Northern Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park gives you spectacular views of mountain ranges, thick forests, and alpine lakes and rivers. The park is famous for the scenic Trail Ridge Road and Old Fall River Road. You can explore miles of hiking trails and view amazing wildlife in the area.
To get all these Rocky Mountain experiences, you need to plan your trip accordingly. And that includes knowing what airport is closest to Rocky Mountain National Park.
The park has three entrances. Two are on the east side – Beaver Meadows Entrance Station and Fall River Entrance Station, with Estes Park as the main gateway town. The Grand Lake Entrance Station on the west side can be accessed through Grand Lake. Knowing which entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park you’ll be entering can help you decide how to get to the park and what airport to fly to.
Getting ready for your Rocky Mountain National Park trip but still haven’t decided what airport you’ll fly to? Then, this is what this guide is all about. It will help you decide on the best airport for your travel.
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This guide outlines a range of convenient airports that you could be the best for your trip. However, the nearest airport with commercial flights to Rocky Mountain National Park is Denver International Airport on the east (Estes Park) side and Yampa Valley Regional Airport on the west (Grand Lake) side of the park.
Planning Your Trip to Rocky Mountain National Park
Before we start looking at airports, here’s a quick planning guide:
- First up, you’ll need to decide when to go.
- You’ll also need to decide how long to go for.
- Then, you’ll need to decide where to stay. Estes Park on the east side of the mountain and Grand Lake on the west side both have plenty of accommodations to choose from. Read my Guide to The best Vacation Rentals in Estes Park and my Guide to The Best Cabins In and Near Estes Park for suggestions.
- Now that you have decided where to stay, the next thing is to decide the best way to get to Rocky Mountain National Park. If you’re taking a road trip, you’ll need to rent a car and plan out your route. Book a car through Discover Cars – you enter your destination and they scan all of the available cars in all the agencies to find the best price for the type of car you want. You can also read my Guide to Finding the Cheapest Rental Car for handy tips. Check my Road Trip Packing List to make sure you have everything you need for your trip.
- If you’re going to fly, read on to find an airport close to Rocky Mountain National Park. That’s what this guide is to help you do!
- Then you’ll need to book a flight. I recommend using Skyscanner to search through all available flights to find the cheapest.
- Finally, you will need to decide your itinerary.
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Best Airport Near Rocky Mountain National Park
How to Decide Your Flights to Rocky Mountain National Park
Before we get to the list of airports near Rocky Mountain National Park, you need to get into some details of your travel itinerary. This way you can better decided which airport is the best choice for your trip.
- Where else are you planning to go on your trip? Are you planning to visit other national parks? Will you be visiting other attractions in nearby areas? Colorado Springs, Steamboat Springs, and Aspen are all popular destinations less than four hours away.
- How are you planning to get around the national park? The Bear Lake Shuttle and Moraine Park Shuttle are popular ways to get you around the park but are not available at the park’s west-side entrance and Trail Ridge Road, so if you’re planning to use them, it makes sense to fly into an airport that more easily accesses the eastern side of the mountain.
- When are you going? The main road that crosses through the national park over the mountain is closed in winter. So, if you’re traveling then, you will need to be sure you fly into an airport for the side of the park you’ll be visiting.
- Where are you staying? Which side of the mountain you are staying on will influence which airport you use.
- How much time do you have? Are you going to stay for a limited period? If you have a tight schedule in your itinerary, it’s best to find an airport closer to Rocky Mountain National Park.
- What’s your budget? Are you looking for budget-friendly flights? You’ll have more options for cheaper flights when you choose international airports to fly to.
- Do you have a frequent flyer program with a specific airline? If you’re earning points for miles on your preferred airline, you have more options with larger airports. Some airports have limited airline services.
- Where are you flying from? Are you taking a domestic or international flight? Some airports offer more flight routes than others.
- What type of car do you want to rent when you arrive? Car rental services differ with each airport. Larger airports have more rental companies available than smaller air hubs.
What are the best airports near Rocky Mountain National Park?
The airports near Rocky Mountain National Park are:
- Denver International Airport
- Cheyenne Regional Airport
- Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport
- Eagle County Regional Airport
- Yampa Valley Regional Airport
- Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (Sardy Field)
- Colorado Springs Airport
Denver International Airport (DEN)
Most people fly to Denver International Airport for their Rocky Mountain trip. This airport is actually the 3rd-busiest airport in the world, according to some counts. This means that you’ll have plenty of flights to choose from. There’s a good chance that your preferred airline flies here and there are decent connections and plenty of direct flights from destinations around the US and the world.
If you’re having a stopover in Denver before or after Rocky Mountain National Park, you can get around the metro Denver area on several public transportation services like A Line Commuter Train, charter buses, limousine services, shared-ride services, and taxis.
It takes approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes to either the Beaver Meadows Entrance or Fall River Entrance Stations, while you can also access the west side entrance in less than 3 hours.
Location:
The airport is located 25 miles northeast of the downtown Denver area.
Distance from Denver to Rocky Mountain National Park:
- Distance from Denver Rocky – Mountain National Park, Beaver Meadows Entrance Station: 79 miles
- Distance Denver airport to Rocky Mountain National Park, Fall River Entrance Station: 80 miles
- Distance to Grand Lake Entrance Station: 126 miles
Travel time Denver International Airport to Rocky Mountain National Park:
- Travel Time Beaver Meadows Entrance Station, Rocky Mountain National Park to Denver: 1 hour and 40 minutes
- Travel Time Fall River Entrance Station: 1 hour and 40 minutes
- Travel Time Grand Lake Entrance Station: 2 hours and 45 minutes
What airlines fly out of Denver International Airport? Which airports connect to there?
- There are multiple direct flights both domestic and international serviced at this airport.
Rental car options:
- Onsite: Alamo, AVIS, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Fox, Hertz, National, Payless, Sixt, Thrifty
Getting from Denver International Airport to Rocky Mountain National Park:
- Car rental
- Estes Park Shuttle
- Bustang Bus (from Union Station)
- Private taxi service to Estes Park area, then take shuttle service around the park
Pros:
- International airport closest to the park’s east entrances
- Plenty of domestic and international flight options
- Several car rental services on site
- Budget flights are available here
Cons:
- Can be overwhelming if you are used to and prefer smaller airports
This is the best airport for Rocky Mountain National Park …
- If you have less time to travel
- If you’re taking international flights
- If you’re also seeing Denver and other local attractions
- If you’re staying in or near Estes Park on the eastern side of the mountain
Cheyenne Regional Airport (CYS)
Cheyenne Regional Airport is the closest regional airport to Rocky Mountain National Park. If you’re planning to visit other wonderful attractions in southern Wyoming, flying to this airport is a good choice. They offer commercial flights via United Airlines and charter flights and are also connected to several regional and international airports.
You can fly to Cheyenne Regional Airport if you want a less crowded airport and easy access to the Front Range and the Rockies. The Bighorn Canyon National, Devils Tower National Monument, Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, Grand Teton National Park, and Yellowstone National Park are some of the attractions you can visit when you fly to this airport.
AVIS and National are the car rental services you can get here. You can quickly reach Rocky Mountain National Park’s Beaver Meadows Entrance or Fall River Entrance Station entrances in about two hours. Traveling hours to the Grand Lake Entrance Station will take you three and a half hours.
Location:
Cheyenne Regional Airport is located just a mile north of Cheyenne in Laramie County.
Distance to Rocky Mountain National Park:
- Distance to Beaver Meadows Entrance Station: 92 miles
- Distance to Fall River Entrance Station: 93 miles
- Distance to Grand Lake Entrance Station: 133 miles
Travel time to Rocky Mountain National Park:
- Travel Time Beaver Meadows Entrance Station: 2 hours
- Travel Time Fall River Entrance Station: 2 hours
- Travel Time Grand Lake Entrance Station: 3 hours and 25 minutes
What airlines fly out of Cheyenne Regional Airport? Which airports connect to there?
- United Airlines
- Airports connected to Cheyenne Regional Airport: Rocky Mountain Metropolitan, Kerville Municipal, Denver International, John Wayne, Camp Guernsey, South St. Paul Municipal, Chicago O’Hare International, Bozeman Yellowstone International
Rental car options:
- Onsite: AVIS, National (Car rental kiosks are located in the terminal)
Getting from Cheyenne Regional Airport to Rocky Mountain National Park:
- Car rental service
Pros:
- Close to the East Side entrances to Rocky Mountain National Park
- Access to other southern Wyoming destinations and national parks like Bighorn Canyon, Devils Tower National Monument, and others.
- Connected flights to several municipal and international airports across the US
- Less crowded than other airports
Cons:
- Limited airline options
- Limited flight routes
- Few car rental options
This is the best airport for Rocky Mountain National Park …
- If you are maximizing your travel time
- If you’re combining a Rocky Mountain National Park visit with southern Wyoming destinations
- If you want to avoid crowded airports
Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (BJC)
Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport is technically the closest to the airport to get you to Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s located on US Highway 36 in Broomfield, Colorado between Denver and Boulder.
The airport offers nonstop charter jet services twice a day to Burbank and Dallas through JSX. There are no regular commercial flights here but if you prefer to fly charter and want to avoid the crowds and lines in other airports, Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport is a convenient choice.
Courtesy cars and shuttle buses are available for ground transportation. National and Go Rental are two car rental services you can get here.
The East entrances are close to this airport and will only take you about an hour and a half to get there. From the airport, take the Interlocken Loop/Wadsworth Parkway in Broomfield, head to US-36 W going to CO-7 W in Lyons. Continue driving until you reach Highway 115.
Location:
This airport is located on US Highway 36 in Broomfield, Jefferson County.
Distance to Rocky Mountain National Park:
- Distance to Beaver Meadows Entrance Station: 53 miles
- Distance to Fall River Entrance Station: 55 miles
- Distance to Grand Lake Entrance Station: 110 miles
Travel time to Rocky Mountain National Park:
- Travel Time Beaver Meadows Entrance Station: 1 hour and 25 minutes
- Travel Time Fall River Entrance Station: 1 hour and 20 minutes
- Travel Time Grand Lake Entrance Station: 2 hours 30 minutes
What airlines fly out of Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport? Which airports connect to there?
- JSX Charter services: Burbank, Dallas-Love Field
Rental car options:
- Onsite: National, Go Rental
Getting from Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport to Rocky Mountain National Park:
- Car rental
Pros:
- Nearest airport to the park via the Beaver Meadows and Fall River entrances
- Saves you traveling hours
Cons:
- Only charter flights are available
- Limited car rental services
- More expensive
This is the best airport for Rocky Mountain National Park …
- If you prefer to fly charter
- If you have less time to travel and want to make the most of your visit
Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE)
Eagle County Regional Airport is located in Gypsum just a few miles from Eagle and Vail. This regional air hub has daily commercial flights to Dallas-Fort Worth and Denver. Three major airlines, American Airlines, Delta, and United Airlines, fly here. During winter, they offer additional services to more cities including Atlanta, Miami, Houston–Intercontinental, Los Angeles, Newark, New York–JFK, San Francisco, and others.
There are several car rental agencies available both onsite and offsite. The Grand Lake Entrance Station is closer and will take you around two hours to drive there. From the airport, head east to Cooley Mesa Road toward Eldon Wilson Road. Drive to I-70 E until CO-9 N, then take US-40 E and US-34 E until you reach W Portal Road in Grand Lake. From there, you can drive to Grand Avenue and reach the park entrance from there.
Location:
The airport is located in Gypsum, Colorado four miles from Eagle.
Distance to Rocky Mountain National Park:
- Distance to Beaver Meadows Entrance Station: 137 miles
- Distance to Fall River Entrance Station: 139 miles
- Distance to Grand Lake Entrance Station: 97 miles
Travel time to Rocky Mountain National Park:
- Travel Time Beaver Meadows Entrance Station: 3 hours and 25 minutes
- Travel Time Fall River Entrance Station: 3 hours and 30 minutes
- Travel Time Grand Lake Entrance Station: 2 hours and 10 minutes
What airlines fly out of Eagle County Regional Airport? Which airports connect to there?
- American Airlines: Dallas/ Fort Worth
- Delta
- United Airlines: Denver
Rental car options:
- Onsite: Alamo, AVIS, Budget, Dollar, Hertz, National
- Offsite: Go Rentals, Thrifty
Getting from Eagle County Regional Airport to Rocky Mountain National Park:
- Car rental service
Pros:
- Direct commercial flights to Denver and Dallas-Fort Worth
- There’s enough car rental service available
Cons:
- Flight options and airlines are limited
- Longer driving hours to park entrances
This is the best airport for Rocky Mountain National Park …
- If you have longer time to travel
- If you’re also visiting the Eagle and Vail areas
Yampa Valley Regional Airport (HDN)
Yampa Valley Regional Airport services the Northwest Colorado areas like Steamboat Springs, Craig, and Hayden. United Airlines is the major airline at this airport, with year-round daily flights to Denver International. Six other airlines offer seasonal direct daily flights to other states.
If you’re planning to include Steamboat Springs and nearby locations in your travels aside from visiting Rocky Mountain National Park, there are plenty of onsite and offsite shuttle, bus, and limousine services, though taxi transport is limited.
You can rent a car through services onsite and near the airport terminal. Driving to the Grand Lake Entrance Station is quicker. From Yampa Valley Regional, take Co Road 51A until you reach US-40 W. Turn right to US-40 E, then turn left when you reach US-34 E. Turn slightly right to W Portal Road, then slightly right until you reach Grand Avenue. The town of Grand Lake is the main gateway to the park’s west side.
Location:
This regional air hub is located in Routt County, giving airline services to the Yampa Valley communities in Steamboat Springs, Hayden, and Craig.
Distance to Rocky Mountain National Park:
- Distance to Beaver Meadows Entrance Station: 159 miles
- Distance to Fall River Entrance Station: 161 miles
- Distance to Grand Lake Entrance Station: 119 miles
Travel time to Rocky Mountain National Park:
- Travel Time Beaver Meadows Entrance Station: 3 hours and 30 minutes
- Travel Time Fall River Entrance Station: 3 hours and 40 minutes
- Travel Time Grand Lake Entrance Station: 2 hours and 20 minutes
What airlines fly out of Yampa Valley Regional Airport? Which airports connect to there?
Rental car options:
- United Airlines: Denver; Seasonal flights to and from Houston, Newark, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco; connected all year round to Denver International Airport and occasionally to Dulles International Airport.
- Seasonal Flights:
- Alaska Airlines: Seattle, San Diego
- American Airlines: Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth
- Jetblue Airways: Boston, Fort Lauderdale, New York
- Southwest Airlines: Denver, Dallas Love
- Delta Airlines: Atlanta, Minneapolis
- Onsite: AVIS, Budget, Hertz
- Offsite: Enterprise, Turo
Getting from Yampa Valley Regional Airport to Rocky Mountain National Park:
- Car rental service
Pros:
- Direct flights to Denver International Airport
- Manageable driving distance to the park’s Grand Lake Entrance Station
- Visit Steamboat Springs and places of interest in Hayden and Craig.
Cons:
- Farther to the park compared to other airports
- Limited airline services
- Limited car rental companies are available
This is the best airport for Rocky Mountain National Park …
- If you have ample time to travel
- If you plan to go around and enjoy local sites in Steamboat Springs, Hayden, and Craig.
Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (Sardy Field) (ASE)
Aspen/Pitkin County Airport is located in Aspen and accommodates nonstop commercial flights from several major US airports. You can fly to and from this airport on United, Delta, and American Airlines. If you’re including Snowmass and Aspen Mountains in your trip, flying to Aspen/Pitkin County Airport is a good option.
If you’re touring the Aspen and Snowmass area, you can get the free RFTA bus service. There are also plenty of taxis, limousine providers, hotel shuttles, and ridesharing services available at the airport.
To get to Rocky Mountain National Park, you can access the Grand Lake Entrance Station which is closer to the airport. From CO-82 W, head to Glenwood Springs via I-70 E. Drive until you reach CO-131 N in Wolcott, then proceed to County Road 1 going to CO-9 N in Grand County. Follow US-40 E and US-34 and continue driving until you get to W Portal Road in Grand Lake.
Location:
Sardy Field Airport is located in Aspen in Pitkin County.
Distance Aspen to Rocky Mountain National Park:
- Distance to Beaver Meadows Entrance Station: 202 miles
- Distance to Fall River Entrance Station: 204 miles
- Distance to Grand Lake Entrance Station: 162 miles
Travel time to Rocky Mountain National Park:
- Travel Time Beaver Meadows Entrance Station: 4 hours and 30 minutes
- Travel Time Fall River Entrance Station: 4 hours and 35 minutes
- Travel Time Grand Lake Entrance Station: 3 hours and 15 minutes
What airlines fly out of Aspen/Pitkin County Airport? Which airports connect to there?
- United
- American Airlines
They offer direct flights to Denver, Chicago San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas-Forth Worth, Houston, Atlanta, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Salt Lake City, and Phoenix.
Rental car options:
- Onsite: Alamo, AVIS, Budget, Hertz, National, Sixt, Go Rentals (FBO terminal)
Getting from Aspen/Pitkin County Airport to Rocky Mountain National Park:
- Car rental
Pros:
- Direct flight to Denver
- A good number of car rental services
- See the Aspen Mountains and Snowmass
Cons:
- Longer driving hours to the park
This is the best airport for Rocky Mountain National Park …
- If you have enough time to travel
- If you’re also visiting Snowmass and Aspen Mountains
Colorado Springs Airport (COS)
Colorado Springs Airport is a small city-owned airport southeast of Colorado Springs. This airport offers commercial flights by American Airlines, Delta, Southwest, and United to nine US cities, making it easier to get budget flights from these major airlines and earn points for miles on your flights.
Getting around Colorado Springs to see local sites is easy with plenty of transportation services like public transit, buses, limousines, shuttles and vans, taxis, ski shuttles, and ride-shares.
All the entrances to Rocky Mountain National Park are about the same distance away, so you can decide which area of the park you want to enter. It takes more than three hours to the park.
Location:
Colorado Springs Airport is southeast of downtown Colorado Springs in El Paso County.
Distance Colorado – Rocky Mountain National Park:
- Distance to Beaver Meadows Entrance Station: 166 miles
- Distance to Fall River Entrance Station: 167 miles
- Distance to Grand Lake Entrance Station: 182 miles
Travel time Colorado Springs to Rocky Mountain National Park:
- Travel Time Beaver Meadows Entrance Station: 3 hours and 10 minutes
- Travel Time Fall River Entrance Station: 3 hours and 5 minutes
- Travel Time Grand Lake Entrance Station: 3 hours and 36 minutes
What airlines fly out of Colorado Springs Airport? Which airports connect to there?
- American Airlines: Dallas (DFW)
- Delta: Salt Lake City
- Southwest: Chicago (MDW); Dallas (DAL); Denver; Las Vegas, Phoenix
- United: Chicago (ORD); Denver; Houston, Los Angeles
Rental car options:
- Onsite: Alamo, National, AVIS, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, Dollar
Getting from Colorado Springs Airport to Rocky Mountain National Park:
- Car rental
- Estes Park Shuttle on the east side entrances
Pros:
- Commercial flights to major US cities
- Budget flights available
- See sights in Colorado Springs
Cons:
- Long drive to the park entrances
- Limited flight routes and airline choices
This is the best airport for Rocky Mountain National Park …
- If you have a longer time to travel
- If you’re also visiting Colorado Springs
FAQs About the Closest Airport to Rocky Mountain National Park
What is the closest major city to Rocky Mountain National Park?
Denver is the closest major city to Rocky Mountain National Park, just over 60 miles away. The closest town near Rocky Mountain National Park is Estes Park, which is less than five miles from the Beaver Meadows park entrance.
What is the closest airport to Estes Park, CO?
The closest international Estes Park airport you can fly to is Denver International Airport. If you’re looking for a regional airport near Estes Park, Colorado, you can fly to Cheyenne Regional Airport.
How far is it from Estes Park to Rocky Mountain National Park?
If you’re looking for an Estes Park ,Colorado Airport you can fly to, there are lists of regional and international airports close to Rocky Mountain National Park that gives you accessibility and convenient travel. Estes Park is just seven minutes away from this national park.
Map of Airports Near Rocky Mountain National Park
Travel Insurance for Rocky Mountain National Park
A final thought. When flying over the Rocky Mountains, 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 swap this link for either choose the best travel insurance plan for your trip here or get a quote right now:
Have a great trip to Rocky Mountain! I hope this guide has helped you decide what airport to fly into for Rocky Mountain National Park.
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Best Airport Near Rocky Mountain National Park
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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 all of the main 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 Time Business News, Savoteur, Best Trip, and Wired.
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