Yellowstone National Park is large, larger than Rhode Island and Deleware combined. Seated in northwest Wyoming, this park pours over into Montana and Idaho. However, this region of the country can feel remote, tucked far away from major airports.
In this guide, we review all of the closest major and regional airports near Yellowstone so that you can best choose how to access our nation’s first national park!
Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport to Yellowstone National Park
We’ll be very direct and tell you that Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport is the best airport to access Yellowstone National Park. Aside from the fact that this airport is only 87 minutes from the north or Gardiner entrance to the park, there are many reasons other reasons to use Bozeman as your transportation hub.
Southwest Airlines flies to Bozeman
Yes, this is important. If you are flying with family, Southwest Airlines is the carrier that offers the most benefits to offset high airfare costs. We book almost all of our travel with Southwest Airlines, and we hardly ever pay for flights. For more information and a step-by step guide to flying on Southwest Miles, check out Families Fly Free.
Bozeman Airport is small and it has a big bear
This may sound silly at first read; however, when you have kids in tow, an airport that is quiet and easy to navigate is the best way to start your trip. The huge bear really helps to set the tone, too!
Bozeman is a cool town
What’s our primary goal as parents? Well, mine is to keep my kids fed. Bozeman is full of small restaurants and cafes to meet any dietary preferences or picky eaters. I highly suggest you stop for a meal before driving south and into Yellowstone National Park.
If you don’t enter from the northern entrance of the park, you may never see the Roosevelt Arch!
This northern, Gardiner, entrance is not the most highly traficked access point to the park. Even if you are in Mammoth to see the sites, you will have to take a 30 minute or more detour to get to the Arch. As much as you will be driving, you may eliminate this site, and that would be a shame.
There is good pizza in Gardiner
If you don’t grab a bit to eat in Bozeman, you can stop for good pizza in Gardiner. This tiny town at Yellowstone’s northern entrace is a great welcome to its guests!
Bozeman is around five hours from Glacier National Park
If you have an extra couple of days, we suggest that you head a little further west and enjoy the breathtaking scenery along the way.
Top reasons to use the Bozeman Airport to access Yellowstone: cheap, close, good food, proximity to Glacier, Roosevelt Arch.
Salt Lake City International Airport to Yellowstone National Park
The Salt Lake City International Airport is around five hours drive from the West Yellowstone (western) entrance to Yellowstone National Park. This is our second choice for flights to Yellowstone because this airport is a busy hub with competitive airline fares.
Delta Airlines does have a hub in Salt Lake City, so if you fly or use points from this airline, it may be your least expensive choice for accessing Yellowstone.
The other benefit of flying to Salt Lake City and continuing on to the park is that you can enjoy the town of West Yellowstone. If you are not staying in this gateway town, it is still fun to see what it has to offer. There are restaurants, museums, and entertainment options. We do suggest that if you are driving in from the Salt Lake City Airport, you stop and eat in West Yellowstone before you enter the park.
The western portion of the park, near Norris is extremely busy with tourists. Although you will be close to your destination in milage, you will likely be in painfully slow traffic on this portion of the park loop.
The last benefit of using Salt Lake City Airport to access Yellowstone are the attractions in Salt Lake City itself. If you want to spend some city time touring this beautiful area, you will be well located before or after your visit to Yellowstone.
Denver International Airport to Yellowstone National Park
Since we fly from Texas, the Denver Airport is a common jumping off point for us to visit the western states. Although we keep hoping that Denver slides a little closer to Yellowstone, the Denver International Airport is actual about 9 hours drive to the southern entrance of the park.
This access point of Yellowstone requires that you first drive through Grand Teton National Park. Remember that if you do not have an annual pass to our national parks, you will have to pay park entry rates to drive through Grand Teton National Park.
If Denver is your airport of choice, you can head around 8 hours northwest and visit Grand Teton National Park prior to your Yellowstone adventure. Alternatively, you can enter the park through the eastern entrance near Cody, Wyoming.
From Denver to Cody, your drive will be around 7.5 hours. However, Denver’s summer traffic is heavy, so you will want to budget for additional time and tolls. For those who will need to toss food at the kids along this route, there is a Chick-fil-a and a Chipotle in Cheyenne, Wyoming. You will thank me later.
Regional Airports Near Yellowstone National Park
Cody Airport to Yellowstone National Park
Also referred to as the “Yellowstone Regional Airport,” Cody Airport is a small facility that welcome many United flights that connect through the Denver airport. It is important to note that it will take over an hour to get from this airport to Yellowstone National Park’s eastern entrance.
The benefit of this airport will be your opportunity to explore Cody itself. With good food, museum, and entertainment options, it will be worth your time!
Jackson Hole Airport to Yellowstone National Park
The Jackson Hole Airport is one of the world’s most beautiful places to land. Your views of Grand Teton National Park will take your breath away and start your vacation on a peaceful note. If you are heading directly to Yellowstone’s south entrance, you will need to drive for just over an hour and through Grand Teton National Park.
If you do select this airport, we suggest that you spend some time at Grand Teton and also enjoy its gateway town of Jackson, Wyoming. It will be worth every moment and every (of the many it will cost) penny!
Yellowstone Airport to Yellowstone National Park
The Yellowstone Airport is in Yellowstone’s western gateway town of West Yellowstone, Montana. This is the closest airport to any entrace station of Yellowstone National Park, as it is only a 7 minute drive to the park’s gate.
No matter which airport or highway you choose to access Yellowstone National Park, your family will be headed towards a carful of memories in this iconic place.
When making your plans, just remember that this park requires many hours of driving within its own borders. Consider making your hotels or campgrounds close to the highlights you plan to enjoy. And we here at NPS Family Travel wish you the trip of a lifetime!
