The Airports Near Glacier National Park

If you’ve started planning your trip to Glacier, then you’re probably trying to figure out what airport to fly into Glacier National Park. An important thing to decide when you planning a trip to Glacier National Park is the best airport to fly to Glacier National Park.   

I’m here to help you decide.  Whether cost or traveling time is your top priority, once you know the best way to fly to Glacier National Park, you can really get down to planning your trip. 

In order to help you choose to the best airport for Glacier National Park, in this guide we will look at all the airports near Glacier 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 Glacier National Park.

🎫TOP TOUR: Book a full-day scenic tour now
🛏️TOP HOTEL PICK: Check availability now
🚘FIND THE CHEAPEST CAR RENTAL: Search Discover Cars for the best deals
✈️FIND THE CHEAPEST FLIGHTS: Search Skyscanner for the best deals
🧳GET TRAVEL INSURANCE: Get insured with Travelex before you go
📱TAKE AN AUDIO TOURBuy an audio tour now

No time right now to read about what the Glacier National Park nearby airports are? Pin It and save it for later:

Please note this post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission, at zero cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see our full Disclosure for more information. If you have any questions, please contact me.


What are the best Airports Close to Glacier National Park Montana? 

The airports near Glacier National Park are: 

  1. Glacier Park International Airport (FCA)
  2. Missoula Montana Airport (MSO)
  3. Lethbridge County Airport (YQL)
  4. Spokane International Airport (GEG)
  5. Great Falls International Airport (GTF)
  6. Calgary International Airport (YYC)
  7. Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN)

Glacier Park International Airport (FCA)

Aerial view of buildings surrounded by trees, plain fields and mountains in Flathead Country Near Glacier Park International Airport.

Glacier Park International Airport is also known as Kalispell Airport, as it’s only six miles from there.  It’s the nearest airport to Glacier National Park, and is served by half a dozen major carriers. 

Daily flights operate to this Glacier National Park airport from Las Vegas, Seattle, Denver, Salt Lake City and Minneapolis. There can also be seasonal flights to Kalispell Airport from New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas, Phoenix, Houston, Oakland, Portland and San Diego. Alaska, American, Delta and United serve this airport near Glacier National Park in Montana.

To get from the airport, you can rent a car at the car rental center or take an Uber. The trip time is approximately 45 minutes depending on where you’re headed. 

Location: Glacier Park International Airport is about six miles from Kalispell. 

Distance to Glacier National Park: 25 miles 

Travel time to Glacier National Park: 30 minutes 

What airlines fly out of Glacier Park International Airport? Which airports connect to there? 

  • Alaska: Daily flights to Seattle, plus seasonal flights to Portland, Los Angeles and San Diego
  • Allegiant: Twice-weekly direct flights to Las Vegas and Phoenix, plus seasonal service to Oakland and Los Angeles
  • American: Seasonal, weekly flights to Dallas, Chicago, and New York La Guardia
  • Avelo: Twice-weekly direct flights to Burbank
  • Delta: Daily direct flights to Salt Lake City and Minneapolis
  • Sun Country: Seasonal, twice-weekly direct flights to Minneapolis / St Paul
  • United: Daily flights to Denver, plus seasonal flights to Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco

Rental car options: 

  • Onsite: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Hertz, National 
  • Offsite: Dollar, Enterprise, Kalispell Toyota, Thrifty

Getting from Glacier Park International Airport to Glacier National Park:

  • Car rental
  • Lyft or Uber ride shares
  • Local shuttle and taxi services

Pros

  • Nearest airport to Glacier National Park
  • Open all year round
  • 6 major airlines serving 5+ major US hubs

Cons

  • Some flights are seasonal 
  • Around half the rental care agencies are off-site

This is the best airport for Glacier National Park …

  • If you want minimal driving times between the airport and park
  • When you want to connect to major US hubs via big airlines

Missoula Montana Airport (MSO)

Aerial view of Missoula Montana, with buildings surrounded by trees, highways, cars and mountains.

Another option for those wondering how to fly to Glacier National Park is Missoula Montana Airport. The airport is centrally located in the Rocky Mountains area, and offers direct flights to around 14 US cities. 

This major airport near Glacier National Park offers year-round flights from Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Salt Lake City and Seattle, plus around seven additional seasonal destinations. 

The Montana airport near Glacier National Park has seven car rental companies on site, plus a couple of off-site options. You can drive to the park in around two-and-a-half hours from here, or grab a ride share service or local shuttle. 

Location: Missoula International Airport is in Missoula County, around four miles northwest of Missoula City. It’s almost directly south of Glacier National Park.

Distance to Glacier National Park: 132 miles 

Travel time to Glacier National Park: 2 hours and 30 minutes 

What airlines fly out of Missoula Montana Airport? Which airports connect to there? 

  • Alaska: Year round flights to Seattle, plus seasonal flights to Portland, San Diego and San Francisco
  • Allegiant: Year round flights to Las Vegas and Phoenix Mesa, plus seasonal flights to Los Angeles, Oakland and Orange County
  • American: Year round flights to Dallas Fort Worth, plus seasonal flights to Chicago O’Hare and Los Angeles
  • Delta: Year round flights to Salt Lake City and Minneapolis
  • United: Year round flights to Denver, plus seasonal flights to Chicago O’Hare and San Francisco

Rental car options: 

  • Onsite: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Thrifty
  • Offsite: Dollar, Missoula Adventure Rentals

Getting from Missoula Montana Airport to Glacier National Park: 

  • Car rental
  • Lyft, Turo or Uber ride shares
  • Local shuttle and taxi services

Pros: 

  • Open all year
  • 7 car rental agencies on site
  • 5 major airlines serving major US hubs all year round

Pros

  • Around 2.5 hours’ drive from the park
  • Some seasonal flights 

Cons

  • Not the closest airport to the park

This is the best airport for Glacier National Park … 

  • If you want to fly direct from destinations such as Dallas, Phoenix or Orange County
  • When you want to explore the Missoula area

Lethbridge County Airport (YQL)

A third option for those considering what is the best airport to fly into for Glacier National Park is Lethbridge County. This is actually located in Alberta, Canada, and offers WestJet services to Calgary several times per day. 

It’s by no means the biggest airport near Glacier National Park, but does offer car rental services both on and off site. 

Location: Lethbridge County Airport is in Alberta, Canada, several miles southeast of Lethbridge.

Distance to Glacier National Park: 77 miles

Travel time to Glacier National Park: 1 hour 15 minutes

What airlines fly out of Lethbridge County Airport? Which airports connect to there?

  • Westjet: Westjet flights to Calgary several times per day

Rental car options: 

  • Onsite: National
  • Offsite: Enterprise

Getting from Lethbridge County Airport to Glacier National Park: 

  • Car rental

Pros

  • Open all year
  • Several daily flights to and from Calgary
  • Closer to Glacier National Park than Missoula Montana

Cons

  • Only WestJet airlines operate here
  • Limited size and services
  • An international border crossing to reach the national park

This is the best airport for Glacier National Park … 

  • If you are also visiting Canada

Spokane International Airport (GEG)

While Spokane International Airport isn’t the closest international airport to Glacier National Park, it’s a good choice for getting to Glacier National Park by air if you’re also planning to visit Washington State.

Though this is four hours and 40 minutes from Glacier National Park, there’s a good selection of flights to numerous US cities, and most of these operate all year round. Eight car rental companies also have desks here. 

Location: Spokane International Airport is around seven 7 miles southwest of Spokane, in Washington state.

How far is Spokane from Glacier National Park: 278 miles 

Travel time to Glacier National Park: 4 hours and 40 minutes

What airlines fly out of Spokane International Airport? Which airports connect to there? 

  • Alaska: Year-round direct flights to Boise, Los Angeles, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle 
  • Allegiant: Year-round direct flights to Las Vegas, Orange County and Phoenix Mesa
  • American: Year-round direct flights to Dallas Fort Worth and Phoenix
  • Delta: Year-round direct flights to Atlanta, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Salt Lake City and Seattle
  • Southwest: Year-round direct flights to Denver, Las Vegas, Oakland, Phoenix, Sacramento and San Jose
  • Sun Country: Seasonal flights to Minneapolis
  • United: Seasonal flights to Chicago, Denver and San Francisco

Rental car options: 

  • Onsite: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Thrifty

Getting from Spokane International Airport to Glacier National Park: 

  • Car rental
  • Lyft or Uber ride shares
  • Local shuttle and taxi services

Pros

  • International airport
  • Year-round flights to many US cities
  • Good choice of car rental companies

Cons

  • Over four-and-a-half hours’ drive from Glacier National Park

This is the best airport for Glacier National Park … 


Great Falls International Airport (GTF)

Another of the options for those seeking Montana airports near Glacier National Park is Great Falls International Airport. This international airport is under two-and-a-half hours’ drive from several of Glacier National Park’s entrances.

Flights operate year-round from this airport near Glacier National Park MT to Denver, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Phoenix and Seattle.

Location: Great Falls International Airport in Cascade County, Montana is about three miles southwest of central Great Falls.

Distance to Glacier National Park: 148 miles 

Travel time to Glacier National Park:  2 hours and 20 minutes 

What airlines fly out of Great Falls International Airport? Which airports connect to there? 

  • Alaska: Year-round direct flights to Seattle 
  • Allegiant: Year-round direct flights to Las Vegas and Phoenix
  • Delta: Year-round direct flights to Minneapolis and Salt Lake City
  • United: Year-round flights to Denver

Rental car options: 

  • Onsite: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National

Getting from Great Falls International Airport to Glacier National Park:

  • Car rental
  • Uber ride shares
  • Local shuttle and taxi services

Pros

  • International airport 
  • Direct flights with 4 major carriers
  • Choice of car rental outlets on-site

Cons

  • Limited destinations

This is the best airport for Glacier National Park … 

  • If you want to explore the Great Falls area

Calgary International Airport (YYC)

It might surprise you to learn, when asking what airport is near Glacier National Park, that a couple of Canadian airports are contenders. Calgary International Airport is one of these, as the park is just over three hours’ drive from the airport. 

As an international airport, Calgary offers lots of choice regarding national and international flights. Amenities such as car rental desks are also very good. 

Location: Calgary International Airport is about 10.5 miles northeast of downtown Calgary in Alberta, Canada. 

Distance from Glacier National Park to Calgary: 187 miles 

Travel time from Calgary to Glacier National Park: 3 hours and 10 minutes

What airlines fly out of Calgary International Airport? Which airports connect to there? 

  • A number of Canadian, US and international airlines operate flights to and from Calgary. These include Air Canada, American, British Airways, Delta, KLM and more. You can therefore fly all over the two countries, and indeed the world, from Calgary International Airport.  

Rental car options: 

  • Onsite: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Thrifty
  • Offsite: Discount, Driving Force, NU, Routes, UDrive

Getting from Calgary International Airport to Glacier National Park:

  • Car rental
  • Lyft and Uber ride shares
  • Local shuttle and taxi services

Pros

  • Great facilities
  • Major international airport
  • Large range of airlines and destinations

Cons

  • Over 3 hours’ drive from Glacier National Park
  • International border crossing to reach the park

This is the best airport for Glacier National Park … 

  • If you want to explore Canada as well as Montana
  • You’d like to fly internationally or from other parts of Canada 

Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN)

View of buildings and cars parked and behind are mountains in Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport.

Our final pick is not the closest major airport to Glacier National Park but is a great choice if you’re also planning to visit Montana’s other national park, Yellowstone. Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport is a popular choice if you want to explore both national parks in one hit. 

Bozeman Yellowstone offers a good range of airlines, destinations and both on and off site car rental desks. You can fly to and from a good range of cities when using this airport too. 

Location: Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport is 8 miles northwest of Bozeman in Belgrade, Montana. 

How far is Bozeman Airport from Glacier National Park: 281 miles 

Travel time Bozeman to Glacier National Park  4 hours and 30 minutes

What airlines fly out of Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport? Which airports connect to there? 

  • Alaska: Year-round direct flights to Los Angeles, Orange County, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle 
  • Allegiant: Year-round direct flights to Austin, Las Vegas, Nashville and Phoenix Mesa
  • American: Year-round direct flights to Austin, Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles
  • Avelo: Year-round direct flights to Burbank
  • Delta: Year-round direct flights to Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis and Salt Lake City
  • JetBlue: Year-round direct flights to Boston and New York
  • Southwest: Year-round direct flights to Dallas, Denver and Las Vegas
  • Sun Country: Year-round direct flights to Minneapolis
  • United: Year-round direct flights to Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington D.C. 

Rental car options: 

  • Onsite: Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Go, Hertz, National, Thrifty
  • Offsite: Explore, Finish Line, Journey, Montana Overlanding, NextCar, Rent-a-Car Montana, Rocky Mountain Expeditions 

Getting from Bozeman Airport to Glacier National Park: 

  1. Car rental
  2. Lyft, Turo and Uber ride shares
  3. Local shuttle and taxi services

Pros

  • Good choice of flights
  • Lots of car rental desks
  • Ideal for visiting Yellowstone

Cons

  • Long drive from Glacier National Park

This is the best airport for Glacier National Park … 

  • If you want to visit Yellowstone National Park as well as Glacier

How to Decide Where to Fly into for Glacier National Park?

The first step in deciding the best airport to Glacier National Park may be to work out what airport is close to Glacier National Park. But as well as knowing the nearest airport for Glacier National Park, you also need to consider other specifics related to your trip, such as your budget, where you want to stay and which park entrance you plan to use. 

Before making a firm decision regarding what airport for Glacier National Park, here are some of the factors to consider. 

  • Where else are you planning to go on your trip? If you’re planning to visit other parts of Montana such as Yellowstone National Park, the Rocky Mountains, neighboring states or even Canada, then the Glacier National Park nearest airport may not necessarily be the best choice overall. 
  • When are you going? Some flights may be seasonal.
  • Where are you staying? This can be even more important with Glacier than other national parks, as this one has seven entrances to choose from. Find out where they are in this guide.
  • How much time do you have? It’s important to factor in travel time from the airport, as this will take up some of your overall trip time. 
  • Where are you flying from? Bigger airports offer more choice regarding connections, so where you’re flying from may be very significant.
  • What’s your budget? It may cost more to fly into the closest airport to Glacier National Park MT, for example, than to another larger or regional hub.
  • Do you have a frequent flyer program with your favorite airline? If so you might well want to fly into an airport that is used by this carrier. 
  • What type of car do you want to rent when you arrive? If you want to use a specific rental company or hire a certain kind of car, this this may only be available at selected airports.

FAQs About Airport Closest to Glacier National Park, Montana

What airport should I fly into for Glacier National Park?

If you want to find an airport near Montana Glacier National Park, then Glacier Park International Airport is the nearest. This airport also acts as a gateway to northwestern Montana. The airport is close to Kalispell, and is thus also known as Kalispell Airport. 
 
It’s about 30 miles from the airport to Glacier National Park’s West Entrance, and only 12 miles to Whitefish. Other options include Spokane International Airport, Missoula Montana Airport, Great Falls International Airport, Lethbridge County Airport, Calgary International Airport and Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport.

What is the best airport to fly into for Glacier National Park?

The Glacier National Park closest airport is Glacier Park International Airport. This is about 45 minutes by car from the national park. A number of US carriers service the airport, with seasonal and year-round connections to a number of cities. 
 
This is the closest of the Glacier National Park airports. However another one may suit you better, depending on factors like your plans, your budget and where you’re coming from.

Other airports used by park visitors include Missoula Montana Airport, Lethbridge County Airport, Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, Calgary International Airport, Great Falls International Airport and Spokane International Airport.

What is the nearest major airport to Glacier National Park?

Although there are several airports around Glacier National Park, the closest is Glacier Park International Airport in Kalispell.

What city is closest to Glacier Park?

Columbia Falls, Coram, Kalispell, West Glacier and Whitefish are lie to the west of the park, and close to some of the entrances. East Glacier Park and St Mary, meanwhile, popular picks for the eastern side. Glacier Park International Airport is located just outside Kalispell.

What is the major airport in Montana?

Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport is the busiest in Montana, supplying flights to serve Yellowstone National Park. The airport is also used by those visiting the Rocky Mountains and Glacier National Park. It has a longer runway and more traffic than any other airport in Montana.

Which airlines fly to Montana?

A number of US airlines fly into airports in Montana. These include Alaska, Allegiant, American, Avelo, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, SunCountry and United. Between them, these carriers fly into Glacier Park International Airport, Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, Missoula Montana Airport and Great Falls International Airport.

What is the cheapest airport to fly into for Glacier National Park?

Kalispell is the closest airport to Glacier National Park, but flights can be quite expensive. You can often get cheaper flights to other airports such as Great Falls, but you will be faced with a longer drive to get to the park. Which will cost the least depends on your starting point, the deals available at the time and a variety of other factors.

What month is it cheapest to fly to Montana?

According to Skyscanner, it’s cheapest to fly to Bozeman Yellowstone International in January on average, while the cheapest month to fly to West Yellowstone tends to be September. This will of course vary according to the airline, the airport, where you’re flying from, the exact dates, whether you fly during a weekday or a weekend and various other factors.


Map of Airports Near Glacier National Park


Travel Insurance for Glacier National Park

A final thought.  When you’re flying into Glacier 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 can choose the best travel insurance plan for your trip here or get a quote right now:

728x90 Get Quote

Have a great trip to Glacier National Park!  I hope this guide has helped you decide what is the best airport to fly into Glacier National Park?

FREE DOWNLOAD
Subscribe to daily national parks planning tips, travel inspiration and trip ideas and get instant access to the free PDF of this guide to the
Closest Airports To Glacier National Park

You might also like

Glacier National Park Guide
Best Time to Visit Glacier National Park
Guide to Glacier National Park Ticketed Entry
The Best Hikes in Glacier National Park
10 Fun Facts About Glacier National Park
How to Get to Glacier National Park
What Is The Closest Airport To Glacier National Park, Montana?
7 Mistakes to Avoid When Planning a Trip to Glacier National Park


Which of the airports closest to Glacier 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).

Now you know all the closest airports to Glacier National Park, Pin It to your Glacier National Park board for easy reference!

WHERE ARE YOU IN YOUR PLANNING PROCESS?

Are you just starting to think about taking a national parks trip? Get Inspiration
Are you starting to plan a trip to Glacier National Park? Read my Glacier National Park Guide
Are you ready to book your trip? Use these Planning and Booking Resources

About the Author

James Ian Yosemite

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 most of the major national parks in the US. These itineraries, as well as in-depth park guides, comprehensive camping and hiking gear reviews and buying guides, and helpful packing lists and gift guides 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, Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.

Read more…


Parks Collecting is a participant in the Amazon.com Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.