowstone national park. The facility is the largest in North America and was opened in 1995. Also commonly known as DIA, the airport is the main one serving the city of Denver, Colorado.
The airport is around 20 miles northeast of downtown Denver. It has been awarded numerous accolades including ‘Best Large Airport’ in 2021. The airport is serviced by 3 airlines, namely Delta, United, and Southwest Airlines.
No direct flights into Yellowstone operate out of Denver Airport and many who don’t want to go the long, road-trip route and would rather shorten the mileage may fly into Bozeman International Airport first and then drive the much shorter remaining distance.
Distance and Drive Time:
Bozeman airport to Yellowstone West Entrance – Old Faithful Geyser, West Yellowstone:
- Distance: 630 miles approximately
- Time: 10 hours approximately
- Route: Take the US–287 N
Airports Near Yellowstone – FAQ’s
What Airport is Closest to Yellowstone?
There are several airports that could be classified as the nearest to Yellowstone. They are a mix of both regional and international airports that can be judged depending on various factors like flying and driving times as well as land distance.
The closest international airport is Bozeman International Airport which is just over 2 hours away by road. Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) is the closest out-of-state airport and requires a 5-hour drive. Denver International Airport (DEN) is also close but includes an 8-hour drive.
The regional airports are obviously nearer geographically but require connections through larger international airports anyway. The closest regional airport to Yellowstone is the West Yellowstone Airport.
How Can You Fly into Yellowstone?
There are various ways for flying into Yellowstone. One of the most popular options entails first utilizing one of the international airports (Bozeman International is a popular Montana option), then booking a domestic flight to a regional airport near Yellowstone National Park.
These regional airports include Yellowstone Regional Airport (COD) in Wyoming which is serviced by United Express, West Yellowstone Airport (WYS) serviced by Delta, Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) serviced by Alaska, American, Delta, and United Airlines, and Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA), which is serviced by Allegiant, United, Delta, Alaska, and American Airlines.
What is the Closest Airport to Yellowstone National Park?
The closest regional airport to Yellowstone National Park is West Yellowstone Airport (WYS), located just 3 miles from the West Entrance. A birds-eye view of the park is possible before even landing at this airport.
What is the Cheapest Airport to Fly into Yellowstone?
The Idaho Falls Airport is only about 1.5 hours from West Yellowstone and often turns out to be a cheaper option than flying into West Yellowstone.
This airport still gets you quite close to the park’s West Entrance though and is serviced by Delta, United, and Allegiant Airlines.
How Far is Bozeman Airport from Yellowstone?
Bozeman International Airport is just over 90 miles from Yellowstone by road. Many visitors to the national park and the region, in general, will fly into this location and then drive the remaining distance to the park, which is much shorter than that from the other international airport options.
The drive to Yellowstone is typically just over 2 hours long from what is Montana’s busiest airport.
Which is the Best Airport for Yellowstone?
There are a variety of factors that would affect this decision. Namely, whether you want to take a long road trip or not, or would rather minimize any driving and get as close as possible on a flight. There is also the flight and holiday budget to consider.
If cost is not likely to be the main issue it might be fair to say that the two regional Yellowstone airports West Yellowstone (WYS) and Yellowstone Regional (COD) would appear to be the best logical options for many They will make lighter work of any driving as well as provide more time in the actual region of the park.  Â
Which Wyoming Airports are near Yellowstone?
The regional airports Jackson Hole, Yellowstone Regional, and Cody Airport are the Wyoming airports near Yellowstone. Â
Summary
When considering where to fly in Yellowstone, it is important to keep in mind that the real answer is everyone has their own preferences depending on their plans. Some will come in, stay for a weekend, and then fly out. Others may be on a two-week road trip across Wyoming and Utah.
All of it depends on how you intend to spend your holiday, as there are two critical aspects to consider. Firstly, which Yellowstone airports will you travel into and out of? Secondly, where are the greatest locations to stay in Yellowstone National Park?
Three of the park’s five entrances are in Montana, while the remaining two are in Wyoming. There are a lot of possibilities depending on how much time you have and what types of things you want to do when considering the best airport in Yellowstone.
Furthermore, there are a few more airport alternatives such as Denver International Airport, Colorado (DEN), Idaho Falls, Idaho Regional Airport (IDA), and Butte, MT – Bert Mooney Airport (BTM), but the five airports mentioned above are your best bet for visiting Yellowstone National Park.
We hope that our travel planning advice helps you to decide which airports near Yellowstone National Park are ideal for your travel needs! Bon voyage!