You may have been wanting to explore Yellowstone for a while, or maybe it’s been on your bucket list.
However, you’re not sure exactly how to get there or what airport to fly into. We’re here to make sure your trip is not any more tedious than it needs to be!
In this article, we will be covering:
- Which airports are closest to each of the 5 Yellowstone entrances
- Tips for booking your trip to Yellowstone.
Let’s get into it!
Airports Near Yellowstone National Park
While the majority of Yellowstone National Park is located in the state of Wyoming, the park spans 2.2 million acres and extends to both Montana and Idaho.
Knowing which part of Yellowstone you want to explore is important when choosing which airport to fly into!
In the following section, we will cover all the airports in the area. It is important to consider all airport options to find the best one! Additionally, have a look at our curated map to help you locate your best choice.
Read on to help you choose which airport is best for travelers!
1. Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN), Montana
At a Glance:
- Best For: People visiting Yellowstone in winter. Or people looking for the closest airport to the park, i.e. people short on time, and those looking to explore the Northern or Western entrances.
- Airlines Operate: United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air, and Frontier Airlines.
- Transportation Option: Car rentals, shuttle services, private transfers, bus services in peak season
- Distance to Yellowstone National Park: 90 miles from Yellowstone National Park’s North Entrance
- Time Take to Reach Park: 1 hour 30 minutes to North Entrance
- Route to Take: I-90 E or US-89 S to North Entrance
- Website
Overview:
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.
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
- 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.
2. Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming (JAC) – South Entrance
At a Glance:
- Best For: people interested in exploring the western entrance of the national park, especially Geyser Paradise
- Airlines Operate: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta, and United Airlines.
- Transportation Options: Car rentals from the airport, shuttle services, and private transfers.
- Distance to Yellowstone National Park: Approximately 137 miles to the West Entrance
- Time Taken to Reach Park: Approximately 2 hour 50 minutes to the West Entrance
- Route to Take: US-20 E
- Website
Overview:
The log cabin-inspired Jackson Hole Airport is located in Jackson, Wyoming, some 137 miles from the park’s West Entrance. 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. 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.
3. West Yellowstone Airport, Montana (WYS) – West Entrance
At a Glance:
- Best For: People looking for the closest access to the Western Entrance, or people staying at the airport.
- Airlines Operate: Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are the exclusive commercial carriers for the Yellowstone Airport.
- Transportation Option: Car rentals and shuttle services from the airport
- Distance to Yellowstone National Park: 3 miles from the West Entrance
- Time Take to Reach Park: About 7 mins
- Route to Take: US-191 S
- Website
Overview:
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. 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 of the airport near Yellowstone, it is also the most complex to manage logistically.
4. Salt Lake City International Airport, Utah (SLC) – South or West Entrance
At a Glance:
- Best For: People who are looking for flexible access to both the south and west entrances of Yellowstone National Park and are looking for a road trip on the way.
- Airlines Operate: Delta Air Lines, AeroMexico, Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American, Discover Airlines, Frontier, JetBlue, KLM, Spirit, Southwest, Sun Country and United
- Transportation Option: Car rental services
- Distance to Yellowstone National Park: 325 miles to the West Entrance
- Time Take to Reach Park: 4 hours 45 minutes to West Entrance
- Route to Take: US-20 E and I-15 N to West Entrance
- Website
Overview:
Salt Lake City International Airport is the closest major international airport to Yellowstone National Park. It’s around 325 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.
5. Cody Yellowstone Regional Airport, Wyoming (COD) – East or Northeast Entrance
At a Glance:
- Best For: People wanting to explore the Eastern and Northeastern entrances of Yellowstone National Park, as well as the scenic Beartooth Highway.
- Airlines Operate: Delta Airlines, United Express and Mesa Airlines
- Transportation Option: Car rentals and shuttle services
- Distance to Yellowstone National Park: 236 miles to the park’s North Entrance
- Time Take to Reach Park: 3 hour 50 minutes to North Entrance
- Route to Take: I-90W
- Website
Overview:
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. Currently, however, road closures near the East Entrance mean visitors are redirected to either the North or Northeast Entrance.
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 one of the most convenient airports in the region.
6. Idaho Falls Regional Airport – Western Entrance
At a Glance:
- Best For: People looking for access to the Grand Teton National Park or anyone looking for an airport a little more budget-friendly than West Yellowstone.
- Airlines Operate: Delta, United Airlines, and Allegiant
- Transportation Option: Car rentals, shuttle, private transfers
- Distance to Yellowstone National Park: 110 miles to the West Entrance
- Time Take to Reach Park: 1 hour and 50 minutes to West Entrance
- Route to Take: US-20 E
- Website
Overview:
Idaho Falls Regional Airport is approximately 2 hours to the park’s western entrance. 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.
7. Billings-Logan Airport – Northeast Entrance
At a Glance:
- Best For: People who are looking to explore the less-visited parts of the park, and those who enjoy scenic drives
- Airlines Operate: Delta Air Lines, Allegiant Air, Cape Air and Alaska Air
- Transportation Option: Car rentals, shuttle, private transfers
- Distance to Yellowstone National Park: 170 miles to the North Entrance
- Time Take to Reach Park: About 2 hours and 40 mins to North Entrance
- Route to Take: I-90 W and the US-89 S
- Website
Overview:
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.
8. Butte — Bert Mooney Airport – North Entrance
At a Glance:
- Best For: People looking to explore less crowded areas like Mammoth Hot Springs and the Lamar Valley.
- Airlines Operate: Delta
- Transportation Option: Car rental, shuttle services
- Distance to Yellowstone National Park: 161 miles to the North Entrance
- Time Take to Reach Park: About 2 hours and 40 minutes
- Route to Take: I-90 E and the US-89 S
- Website
Overview:
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.
9. Gardiner Airport – Northern Entrance
At a Glance:
- Best For: People flying with private services, who are looking for an intimate experience
- Airlines Operate: No public airlines
- Transportation Option: Private arrangements
- Distance to Yellowstone National Park: 8 miles to the North Entrance
- Time Take to Reach Park: About 8 minutes
- Route to Take: Take the US-89 S
Overview:
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.
10. Denver International Airport – Western Entrance
At a Glance:
- Best For: People who are flying from international destinations and enjoy a road trip
- Airlines Operate: Delta, United, and Southwest Airlines.
- Transportation Option: Car rentals
- Distance to Yellowstone National Park: 643 miles from the airport to the park’s West Entrance
- Time Take to Reach Park: 10 hours and 30 minutes
- Route to Take: Through I-80 W and US-191 N
- Website
Overview:
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.
More About Transportation Options
Planning your trip to Yellowstone Park from the airport can be tedious, but is extremely important to ensure you are not stranded at the airport. We created a table to make this as easy as possible:
| Airport | Distance to Yellowstone | Transportation Options (Cost) | Convenience |
| Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) | 90 miles to the North and West Entrances | Car rentals: from $23/day
Shuttle services approx $295.00 per person |
Good |
| Jackson Hole Airport, Wyoming (JAC) | Approximately 50 miles to the South Entrance | Car rentals: from $25/day
Shuttle services approx $65.00 per person |
Good |
| West Yellowstone Airport, Montana (WYS) | 3 miles from the West Entrance | Car rentals: from $50/day
Taxi: From $220 |
Best |
| Salt Lake City International Airport, Utah (SLC) | Approximately 320+ miles to the West Entrance, and 351 miles to the South Entrance. | Car rentals: From $33/day | Least |
| Cody Yellowstone Regional Airport, Wyoming (COD) | Approximately 70 miles to the East Entrance, and 83 miles to the Northeast Entrance. | Car rentals: From $67/day | Good |
| Idaho Falls Regional Airport | Approximately 140 miles to the West Entrance. | Car rentals: From $35/day | Moderate |
| Billings-Logan Airport | Approximately 228 miles to the West Entrance. | Car rentals: From $23/day | Moderate |
| Butte—Bert Mooney Airport | Approximately 162 miles to the North Entrance. | Car rentals: From $40/day | Good |
| Denver International Airport (DEN) | Approximately 630 miles to the West Entrance. | Car rentals: From $56/day | Least |
Some Tips for You
Booking a flight to go and explore the first national park in the world- Yellowstone is exciting to say the least!
It is important to plan your trip properly in order to make sure it is as stress-free as possible. Here are some of our tips:
- Choose the best airport to fly into. If you are not confident driving choose a very close airport such as West Yellowstone Airport, or if you want a nice scenic drive consider another airport such as Salt Lake City Airport
- Book flights well in advance, to keep prices down
- Book your airport transfer at least a week before your travel plans
- Pack for the weather, especially in winter
- Book travel insurance.
Choosing the right airport will help you choose the most convenient and time-efficient option for your onward travel to Yellowstone.
It will also help you estimate travel times and plan your itinerary accordingly, especially if you have specific activities planned in the park.
Summary
Everyone will have their own preferences when it comes to travel options, time, and money spent.
While some people will come in, stay for a weekend, and then fly out, others may be on a two-week road trip across Wyoming and Utah.
Luckily, with the 10 airports mentioned, there are great options for all types of travelers- from the in-and-outers to the road-trip lovers!
Choosing the right airport will help you plan for your travels and budget and get the most out of your trip.
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!