Getting to Yellowstone is part of the adventure! The park sits in a remote corner of the northern Rocky Mountains, surrounded by wide valleys, mountain ranges, and small gateway towns. That remoteness is part of what makes Yellowstone so special, but it also means getting there takes a little planning.

Most travelers reach Yellowstone by flying to a nearby airport and renting a car, or driving as part of a road trip. After visiting Yellowstone in every season and traveling to the park from multiple directions, here’s how we recommend getting there.

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Getting to Yellowstone By Plane

Flying is the fastest and most common way to reach Yellowstone, and several regional airports sit within a few hours of the park. Most visitors fly into Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, then rent a car and drive to their lodging.

Here are the closest airports near Yellowstone:

Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN)

Bozeman is the most popular airport for visiting Yellowstone. It’s about 1.5-2 hours from both the North Entrance (Gardiner) and the West Entrance (West Yellowstone). This is our preferred airport because it offers the most flight options, the best rental car availability, and an easy drive to the park. If you’re unsure which airport to choose, Bozeman is usually the safest bet.

West Yellowstone Airport (WYS)

West Yellowstone Airport is the closest airport to Yellowstone. It’s located just minutes from the park’s West Entrance and is incredibly convenient if you’re staying in West Yellowstone. The tradeoff is that it’s a small regional airport with limited flights, typically connecting through Salt Lake City or Denver. If your schedule lines up with available flights, it can be the easiest way to reach the park.

Jackson Hole Airport (JAC)

Jackson Hole Airport is located near Grand Teton National Park and about 1.5 hours from Yellowstone’s South Entrance. This airport works well if you’re visiting both Yellowstone and Grand Teton on the same trip. Several major airlines serve Jackson, but flights are often more expensive than Bozeman. Still, the drive from Jackson through Grand Teton to Yellowstone is one of the most beautiful approaches to the park.

Yellowstone Regional Airport (COD)

Yellowstone Regional Airport is located in Cody, Wyoming, about 1 hour and 20 minutes from Yellowstone’s East Entrance. This airport works well if you’re exploring Yellowstone’s eastern side or planning to spend time in Cody. Flights typically connect through Denver, and rental car options are available at the airport.

Billings Logan International Airport (BIL)

Billings Logan International Airport is about 2.5 hours from Yellowstone’s Northeast Entrance. While it’s not as commonly used as Bozeman, it can be a great option if you want to drive the Beartooth Highway on your way into the park. The route from Billings through Red Lodge and over Beartooth Pass is considered one of the most scenic drives in the United States.

Once you decide which airport to fly into, the next step is choosing where to stay. Yellowstone is huge, and your lodging location can significantly affect how much driving you’ll do each day.

map highlighting airport locations near Yellowstone

Renting a Car for Yellowstone

Renting a car is the best way to explore Yellowstone. The park is enormous, and there is no public transportation inside the park, so having your own vehicle gives you the flexibility to drive the Grand Loop Road and stop at viewpoints, trailheads, and wildlife areas along the way.

Most visitors rent a car at the airport before they arrive. We usually rent from Enterprise at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport, but most major rental companies operate at the main regional airports near the park, including Bozeman (BZN), Jackson Hole (JAC), West Yellowstone (WYS), and Cody Yellowstone Regional Airport (COD).

While a few smaller rental options exist in gateway towns like West Yellowstone, Jackson, and Cody, availability can be limited, especially during peak summer travel. For that reason, picking up your rental car at the airport is usually the easiest and most reliable option.

A standard sedan is perfectly fine for visiting Yellowstone in summer and fall since all main park roads are paved. If you’re visiting in winter or early spring, however, renting an SUV with all-wheel drive can be helpful for snowy conditions around the park.

Driving to Yellowstone

Driving is another great way to reach Yellowstone, especially if you’re planning a longer road trip or traveling with a pet. We’ve driven to Yellowstone from Dallas several times over the years, both before and after building the Cozy Yellowstone Compound in Gardiner.

Driving has a few advantages. You can bring more gear, you don’t need to rent a car, and you can turn your trip into a bigger road trip. The route between Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier National Parks is one of our favorite multi-park road trips in the country.

The most important thing to consider when driving to Yellowstone is the season. From mid-May through October, all park entrances are generally open. Outside those months, several park roads and entrances close for winter, which can limit how you travel through the park. The North Entrance near Gardiner is the only entrance open year-round.

road in Yellowstone with distant mountain views

Best Entrances to Use When Driving to Yellowstone

Yellowstone has five entrances, and the best one depends on where you're coming from and which part of the park you want to visit first.

If you're driving from Montana, Glacier National Park, Seattle, or the Canadian Rockies, the North Entrance in Gardiner is often the best choice. This scenic drive follows the Yellowstone River through Paradise Valley and puts you close to Mammoth Hot Springs, Lamar Valley, and the park’s wildlife-rich Northern Range.

If you're coming from Billings, Red Lodge, or North Dakota, the Northeast Entrance near Cooke City is a spectacular option because it connects to the famous Beartooth Highway, often considered one of the most scenic drives in the United States. Because of snow at high elevations, Beartooth Pass typically opens around late May and closes again by mid-September.

Travelers arriving from the Midwest or eastern United States may want to enter through the East Entrance near Cody, Wyoming. This route travels through Shoshone National Forest along the Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway, passing Buffalo Bill Reservoir and offering beautiful views of the Absaroka Mountains before reaching Yellowstone Lake.

If you're driving from Grand Teton National Park, Jackson, Colorado, Texas, or the Southwest, the South Entrance is usually the most logical approach. This drive passes through Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway, making it one of the most scenic ways to arrive in Yellowstone.

Finally, travelers coming from Idaho, Utah, Nevada, or Boise often use the West Entrance in West Yellowstone, Montana. This is the busiest entrance to the park, but it provides the quickest access to Yellowstone’s famous geothermal areas, including Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, and Norris Geyser Basin.

If you're planning a road trip to Yellowstone and want a detailed breakdown of driving routes, road trip stops, and scenic drives on the way to the park, see our full guide:
👉 Driving to Yellowstone National Park: Complete Guide to Getting Here by Car

Getting to Yellowstone in the Winter

Yellowstone in winter is incredible, but travel works a little differently. From November through mid-April, most park roads are closed to regular vehicle traffic. The only road open year-round is the drive between Gardiner, Mammoth, Lamar Valley, and Cooke City.

If you’re visiting Yellowstone in winter, most travelers fly into Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) and rent a car. If you want to visit Old Faithful or explore the interior of Yellowstone, you’ll then need to book transportation by snowcoach or guided snowmobile tour, which typically depart from West Yellowstone or Mammoth.

If you're planning a winter visit, read our full guide to Yellowstone in Winter before finalizing your trip. And because Yellowstone sits in the high Rocky Mountains, weather can change quickly—even in summer—so check out our Yellowstone Packing List to make sure you're prepared for warm days, cold mornings, and unpredictable weather.

Yellowstone Trip Planning Resources

If you're planning your first trip to Yellowstone, these guides will help you get started:

Where to Stay in Yellowstone (lodging areas, gateway towns, and hotels)
Yellowstone Packing List (what to bring for summer, shoulder season, and winter)
Driving to Yellowstone: Complete Guide to Getting Here by Car
Yellowstone Travel Guide (maps, itineraries, and planning tips)

FAQ: Getting to Yellowstone National Park

What is the easiest way to get to Yellowstone?

For most visitors, the easiest way to reach Yellowstone is to fly into Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) and rent a car. Bozeman offers the most flight options, the best rental car availability, and an easy drive to both the North Entrance (Gardiner) and West Entrance (West Yellowstone).

Do you need a car to visit Yellowstone?

We highly recommend having or renting a car to visit Yellowstone, since it’s a large park with limited public transportation. The vast majority of visitors explore Yellowstone by driving Grand Loop Road and stopping at attractions along the way. However, if you can’t or prefer not to drive, guided tours and shuttle services are available. Many of these tours depart from in-park lodging or gateway towns like Gardiner, West Yellowstone, and Jackson. Browse options from Yellowstone National Park Lodges and Yellowstone Vacations.

Can you get to Yellowstone by train?

There is no direct train service to Yellowstone National Park. The closest Amtrak stations are in larger cities like Salt Lake City, Utah, and Denver, Colorado. From either location, you would still need to rent a car or arrange additional transportation to reach the park. One potential option is Amtrak’s Empire Builder route, which runs through northern Montana near Glacier National Park. If you’re planning a larger national park trip, this can make it possible to combine Glacier and Yellowstone on the same journey, though you’ll still need a car to complete the drive to Yellowstone.

Can you get to Yellowstone by bus?

Getting to Yellowstone by bus is possible, but it’s generally less convenient than flying or driving. Some tour companies offer guided bus tours that include transportation to and within the park, often departing from nearby towns like Bozeman, Jackson, or West Yellowstone. Commercial bus lines such as Greyhound or Jefferson Lines can also get you close to the park, but you’ll still need to arrange additional transportation to explore Yellowstone itself.

How would you summarize getting to Yellowstone?

Most visitors either fly into Bozeman and rent a car or drive as part of a road trip. If you’re flying, Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport is usually the easiest airport to use. If you’re driving, the best entrance depends on your route, but the North Entrance (Gardiner) and West Entrance (West Yellowstone) are the most commonly used. The South Entrance is also great because you travel through Grand Teton National Park on the way. However you arrive, having a car once you reach the park makes exploring Yellowstone easier.

How to Get to Yellowstone National Park (2026 Guide)