The rugged North Cascades National Park is home to flowing rivers, colorful lakes, glacier-covered mountain peaks, and dense forests.
North Cascades is the least visited of Washington’s three national parks because most of its attractions are remote. But it’s definitely not the least when it comes to the dramatic views you’ll see there.
So you’ve finally decided to go there. But maybe you’re wondering, “How will I get there? What’s the nearest airport I can fly to?” This guide is here to help you choose the best airport that fits your travel plans.
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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 North Cascades National Park is Bellingham International Airport and the nearest MAJOR airport to North Cascades National Park is Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Planning Your Trip to North Cascades National Park
Here are the basic steps you’ll need to follow when planning your trip to North Cascades National Park.
- 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. There are several sections to North Cascades and where you visit will help determine where you stay.
- Now that you have decided where to stay, the next thing is to decide the best way to get to North Cascades. 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 North Cascades 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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Closest Airports to North Cascades National Park
How to Decide Your Flights to North Cascades National Park?
You have several airport options to get to Washington, North Cascades National Park. Deciding which airport to fly to would depend on your details of your travel plan. Here are some things you need to consider:
- Which part(s) of the national park will you be visiting? The national park is officially called North Cascades National Park Complex and it is divided into four main sections. Most people visit Ross Lake National Recreational Area, which the North Cascades Highway (Route 20) runs along. North of that is the remote North Cascades National Park North Unit, which goes to the Canadian border, and south of it is – not surprisingly – North Cascades National Park South Unit. South of that is Lake Chelan National Recreational Area, which includes Stehekin. Which area(s) you visit will help determine which airport is best to fly into/ out of.
- Where else are you planning to go on your trip? Are you planning to see other national parks like Mt. Rainier and Olympic National Parks? There are airports closer to the other national parks in Washington.
- When are you going? Are you planning to go there during the summer months or the holidays? Some airports have limited flights or get busier during the winter season.
- Where are you staying? Are you staying in a nearby city? Seattle is the nearest and most accessible from the park. It’s best to choose accommodation near the airport you’ll be flying to or from the park.
- How much time do you have? Are you planning to stay for a day or two? Or are you going to have several days to visit the area? If you have limited time to travel, it’s better choose an airport closest to the park.
- What’s your budget? Are you opting for budget flights? Flights rates and car rental services also differ with several airports.
- Do you have a frequent flyer program with a specific airline? Some airlines only offer services to selected airports.
- Where are you flying from? Are you taking a domestic or international flight? Major airports have several connecting flights to major cities.
- What type of car do you want to rent when you arrive? Do you have a preferred car rental company? Car rental companies vary with every airport.
What are the Best Airports Near North Cascades National Park?
The airports near North Cascades National Park are:
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
- Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
- Portland International Airport (PDX)
- Spokane International Airport (GEG)
- Victoria International Airport (YYJ)
- Bellingham International Airport (BLI)
- Pangborn Memorial Airport (EAT)
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
The Pacific Northwest region’s busiest airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport offers you accessibility and options for flight availability. The airport is located in Seattle, Washington and serves multiple airlines with more than 90 domestic flights and 28 international flights connecting to major airports.
Seattle-Tacoma is one of the nearest major airports you can fly into to access North Cascades National Park. From the Ross Lake NRA region of North Cascades National Park to Seattle is more or less 130 miles. Driving to the main North Cascade’s Visitor Center will take you around two and a half hours. But if you’re heading to the Chelan area, travel time is around three hours.
From Seattle, you can drive to Washington State Route 20, then exit 230 off I-5. Drive east towards Rockport and Marblemount, and you’ll get right into the park area.
Location:
Seattle-Tacoma is just south of downtown Seattle and northeast of Tacoma’s downtown area.
Distance from Seattle to North Cascades National Park, Washington State
- Distance from Seattle Airport to North Cascades National Park Visitor Center: 129 miles
- Distance Chelan, North Cascades – Seattle: 185 miles
Travel time to North Cascades National Park from Seattle:
- Travel Time from Seattle to Cascades National Park Visitor Center: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Travel Time to Chelan, North Cascades from Seattle: 3 hours 10 minutes
What airlines fly out of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport? Which airports connect to there?
- Many major domestic and several international airlines fly to and from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Rental car options:
- Offsite (Car Rental Facility): Alamo, AVIS, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Fox Rent a Car, Hertz, National, Payless, Rent-A-Wreck, Sixt, Thrifty
Getting from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to North Cascades National Park:
- Car rental services
Pros:
- The nearest airport to North Cascades National Park
- Plenty of options for domestic and international airlines
- International flights available
- Options for cheaper flights
- Plenty of car rental options
- Option to visit Seattle
Cons:
- Still a bit of a long drive to the park
- The airport is busier during the holidays
This is the best airport for North Cascades National Park …
- If want to get to the park in a lesser amount of time
- If you’re also visiting Seattle and other national parks like Mt. Rainier
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Vancouver International Airport serves the city of Vancouver in Canada and British Columbia’s southern region. Major airlines both domestic and international fly here. You’ll also have plenty of options with connecting flights to key cities in Canada and the US. Vancouver International offers budget flight rates and you can take advantage of different offers for frequent flyer programs.
A variety of offsite and onsite care rental companies give you several choices for rates and services.
If you’re planning to visit the less-visited Hozomeen area of the national park, which is on the Canadian birder at the northern end of Ross Lake, then this is the best airport option. You can also easily access the park’s main Visitor Center. From the airport, both locations are approximately the same distance and travel time.
Location:
The airport is located in Sea Island, Richmond about seven and a half miles southwest of Vancouver in British Colombia, Canada.
Distance to North Cascades National Park:
- Distance to North Cascades Visitor Center: 136 miles
- Distance to Hozomeen: 137 miles
Travel time to North Cascades National Park:
- Travel Time to North Cascades Visitor Center: 2 hours 55 minutes
- Travel Time to Hozomeen: 3 hours and 15 minutes
What airlines fly out of Vancouver International Airport? Which airports connect to there?
- Major domestic and international airlines have connecting flights to several cities to this airport.
Rental car options:
- Onsite: National, Alamo, Hertz, Dollar Thrifty, AVIS, Budget, Enterprise Rent-a-Car
- Offsite: Routes Car Rental, Evo Car Share, ALIGO Rent a Car, West Coast Car Rental
Getting from Vancouver International Airport to North Cascades National Park:
- Taking a car rental service
Pros:
- Closest airport to North Cascades National Park’s northern Hozomeen section on the Candian border
- Plenty of both domestic and international flight options
- Plenty of car rental choices
- Budget flights and frequent flyer offers are available
- Traveling to see Vancouver
Cons:
- Still takes about 3 hours of travel to the park
- You need to cross an international border to enter the national park
This is the best airport for North Cascades National Park …
- If you plan to visit the park’s northern section
- If you’re also visiting Vancouver or other parts of British Columbia in Canada
Portland International Airport (PDX)
Flying to Portland International Airport offers you several options for both domestic and international travel. You can easily access connecting flights, whether you’re flying to major US cities or outside the country. If you fly frequently, you can easily take advantage of miles on your preferred airlines. You can also opt for budget flights at Portland International.
The airport also offers plenty of onsite and offsite car rental services so you can decide the best option for you.
From Portland International, it takes about five hours to reach North Cascades, and an additional half-hour if you plan to go to the park’s Chelan area.
Although it’s a longer drive than from Seattle-Tacoma, you can make the most of your road trip with several stops at fantastic city sites and other attractions in Portland, Bellevue, Seattle, Tacoma, and Olympia.
Flying into Portland International is also a good choice if you’re planning to see the southern part of Olympic National Park, which is just three and a half hours, and/ or Mt. Rainier National Park. Its Paradise entrance which is also just three hours from Portland.
Location:
The airport is located northeast of downtown Portland, Oregon.
Distance to North Cascades National Park:
- Distance to North Cascades Visitor Center: 289 miles
- Distance to Chelan: 332 miles
Travel time to North Cascades National Park:
- Travel Time to North Cascades Visitor Center: 5 hours and 5 minutes
- Travel Time to Chelan: 5 hours and 30 minutes
What airlines fly out of Portland International Airport? Which airports connect to there?
- Portland International has plenty of domestic and international flights connected to key cities.
Rental car options:
- Onsite: AVIS, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Payless, Sixt, Zipcar
- Offsite: Alamo, Budget, Thrifty (Shuttle services are provided to their locations)
Getting from Portland International Airport to North Cascades National Park:
- Car rental services
Pros:
- Plenty of options for domestic and international airlines
- Options for car rental services
- Budget flight options are available here
- Options for parking services
- Accessibility to other attractions like Olympic National Park and Mt. Rainier
Cons:
- Longer travel time to get to the park
This is the best airport for North Cascades National Park …
- If you have a longer time to travel
- If you’re visiting Portland and other attractions like Mount Rainier, Olympic National Park and nearby cities.
Spokane International Airport (GEG)
Spokane International Airport is a small commercial airport in western Washington with flights to several cities in the US. Airlines flying to and from this airport include Alaska, American, Frontier, Sun Country, Allegiant Air, Delta, Southwest and United Airlines. You have options for budget flights and frequent flyer programs with these airline services.
Spokane International has several car rental services onsite located at the Ground Transportation Center. From the airport, you can access the Lake Chelan NRA in approximately three hours. The Visitor Center is farther and will take you more than four and a half hours to drive there.
Location:
Spokane International Airport is located southwest of the city of Spokane in western Washington.
Distance to North Cascades National Park:
- Distance to North Cascades Visitor Center: 251 miles
- Distance to Chelan: 144 miles
Travel time to North Cascades National Park:
- Travel Time to North Cascades Visitor Center: 4 hours and 45 minutes
- Travel Time to Chelan: 2 hours and 40 minutes
What airlines fly out of Spokane International Airport? Which airports connect to there?
- Alaska Airlines: Boise, Everett, Los Angeles, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle
- American Airlines: Dallas-Ft. Worth, Phoenix
- Frontier Airlines: Las Vegas
- Sun Country Airlines: Minneapolis
- Allegiant Air: Las Vegas, Orange County, CA, Phoenix-Mesa
- Delta Airlines: Atlanta, Los Angeles (LAX), Minneapolis, Salt Lake City, Seattle
- Southwest Airlines: Denver, Las Vegas, Oakland, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Jose
- United Airlines: Chicago O’Hare, Denver, San Francisco
Rental car options:
- Onsite: Alamo, Enterprise, AVIS, Hertz, Budget, National, Dollar, Thrifty
Getting from Spokane International Airport to North Cascades National Park:
- Rental car
Pros:
- Nearby access to Chelan
- Commercial flights to major US cities
- Options for budget flights
- Options for onsite car rental services
- Get to see Spokane and nearby attractions like Washington Pass
Cons:
- Despite its name, the airport doesn’t offer international flights
- Limited airline options
- Further from the most popular Ross Lake section of the park (and Mount Rainier and Olympic National Parks)
This is the best airport for North Cascades National Park …
- If you are visiting Lake Chelan
- If you plan to also visit Idaho
Victoria International Airport (YYJ)
Victoria International Airport mostly provides flight services in the British Columbia, Canada area like Calgary, Vancouver, and Edmonton. It also offers connecting flights to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport via Alaska and Air Canada.
Victoria Airport is on Vancouver Island in Canada, so it is not the closest airport to North Cascades. Travel time from here to the Visitor Center takes a bit under five hours, which includes ferry transfers. If you’re heading off to Hozomeen, it would take you around five and a half hours including a ferry ride. However, this is a beautiful part of the world and it might make sense to fly into this airport if you plan a road trip around southern British Columbia.
Location:
This airport is located 15 miles northwest of Victoria on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada
Distance to North Cascades National Park:
- Distance to North Cascades Visitor Center: 162 miles
- Distance to Hozomeen: 186 miles
Travel time to North Cascades National Park:
- Travel Time to North Cascades Visitor Center: 4 hours and 40 minutes (includes ferry)
- Travel Time to Hozomeen: 5 hours and 35 minutes (includes ferry)
What airlines fly out of Victoria International Airport? Which airports connect to there?
- Alaska: Seattle
- Air Canada: Seattle
- Air Canada Express
- Air North
- Flair Air
- Lynx Air
- Pacific Coastal
- Swoop
- WestJet
Rental car options:
- Onsite: AVIS, Budget, Hertz, Thrifty, National Car Rental
- Offsite: Alamo and Enterprise
Getting from Victoria International Airport to North Cascades National Park:
- Car rental
Pros:
- Connected flights to several cities in British Columbia, Canada
- Plenty of car rental service companies
- Budget flights are available here
Cons:
- There are no international flights available here
- Limited flights and airlines options to major US cities
- Requires crossing an international border to get to the US
- Requires a ferry ride from Vancouver Island
This is the best airport for North Cascades National Park …
- If you are adding North Cascades National Park to an adventure in British Columbia that includes Vancouver Island
Bellingham International Airport (BLI)
Bellingham International Airport is the closest airport to the main Ross Lake part of North Cascades. The terminal is located just a few minutes from Bellingham’s downtown area. It’s much smaller than Seattle-Tacoma, but does have daily flights to Las Vegas, Oakland, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area and Palm Springs, California, Phoenix-Mesa, and Sea-Tac Airport.
Bellingham has bus transportation services provided by Airporter Shuttle/Bellair Shuttles, Greyhound Lines, Quick Coach Lines, and taxi services to get you around the city. To get to North Cascades, you can rent a car from one of the onsite car rental companies. Travel time to North Cascades Visitor Center takes less than two hours.
Location:
Bellingham International Airport is near downtown Bellingham on the coast west of North Cascades.
Distance to Bellingham to North Cascades National Park:
- Distance to North Cascades Visitor Center: 86 miles
- Distance to Chelan: 219 miles
Travel time to Bellingham, WA to North Cascades National Park
- Travel Time to North Cascades Visitor Center: 1 hours and 45 minutes
- Travel Time to Chelan: 3 hours and 55 minutes
What airlines fly out of Bellingham International Airport? Which airports connect to there?
- Alaska/Horizon: Seattle
- Allegiant Air: Phoenix-Mesa, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Oakland (CA), Palm Springs, San Diego
- Island Air Inc.
- Southwest Airlines: Las Vegas, Oakland
- San Juan Airlines: Blakely Island, Orcas Island, Friday Harbor, Lopez Island
- Sun Country Airlines
Rental car options:
- Onsite: AVIS, Budget, Enterprise/Alamo, Hertz Corporation
Getting from Bellingham International Airport to North Cascades National Park:
- Car rental service
Pros:
- Nearest commercial airport to North Cascades National Park
- Connecting flights to several US cities
Cons:
- Limited airline and flight options
- Limited car rental services
This is the best airport for North Cascades National Park …
- If you have less time to travel and want to start as close to the national park as possible
- If you’re visiting other places in northwestern Washington or southern British Columbia, Canada
Pangborn Memorial Airport (EAT)
Pangborn Memorial Airport is the closest airport to the park’s southern Lake Chelan area. Alaskan Airlines (operating with its regional subsidiary, Horizon Air) offers daily connecting flights to Seattle-Tacoma International.
Hertz and Enterprise car rental services are available onsite. ReQwest Tours & Transport and Leavenworth Shuttle & Taxi are your options for taxi services to get you around the city.
If you’re flying here, you can easily reach the Chelan area of North Cascades in less than an hour by car. You can still conveniently access the Visitor Center on a three-and-a-half-hour drive from this airport.
Location:
Pangborn Memorial Airport is located just four miles east of Wenatchee in Douglas County.
Distance to North Cascades National Park:
- Distance to North Cascades Visitor Center: 176 miles
- Distance to Chelan: 44 miles
Travel time to North Cascades National Park:
- Travel Time to North Cascades Visitor Center: 3 hours and 25 minutes
- Travel Time to Chelan: 55 minutes
What airlines fly out of Pangborn Memorial Airport? Which airports connect to there?
- Alaska Airlines (Horizon Air): Seattle-Tacoma
Rental car options:
- Onsite: Hertz, Enterprise
Getting from Pangborn Memorial Airport to North Cascades National Park:
- Rent a car from the airport
Pros:
- Nearest commercial airport to North Cascades’ Chelan area
Cons:
- Very limited flight and airline options
- Few car rental services
- Only connecting flights to Seattle-Tacoma International are available
This is the best airport for North Cascades National Park …
- If you’re going to access North Cascade from Chelan
- If you’re also visiting local attractions in Chelan
FAQs About The Best Airport for North Cascades National Park
Where do you fly into for North Cascades National Park?
The closest major airport you can fly into to get to North Cascades is Seattle- Tacoma International Airport. Bellingham International Airport is a smaller airport that also gives you quick access to the central Ross Lake area, while Pangborn Memorial Airport is near Lake Chelan in the southern part of the park.
How do I get to North Cascades National Park?
Flying to the nearest airports like Seattle-Tacoma and Vancouver International Airport, then taking a car rental from there is the most convenient way to get you to North Cascades National Park.
Map of Airports Near North Cascades National Park
Travel Insurance for North Cascades National Park
A final thought. When you’re flying to North Cascades National Park, WA, 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 North Cascades! I hope this guide has helped you decide what airport to fly to for North Cascades National Park in Washington.
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Closest Airport to North Cascades National Park
Which of the airports near North Cascades in Washington 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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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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