Are you planning the details for your trip to Yosemite National Park?
You might be asking, “What is the closest airport to Yosemite National Park?” You might also be on a budget and want to fly to the cheapest airport near Yosemite.
If you’re still deciding which airport to fly to on your Yosemite trip, this guide will help you find the best option for your trip.
We’ll look at all the airports close to Yosemite National Park, so you can make the right decision.
‼️ If you just want to know the nearest airport, read my guide to the Airport Nearest Yosemite National Park. ‼️
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The Airports Closest To Yosemite National Park
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Table of Contents
What are the Best Airports Closest to Yosemite National Park?
Getting the details on the best airport for your personalized trip is more ideal than just choosing which airport is closest to Yosemite National Park. The particulars of each airport close to Yosemite on this list will help you decide what would work for you.
The airports near Yosemite Park are:
🛫 Merced Yosemite Regional Airport (MCE)
🛫 Fresno Yosemite International Airport(FAT)
🛫 Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH)
🛫 Stockton Metropolitan Airport (SCK)
🛫 Oakland International Airport (OAK)
🛫 Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
🛫 San Jose International Airport (SJC)
🛫 San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
🛫 Reno – Tahoe International Airport (RNO)
Merced Yosemite Regional Airport (MCE)
Merced Yosemite Regional Airport is small, but offers commercial flights on Advanced Air from/ to Las Vegas International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport.
This is the airport closest to Yosemite, with easy access to three of the four park entrances in less than two hours. You can rent a car through Hertz and Enterprise. From CA-59 N/N State Hwy 59, drive to Merced Falls Road going to CA-132 E, then head to Greeley Hill Road until you reach Big Oak Flat Road.
Merced Yosemite is one of the Yosemite airports connected to YARTS that takes you inside the park. Greyhound bus service is also available. Amtrak also offers daily stops to Merced and is directly connected to cities like Sacramento, Oakland, and Bakersfield.
Location
Merced Regional Airport is located two miles southwest of Merced, in Merced County, California.
Distance from Merced to Yosemite National Park
🔰 Distance from Merced, CA to Yosemite National Park, Big Oak Flat Entrance: 69 miles
🔰 Distance to Arch Rock Entrance: 72 miles
🔰 Distance to South Entrance: 81 miles
🔰 Distance to Tioga Pass Entrance: 135 miles
Travel time to Yosemite National Park
⌚ Travel Time to Big Oak Flat Entrance: 1 hour and 25 minutes
⌚ Travel Time to Arch Rock Entrance: 1 hour 40 minutes
⌚ Travel Time to South Entrance: 1 hour and 50 minutes
⌚ Travel Time to Tioga Pass Entrance: 3 hours and 15 minutes
What airlines fly out of Merced Yosemite Regional Airport? Which airports connect to there?
✈️ Advanced Air: Las Vegas International Airport (LAS) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
➡️ Find Yosemite National Park flights on Skyscanner
Rental car options:
🚘 Onsite: Hertz and Enterprise
➡️ Book a car through Discover Cars
Getting from Merced Yosemite Regional Airport to Yosemite National Park
🚘 Car rental service
🚍 YARTS
🚍 The Bus (Merced County Bus Transit)
Pros
- Nearest access to the park’s Arch Rock Entrance
- Connecting flights to Las Vegas International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport
- Options for ground transportation services like bus shuttles, public buses, taxis, and train and car rentals.
Cons
- Limited airline service options
- Limited options for car rental services
- Airfare can be more expensive
This is the best airport for Yosemite National Park …
✔️ If you have less time for travel and/ or prefer to minimize your drive time to the national park
✔️ If you are also visiting sites near Merced County
✔️ You don’t want to drive at all
Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT)
Fresno Yosemite International Airport is another small airport close to Yosemite with commercial flights available. Aside from Yosemite, you can easily access Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks from this airport.
If you’re looking for the closest airports to Yosemite and you’re flying from Mexico or major cities in the US, flying to Fresno Yosemite is a good option. Alaska Airlines, Allegiant, American Airlines, Delta, Southwest, and United offer daily domestic flights to key cities while AeroMexico and Volaris connect you to several Mexican cities.
Fresno Yosemite has several ground transportation services including car rentals, Ride Shares, taxis, limos, shuttles, and bus lines to get you around the area. You can get to Yosemite National Park by picking up a rental car and driving for about an hour to the Arch Rock Entrance, or an hour and a half to the South Entrance.
Location
Fresno Yosemite International Airport is located on East Clinton Way in Fresno County.
How far is Fresno Airport from Yosemite National Park
🔰 Distance from Fresno to Yosemite National Park, Big Oak Flat Entrance: 110 miles
🔰 Distance from Fresno – Yosemite National Park, Arch Rock Entrance: 63 miles
🔰 Distance from Fresno Airport to Yosemite National Park, South Entrance: 65 miles
🔰 Distance to Tioga Pass Entrance: 150 miles
Travel time from Fresno California to Yosemite National Park
⌚ Travel Time Fresno CA to Yosemite National Park, Big Oak Flat Entrance: 2 hours and 45 minutes
⌚ Travel Time Fresno – California Yosemite National Park, Arch Rock Entrance: 1 hour and 5 minutes
⌚ Travel Time from Fresno Yosemite Airport to South Entrance: 1 hour and 20 minutes
⌚ Travel Time to Tioga Pass Entrance: 3 hours and 50 minutes
What airlines fly out of Fresno Yosemite International Airport? Which airports connect to there?
✈️ AeroMexico: Guadalajara, Mexico
✈️ Alaska Airlines: Seattle, San Diego, Portland
✈️ Allegiant: Las Vegas
✈️ American Airlines: Phoenix, Dallas/Fort Worth
✈️ Delta: Salt Lake City
✈️ Southwest: Las Vegas, Denver
✈️ United: Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago (Seasonal), San Francisco
✈️ Volaris: Morelia, Mexico, León, Mexico, Guadalajara, Mexico
➡️ Find the cheapest flight on Skyscanner
Rental car options
🚘 Onsite: Alamo, AVIS, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, Thrifty
➡️ Book a car through Discover Cars
Getting from Fresno Yosemite International Airport to Yosemite National Park
Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS): Seasonal (May to September)
🚘 Car Rental Services
Pros
- Quick drive to the Arch Rock Entrance
- Several flight options to various domestic destinations
- Plenty of car rental companies to choose from
- Easy access to other national parks like Sequoia and Kings Canyon
Cons
- International flights limited to Mexico
- YARTS transportation available only from May to September
This is the best airport for Yosemite National Park …
✔️ If you want to minimize drive time but fly on a major commercial airline
✔️ You don’t want to drive at all
✔️ If you’re also visiting national parks including Kings Canyon and Sequoia
Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH)
Mammoth Yosemite Airport is an airport near Yosemite, CA that can get you quickly to the park’s Tioga Pass Entrance. Advanced Airlines is the exclusive airline provider at this airport offering semi-private charter flights to Burbank, Carlsbad, and Hawthorne. You can also see Mammoth Lakes while you’re in the area.
To get to Yosemite National Park, you can rent a car from Enterprise Rental Cars or take the YARTS service to Tuolumne Meadows and Yosemite Valley. YARTS services at this airport are available only from June to September.
Location
Mammoth Yosemite Airport is located approximately six miles east of Mammoth Lakes in Mono County.
Distance Mammoth Yosemite Airport, California – Yosemite National Park
🔰 Distance to Big Oak Flat Entrance: 95 miles
🔰 Distance to Arch Rock Entrance: 171 miles
🔰 Distance to South Entrance: 131 miles
🔰 Distance to Tioga Pass Entrance: 42 miles
Travel time to Yosemite National Park
⌚ Travel Time to Big Oak Flat Entrance: 2 hours and 10 minutes
⌚ Travel Time to Arch Rock Entrance: 2 hours and 50 minutes
⌚ Travel Time to South Entrance: 3 hours and 50 minutes
⌚ Travel Time to Tioga Pass Entrance: 50 minutes
What airlines fly out of Mammoth Yosemite Airport? Which airports connect to there?
✈️ Advanced Airline: Burbank, Carlsbad and Hawthorne
➡️ Find the cheapest flight on Skyscanner
Rental car options
🚘 Onsite: Enterprise
➡️ Book a car through Discover Cars
Getting from Mammoth Yosemite Airport to Yosemite National Park
🚘 Car rental service
🚍 YARTS
Pros
- One-hour drive to Tioga Pass
- See other attractions like Mammoth Lakes
Cons
- When Tioga Road is closed, you need to take a longer drive to the other park entrances
- Limited to semi-private charter flights
- Can be more expensive
- Limited car rental options
- Limited ground transportation options
This is the best airport for Yosemite National Park …
✔️ If you want to minimize driving to the park
✔️ If you also want to see other sites like Mammoth Lakes
Stockton Metropolitan Airport (SCK)
Stockton Metropolitan Airport, located at the heart of Northern California, gives you convenient air travel to the Central Coast, Joaquin Delta, Lodi Wine County, and of course Yosemite.
Allegiant Airlines is the only airlines flying into Stockton Metropolitan, with non-stop flight services to Las Vegas and Phoenix/Sky Harbor.
There are no onsite car rental services at this time but there are several rental agencies in nearby Stockton. Travel time to three Yosemite National Park entrances is approximately two and a half to three hours.
Location
Stockton Metropolitan Airport is just three miles southeast of Stockton City in San Joaquin County.
Distance from Stockton, CA to Yosemite National Park
🔰 Distance to Big Oak Flat Entrance: 99 miles
🔰 Distance to Arch Rock Entrance: 126 miles
🔰 Distance to South Entrance: 146 miles
🔰 Distance to Tioga Pass Entrance: 153 miles
Travel time to Yosemite National Park
⌚ Travel Time to Big Oak Flat Entrance: 2 hours and 5 minutes
⌚ Travel Time to Arch Rock Entrance: 2 hours and 42 minutes
⌚ Travel Time to South Entrance: 2 hours and 46 minutes
⌚ Travel Time to Tioga Pass Entrance: 3 hours and 26 minutes
What airlines fly out of Stockton Metropolitan Airport? Which airports connect to there?
✈️ Allegiant Airlines: Las Vegas Harry Reid, Phoenix Sky Harbor
➡️ Find the cheapest flight on Skyscanner
Rental car options
🚘 No car rental services are available onsite at this time
🚘 Offsite (Stockton): Budget, Hertz, Enterprise
➡️ Book a car through Discover Cars
Getting from Stockton Metropolitan Airport to Yosemite National Park
🚍 Public transportation via Amtrak or Greyhound via Stockton and Merced
Pros
- Manageable travel time
- Access to other attractions in the area like San Joaquin Delta, the Central Coast, and Lodi Wine County
- Connecting flights to Los Angeles and Phoenix
Cons
- No car rental is available onsite
- Limited airline and flight options
- No international flights are availabl
This is the best airport for Yosemite National Park …
✔️ If you’ve also included other sites to see like the San Joaquin Delta, the Central Coast, and Lodi Wine County
Oakland International Airport (OAK)
Oakland International Airport lies south of Downtown San Francisco Bay area. This international airport offers multiple domestic flights to major cities across the US. You’ll get nonstop direct flights, budget airline rates, and mileage points on your airline’s frequent flyer program.
Car rental agencies are located at the offsite Rental Car Center but shuttle buses are provided 24/7 and are available every 10 minutes.
Amtrak and Greyhound services are available all year round for visitors to Yosemite National Park. If you’re planning to pick up a rental car and drive there, it will take you a little more than three hours. The closest entrance is Big Oak Flat.
Location
This airport is located around 10 miles south of San Francisco Bay area.
Distance to Oakland International Airport – Yosemite National Park
🔰 Distance to Big Oak Flat Entrance: 151 miles
🔰 Distance to Arch Rock Entrance: 177 miles
🔰 Distance to South Entrance: 205 miles
🔰 Distance to Tioga Pass Entrance: 204 miles
Travel time to Yosemite National Park
⌚ Travel Time to Big Oak Flat Entrance: 2 hours and 51 minutes
⌚ Travel Time to Arch Rock Entrance: 3 hours and 35 minutes
⌚ Travel Time to South Entrance: 3 hours and 41 minutes
⌚ Travel Time to Tioga Pass Entrance: 4 hours and 12 minutes
What airlines fly out of Oakland International Airport? Which airports connect to there?
✈️ Alaska: Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles
✈️ Allegiant: Las Vegas
✈️ Azores Airlines: Ponta Delgada, Portugal
✈️ Contour: Tennessee
✈️ Delta: Salt Lake City
✈️ Frontier: Las Vegas
✈️ Hawaiian Airlines: Honolulu, Hawaii
✈️ Southwest: Las Vegas, Denver
✈️ Spirit Airlines: Las Vegas
✈️ Volaris: Morelia, Mexico, León, Mexico, Guadalajara, Mexico
➡️ Find the cheapest flight on Skyscanner
Rental car options
🚘 Offsite (Rental Car Center): Alamo, AVIS, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Fox, Hertz, National, Payless, Thrifty
➡️ Book a car through Discover Cars
Getting from Oakland International Airport to Yosemite National Park
🚘 Rental car
🚍 Amtrak train or Greyhound bus + YARTS
Pros
- Plenty of domestic connecting flights
- More car rental options
- Budget flights offered
Cons
- Longer driving hours to the park
- International flights limited to Mexico
This is the best airport for Yosemite National Park …
✔️ If you’re flying from major US cities and prefer to drive rather than catch a smaller plane closer to the national park
Sacramento International Airport (SMF)
Sacramento International Airport, located northwest of downtown Sacramento, is the major gateway to California’s State Capitol. Aside from the majestic Yosemite National Park, you can get to other popular attractions like the Wine Country, Lake Tahoe, and areas on the North Coast by flying to Sacramento International. You can fly nonstop and direct to North American cities and take connecting flights to major airports.
If you’re staying in the area, on-demand taxi services are available, or you can take the Sacramento Regional Transit District or SacRT bus service from the airport to downtown Sacramento. If you’re visiting nearby regions, you can ride the Yolobus.
To get to Yosemite, you can rent a car from your preferred car rental company from the airport or opt for Amtrak or Greyhound transport.
Location
Sacramento International Airport is about 10 miles northwest of downtown Sacramento.
Distance from Sacramento, CA to Yosemite National Park
🔰 Distance to Big Oak Flat Entrance: 153 miles
🔰 Distance to Arch Rock Entrance: 127 miles
🔰 Distance to South Entrance: 202 miles
🔰 Distance to Tioga Pass Entrance: 207 miles
Travel time to Yosemite National Park
⌚ Travel Time to Big Oak Flat Entrance: 2 hours and 56 minutes
⌚ Travel Time to Arch Rock Entrance: 2 hours and 6 minutes
⌚ Travel Time to South Entrance: 4 hours and 5 minutes
⌚ Travel Time to Tioga Pass Entrance: 4 hours and 7 minutes
What airlines fly out of Sacramento International Airport? Which airports connect to there?
✈️ American Airlines: Phoenix, Dallas – Fort Worth, Austin
✈️ Delta: Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, Los Angeles
✈️ United Airlines: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston – Intercontinental, Denver, Chicago – O’Hare (seasonal)
✈️ Air Canada: Vancouver
✈️ AeroMexico: Guadalajara, Mexico
✈️ Alaska Airlines: Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles
✈️ Frontier: Las Vegas
✈️ Hawaiian Airlines: Honolulu, Hawaii
✈️ Horizon: Seattle
✈️ JetBlue: Los Angeles, Orlando, Florida, New York, Florida
✈️ Southwest: San Diego, San Jose, Phoenix, Oakland, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Las Vegas, Dallas – Love Field (seasonal), Denver, Burbank
✈️ Spirit: Las Vegas
✈️ Volaris: Guadalajara
➡️ Find the cheapest flight on Skyscanner
Rental car options
🚘 Onsite: Alamo, AVIS, Budget, Dollar Rent a Car, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless Car Rental, Thrifty, Zipcar
🚘 Offsite: Airport Van Rental
➡️ Book a car through Discover Cars
Getting from Sacramento International Airport to Yosemite National Park
🚘 Car Rentals
🚍 Amtrak and Greyhound (available all year)
Pros
- Lots of domestic flight options
- Several options for car rental service
- Visit scenic attractions in North California area like Vino Valhalla and Lake Tahoe
Cons
- Farther away from the park entrances
This is the best airport for Yosemite National Park …
✔️ If you’re planning to tour other sights like Vino Valhalla and Lake Tahoe
✔️ If you have more time to travel
San Jose International Airport (SJC)
San Jose International Airport is another of the commercial airports near Yosemite National Park, CA that you can choose. Several airlines fly to and from this airport with flights connecting to major US cities and international flights to Mexico, the UK and Japan.
The airport has several ground transportation services including taxi services, public transit, and charter transportation to get you around the area and regions nearby.
There are several car rental companies available at the onsite Rental Car Center just across from Terminal B. If you’re driving to Yosemite, it will take you more or less two hours to reach Arch Rock Entrance and about three hours to Big Oak Flat Entrance.
Location
This international airport is located in San Jose, California.
Distance from San Jose Airport to Yosemite National Park
🔰 Distance to Big Oak Flat Entrance: 163 miles
🔰 Distance to Arch Rock Entrance: 127 miles
🔰 Distance to South Entrance: 182 miles
🔰 Distance to Tioga Pass Entrance: 216 miles
Travel time to Yosemite National Park
⌚ Travel Time to Big Oak Flat Entrance: 3 hours and 4 minutes
⌚ Travel Time to Arch Rock Entrance: 2 hours and 5 minutes
⌚ Travel Time to South Entrance: 3 hours and 27 minutes
⌚ Travel Time to Tioga Pass Entrance: 4 hours and 25 minutes
What airlines fly out of San Jose International Airport? Which airports connect to there?
Non-stop domestic flights to several US cities, and international flights to Mexico, Tokyo, Japan and London (Heathrow), United Kingdom:
✈️ Alaska Airlines: Seattle, San Diego, Portland
✈️ American Airlines: Phoenix, Dallas/Fort Worth
✈️ British Airways: London, England
✈️ Delta: Salt Lake City
✈️ Hawaiian Airlines: Honolulu, Hawaii
✈️ JetBlue: Los Angeles, Orlando, Florida, New York, Florida
✈️ Southwest: Las Vegas, Denver
✈️ United: Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago (Seasonal), San Francisco
✈️ Volaris: Morelia, Mexico, León, Mexico, Guadalajara, Mexico
✈️ Zipair: Tokyo-Narita
➡️ Find the cheapest flight on Skyscanner
Rental car options
🚘 Onsite: Alamo, AVIS, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Fox Rent a Car, Hertz, National, Payless, Sixt, Thrifty
➡️ Book a car through Discover Cars
Getting from San Jose International Airport to Yosemite National Park
🚍 Amtrak and Greyhound (available all-year)
🚘 Rent a car
Pros
- Plenty of non-stop domestic flights offered
- International flights to Mexico, Tokyo and London (Heathrow)
- Tour other attractions in San Jose, California
Cons
- Flights to Canada and British Columbia area are not available here
- It’s not the closest airport, not does it have the most flight options
This is the best airport for Yosemite National Park …
✔️ If you have enough time to travel
✔️ If you’re also going to see places of interest in San Jose or along the way
San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
San Francisco International Airport is the closest major airport to Yosemite National Park and the largest airport in the Bay Area. You can book non-stop flights to over 40 international cities serviced on 37 international airline carriers. The airport also provides non-stop domestic flights by 13 domestic airlines to more than 75 cities across the US.
San Francisco International has excellent amenities and features for passengers flying to and from the airport.
The airport has both onsite and offsite car rental agencies available. You can take the free shuttle service from the terminal going to the Rental Car Center. Charter buses are also offered for tours around Yosemite. You can also opt for Amtrak and Greyhound services to get you to the park.
Location
Located in San Mateo County, this international airport is just 13 miles south of downtown San Francisco.
Distance from San Francisco airport to Yosemite National Park
🔰 Distance to Big Oak Flat Entrance: 170 miles
🔰 Distance to Arch Rock Entrance: 134 miles
🔰 Distance to South Entrance: 214 miles
🔰 Distance to Tioga Pass Entrance: 223 miles
Travel time from San Francisco airport to Yosemite National Park
⌚ Travel Time to Big Oak Flat Entrance: 3 hours and 10 minutes
⌚ Travel Time to Arch Rock Entrance: 2 hours and 10 minutes
⌚ Travel Time to South Entrance: 3 hours and 55 minutes
⌚ Travel Time to Tioga Pass Entrance: 4 hours and 30 minutes
What airlines fly out of San Francisco International Airport? Which airports connect to there?
✈️ Multiple domestic and international airlines fly to and from San Francisco International Airport.
➡️ Find the cheapest flight on Skyscanner
Rental car options
🚘 Onsite: Alamo, AVIS, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Sixt, Hertz, National, Thrifty
🚘 Offsite: Airport Van Rental, NU Car Rentals, Payless Car Rental, Fox
➡️ Book a car through Discover Cars
Getting from San Francisco International Airport to Yosemite National Park
🚘 Car rental service
Pros
- Plenty of flight and airline services both domestic and international
- Cheaper flight options
- Lots car rental services offered here, including RV rentals
- Wide range of ground transportation services
Cons
- Not the closest airport to the park
This is the best airport for Yosemite National Park …
✔️ If you are flying internationally
✔️ You want to find a direct domestic flight easily
✔️ If you have a lot of time to travel
✔️ You plan to rent an RV
Reno – Tahoe International Airport (RNO)
Reno-Tahoe International Airport provides air services for Reno, the Lake Tahoe area, and the surrounding regions. 12 airlines offer daily arrivals and departures to more than 20 destinations.
Several transport companies serve passengers flying to and from this airport. You can visit the cities nearby through Public Transit or paid shuttle services from Reno – Tahoe International.
Reno-Tahoe International also has several car rental services available both onsite and offsite. If you’re traveling to see Yosemite, you’ll be driving around three hours from the airport area to Tuolumne Meadows and enter via Tioga Pass.
On the other hand, if you don’t want to drive there, you can take the Eastern Sierra Transit and YARTS, though this is only available from June to September.
Location
This airport lies three miles southeast of downtown Reno in northern Nevada
Distance from Reno, Nevada to Yosemite National Park
🔰 Distance from Reno to Yosemite National Park, Big Oak Flat Entrance: 203 miles
🔰 Distance to Arch Rock Entrance: 250 miles
🔰 Distance to South Entrance: 252 miles
🔰 Distance to Tioga Pass Entrance: 150 miles
Travel time from Reno, NV to Yosemite National Park
⌚ Travel Time to Big Oak Flat Entrance: 4 hours and 10 minutes
⌚ Travel Time to Arch Rock Entrance: 4 hours and 10 minutes
⌚ Travel Time to South Entrance: 5 hours and 40 minutes
⌚ Travel Time to Tioga Pass Entrance: 2 hours and 50 minutes
What airlines fly out of Reno – Tahoe International Airport? Which airports connect to there?
✈️ Alaska Airlines: Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles
✈️ Allegiant: Las Vegas
✈️ American Airlines: Phoenix, Dallas – Fort Worth, Austin
✈️ Delta: Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, Los Angeles
✈️ Frontier: Las Vegas
✈️ JetBlue: New York, Los Angeles
✈️ JSX: Orange County, Las Vegas, Burbank
✈️ Southwest: San Diego, San Jose, Phoenix, Oakland, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Las Vegas, Dallas – Love Field (seasonal), Denver, Burbank
✈️ Spirit: Las Vegas
✈️ Sun Country Airlines: Minneapolis
✈️ United: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston – Intercontinental, Denver
✈️ Chicago – O’Hare (seasonal)
✈️ Volaris: Guadalajara
➡️ Find the cheapest flight on Skyscanner
Rental car options
🚘 Onsite: Alamo, AVIS, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Thrifty
🚘 Offsite: Payless, Reno-Tahoe Rental Car
➡️ Book a car through Discover Cars
Getting from Reno – Tahoe International Airport to Yosemite National Park
🚘 Car rental services
🚍 Eastern Sierra Transit going to Lee Vining, then YARTS going to Yosemite (available from July to September)
🚍 Amtrak and Greyhound
Pros
- Several domestic flights and airline services available
- Budget flights available
- Wide range of public transportation services
Cons
- Long drive to the park; the shortest is about three hours
- Offers only one international flight
- The easiest access from Reno to Yosemite is through the Tioga Pass, which is closed in the winter
This is the best airport for Yosemite National Park …
✔️ If you have a longer travel time and are traveling in the warmer months
✔️ If you’ll be visiting Reno or nearby locations like Lake Tahoe
How to Decide the Best Airport for Yosemite National Park
Deciding on the best airport to fly into for Yosemite National Park depends on what you plan in your itinerary. Some things to consider are:
❓ Which of the four entrances do you want to get to? If you’ll be coming from the Bay Area or San Francisco, you can take the Big Oak Flat Entrance and Arch Rock Entrance. Otherwise, if you’re traveling from the Los Angeles or San Diego area, the South Entrance is ideal. The Tioga Pass Entrance is accessible from Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas, and the Death Valley area but only from May to October.
❓ Where else are you planning to go on your trip? Some airports near Yosemite, CA gives you access to other places of interest that you can include in your itinerary.
❓ When are you going? Are you visiting around May to September? Some shuttle services from the nearest airport to Yosemite Park are only available during these months. There are also park entrances that are busier during spring or fall seasons so you need to plan accordingly to avoid traffic and limited parking. Some parts of the park, including the Tioga Pass, are closed over winter, so an airport near there will not be the best option at that time of year.
❓ Where are you staying? Know what airport to fly into for Yosemite National Park that’s close to your lodge or hotel. This saves you time for travel and helps you make the most of your itinerary.
❓ How much time do you have? When you’re considering your travel time, it’s wiser to find the nearest airport. Yosemite National Park’s entrances are more accessible to some airports.
❓ What’s your budget? Are you opting for budget airlines? You’ll find plenty of cheaper flights in some airports and still get the closest flight to Yosemite.
❓ Do you have a frequent flyer program with a specific airline? Some airports offer more airline services than others. So if you’re flying to the nearest major airport to Yosemite National Park, most of them offer frequent flyer programs you can use.
❓ Where are you flying from? Are you taking a domestic or international flight? Most airports that offer flights near Yosemite have several domestic and international flights available.
❓ What type of car do you want to rent when you arrive? Renting a car at the airport nearest Yosemite National Park is a popular option to get you into and around the national park. Car rental agencies differ from several airports. You can decide on the Yosemite National Park airport with your preferred car rental service.
FAQs About the Nearest Airport to Yosemite National Park
What airport is closest to Yosemite National Park?
The closest airport Yosemite is Fresno Yosemite International Airport. Flying here lets you access the Arch Rock and South entrances in about one to one and a half hours.
What is the closest international airport to Yosemite National Park?
Fresno Yosemite International Airport is the closest international airport you can fly to get to Yosemite especially if you are coming from Mexico.
What’s the best airport to get to Yosemite National Park?
The best airport to fly to Yosemite is San Francisco International Airport. Though not really the closest airport to the park, this airport gives you a wide range of flight and airline options both domestic and international.
What’s the closest large airport to Yosemite National Park?
San Francisco International Airport is the closest major airport to Yosemite Park. This major airport gives you plenty of options for flight carriers and easy access to many cities in the US and outside the country.
What the closest airport to Yosemite Southwest Airlines flies to?
The closest Southwest airport to Yosemite is Fresno Yosemite International Airport. The airport offers services by Southwest Airlines with daily flights to Las Vegas and Denver.
Map of Airports Near Yosemite National Park
Travel Insurance for Yosemite National Park
When you’re flying to Yosemite National Park, consider getting travel insurance too. Make sure it includes trip cancellation, in case you need to cancel your flight before your travel, so that you can get a refund.
➡️ A great insurance option is Travelex. It has coverage for all you’ll need. You choose the best travel insurance plan for your trip here or get a quote right now:
Have a great trip to Yosemite! I hope this guide to all the major airports near Yosemite National Park has helped you decide what airport to fly to Yosemite National Park.
More Planning Resources for Yosemite National Park
⭐ Yosemite National Park Guide
⭐ Planning A Trip to Yosemite National Park: 7 Mistakes to Avoid
⭐ Guide to Yosemite National Park Ticketed Entry
⭐ How To Get To Yosemite National Park
⭐ 10 Tips For Visiting Yosemite National Park
⭐ The Closest Airport to Yosemite National Park
⭐ When is The Best Time To Visit Yosemite National Park?
⭐ Visiting Yosemite National Park: What To Expect Throughout the Year
⭐ 10 Fun Facts About Yosemite National Park
⭐ Vacation Rentals Near Yosemite National Park
Which airport near Yosemite National Park did you choose? I’d love to know. Join my private Facebook group National Parks Collectors and comment and let me know (you can also pick up extra planning tips, share your photos and stories with other national park lovers and more).
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The Airports Closest To Yosemite National Park
Now you know all the options for flights to Yosemite National Park and what the closest airport to Yosemite National Park, CA is, Pin It to your Yosemite National Park board for easy reference!
💡 Are you just starting to think about taking a national parks trip? Get Inspiration
‼️ Are you looking for helpful tips for visiting US national parks? Read articles that share useful tips on a range of national-park related issues
💻 Are you starting to plan a trip to Yosemite National Park? Read my Guide to Yosemite National Park
🛏️ Are you looking for a place to stay near Yosemite National Park? Find a vacation rental near Yosemite National Park
💲 Are you ready to book your trip? Use these Planning and Booking Resources
📖 Do you want to read a book about US national parks? Check out my Recommended Reading Lists
About the Author
James Ian is a national park, camping and hiking expert.
He has dedicated his life to travel, visiting more than 80 countries, all 7 continents and most of the national parks in the United States. With over 35 years experience in the travel industry, James has worked on cruise ships, at resorts and hotels, and as a travel planner who’s helped hundreds of people plan successful trips to US national parks.
Based on his experience visiting our national parks multiple times, in-depth research and expertise as a travel planner, James has published detailed itineraries for many of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, and other resources will help you have your own incredible trip to US national parks without stress and hassle.
As a national park expert, James has contributed to many publications, including USA Today, Newsweek, Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.
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