The Best Airport for Yellowstone National Park

When you’re planning your trip to Yellowstone National Park, one of the things you’ll need to decide is where to fly into. 

In this guide, we’ll look at the closest airport to Yellowstone National Park. 

‼️ It’s worth noting that although this is my pick for the best airport, there are five entrances and depending on where you stay, when you go and your full itinerary, another airport may be better for your trip.  For more detailed information about other nearby airports, read my Guide to all the Airports Near Yellowstone National Park. ‼️


If you’re planning to visit Yellowstone National Park by yourself, make your planning easy and stress free with a detailed itinerary. I have 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-day itineraries for Yellowstone National Park that include all the park highlights, give you choices based on your preferred activity level, and take all the stress out of planning your trip.

➡️ Check out the four Yellowstone National Park itinerary options

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collage of airport, plane and colorful hot spring with text: The closest airport to Yellowstone National Park
collage of airport, plane and colorful hot spring with text: The nearest airport to Yellowstone National Park

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Best Airport for Yellowstone

What’s the best airport for Yellowstone National Park?

Yellowstone Airport (WYS) 

West Yellowstone 2
West Yellowstone

Yellowstone Airport (WYS) is located in West Yellowstone, Montana.  It’s not only the closest airport to West Yellowstone (it’s literally right on the edge of the small town), it’s also the airport closest to Yellowstone National Park.

It’s a small regional and seasonal airport, so options are limited. It only operates from late May to late September and only has flights with two airlines from two connecting cities.  However, it’s the best airport if you’re looking to minimize your drive to the national park and you’re traveling in those months.

Closest entrance(s)

West Entrance 

Drive time from West Yellowstone Airport to Yellowstone

⌚ It’s just 6 minutes/ 3 miles to the West Entrance

Airlines that fly into there / Airports that connect to there

✈️ Delta – Salt Lake City
✈️ United – Denver 

➡️ Find the cheapest flight on Skyscanner

Rental car options

🚘 Onsite: Avis and Budget 

➡️ Book a car through Discover Carsars

Pros

  • Yellowstone closest airport
  • West Yellowstone is the most popular place to stay outside the park. It’s central to the park’s attractions and has a range of accommodations. 

Cons

  • Only has two airlines
  • Only has flights from Salt Lake City and Denver
  • Only operates during the peak tourist season
  • It’s not the cheapest airport to fly into for Yellowstone

Nearest Airport: Yellowstone National Park Map 


Travel Insurancefor Yellowstone National Park

When you’ve booked your flights, 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: 

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Have a great trip to Yellowstone! I hope this guide has helped you decide where to fly to Yellowstone National Park. 

More Planning Resources for Yellowstone National Park

➡️ If you’re also planning to visit the Grand Tetons, read my Guide to Grand Teton National Park and get a detailed Grand Teton itinerary.

Do you have any questions about the best airport for Yellowstone Park?  Please ask.Join my private Facebook group National Parks Collectors and comment and let me know your question(s) (you can also pick up extra planning tips, share your photos and stories with other national park lovers and more).   

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Best Airport for Yellowstone

If you liked this article about where to fly to go to Yellowstone, Pin It to your Yellowstone National Park board!  

collage of airport, plane and colorful hot spring with text: The nearest airport to Yellowstone National Park
collage of airport, plane and colorful hot spring with text: The closest airport to Yellowstone National Park
WHERE ARE YOU IN YOUR PLANNING PROCESS?

💡 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 Yellowstone National Park? Read my Guide to Yellowstone National Park
📋 Do you want a ready-made super detailed plan for your trip to Yellowstone? Get a detailed 1 – 4-day Yellowstone National Park Itinerary
🛏️ Are you looking for a place to stay in or near Yellowstone National Park? Find a vacation rental near Yellowstone National Park or ⛺ Find a campground inside Yellowstone National Park
💲 Are you ready to book your trip? Use these Planning and Booking Resources
📖 Do you want to read a book about Yellowstone National Park? Check out my Recommended Reading List for Yellowstone National Park

About the Author 

James Ian at 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 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, Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.

Read more…


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