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Summer season shall be right here earlier than we all know it, and for a lot of vacationers, meaning planning journeys to America’s magnificent nationwide parks. As somebody who’s explored over 30 nationwide parks and spent eight years as a journey blogger, I’ve realized that choosing the proper airport can prevent lots of in your journey.
The problem? Discovering inexpensive flights that don’t eat up your trip finances. On this information, I’m highlighting ten economical airports that present handy entry to gorgeous nationwide parks.
By flying into these airports, you’ll have more cash to spend on experiences that matter, whether or not that’s guided hikes, wildlife excursions, or extending your keep in these pure wonders. Right here’s my lineup of the highest airports that get you near nature in 2025!
- ✈️ Professional tip: Need alerts on low-cost nationwide park flights straight to your inbox? Join Going right here – a membership-based service that finds big reductions, mistake fares, and factors and miles offers. Their free service works nice for the mainland US and the premium service finds offers overseas for as much as 90% off!
1. Salt Lake Metropolis Worldwide Airport (SLC)
- ✈️ Flight Value Vary: $150–$250 roundtrip
- 🏞️ Nationwide Parks Close by: Zion (4.5 hrs), Bryce Canyon (4 hrs), Arches (3.5 hrs), Canyonlands (4 hrs), Capitol Reef (3.5 hrs)
- 🔄 Prime Airline Offers: Delta, Southwest, Alaska
Salt Lake Metropolis Worldwide has earned its spot because the go-to airport for nationwide park lovers. It’s a significant Delta hub with regular competitors from Southwest and Alaska, which retains fares inexpensive…even in peak summer time.
What makes SLC such a standout is its entry to all 5 of Utah’s Mighty 5. You may fly in, lease a automobile, and create an epic park-hopping street journey loop – with no need a number of airports. Right here’s my final Utah Nationwide Parks street journey information!
The airport just lately underwent a $4.5 billion renovation, making it quicker and smoother to navigate, with upgraded rental automobile services. Going usually finds roundtrip offers for underneath $200 — particularly for Tuesday or Wednesday departures.
In the event you’re on the lookout for a single airport that unlocks an entire area of otherworldly landscapes, SLC is the clear winner.
- ✈️ Flight Value Vary: $120–$220 roundtrip
- 🏞️ Nationwide Parks Close by: Zion (2.5 hrs), Bryce Canyon (4 hrs), Demise Valley (2 hrs), Grand Canyon North Rim (4.5 hrs)
- 🔄 Prime Airline Offers: Spirit, Frontier, Southwest, Delta
Las Vegas is perhaps identified for casinos and pool events, however it’s additionally one of many most cost-effective and most strategic airports for nationwide park lovers. You may fly in for underneath $200 and be mountaineering Zion’s Narrows or stargazing in Demise Valley the identical day.
LAS is a significant hub for finances airways, so competitors retains fares low—particularly in summer time. The airport’s 24/7 vibe means versatile flight occasions and tons of rental automobile choices. It’s the perfect start line for a desert street journey that hits a number of parks with out losing time (or cash).
In the event you fly midweek and set fare alerts with the Going app, you’ll usually discover jaw-dropping roundtrip costs to Vegas. Add in low-cost automobile leases and motels, and also you’ve received one of many best-value park journeys within the nation.
3. Denver Worldwide Airport (DEN)
- ✈️ Flight Value Vary: $140–$230 roundtrip
- 🏞️ Nationwide Parks Close by: Rocky Mountain (1.5 hrs), Nice Sand Dunes (4 hrs), Black Canyon of the Gunnison (5 hrs)
- 🔄 Prime Airline Offers: United, Southwest, Frontier
Denver Worldwide is likely one of the best-connected airports within the U.S., and that’s nice information for nationwide park lovers. Not solely is it simply 90 minutes from Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park, however it’s additionally your launchpad to Colorado’s underrated gems like Nice Sand Dunes and Black Canyon.
DEN’s hub standing for Frontier and United retains fares low – particularly in summer time when the amount of flights spikes. Frontier’s flash gross sales and United’s aggressive pricing imply you possibly can usually snag roundtrip offers for underneath $200 with a little bit of flexibility.
The airport’s location proper off main interstates makes road-tripping tremendous environment friendly. In the event you’re reserving by Going, you’ll usually discover nice offers to Denver.
4. Phoenix Sky Harbor Worldwide Airport (PHX)
- ✈️ Flight Value Vary: $130–$220 roundtrip
🏞️ Nationwide Parks Close by: Grand Canyon South Rim (3.5 hrs), Petrified Forest (3.5 hrs), Saguaro (2 hrs) - 🔄 Prime Airline Offers: American, Southwest, Frontier
Phoenix is a sunny launchpad to a few of the Southwest’s most iconic parks. With three main nationwide parks inside driving distance—plus dozens of scenic desert hikes and my favourite US vacation spot, Sedona—you’ll get each worth and selection.
Because of its standing as an American Airways hub and regular Southwest service, PHX is full of flight choices. Costs often dip for early morning or red-eye flights, particularly in the event you fly Tuesday by Thursday. It’s among the best airports for flying in, renting a automobile, and heading straight to the Grand Canyon or Saguaro’s towering cacti.
With Going, you’ll recurrently discover sub-$200 roundtrips – typically even much less in the event you catch a flash fare. Add in Phoenix’s low-cost automobile leases and wide-open roads, and also you’ve received one of many best-value park journeys within the West.
5. Bozeman Yellowstone Worldwide Airport (BZN)
- ✈️ Flight Value Vary: $160–$250 roundtrip
- 🏞️ Nationwide Parks Close by: Yellowstone (1.5 hrs), Grand Teton (4.5 hrs)
- 🔄 Prime Airline Offers: Delta, Alaska, United, Southwest
Bozeman is the closest main airport to Yellowstone – and probably the most scenic landings you’ll ever expertise. It’s small however mighty, with a rising variety of routes and carriers providing aggressive fares, particularly in early summer time.
Flying into BZN saves hours of driving in comparison with different airports, supplying you with extra time to discover Yellowstone’s geysers and Grand Teton’s alpine lakes. Whereas it’s not a finances airline hub, Going ceaselessly finds sub-$250 fares from main U.S. cities, particularly in the event you keep away from peak weekends.
Bonus: Bozeman itself is an enthralling mountain city value a day or two. With simple automobile leases and a straight shot into Yellowstone, this can be a sensible transfer for anybody eager to dive proper into nationwide park territory.
6. Glacier Park Worldwide Airport (FCA – Kalispell, Montana)
- ✈️ Flight Value Vary: $170–$260 roundtrip
- 🏞️ Nationwide Parks Close by: Glacier Nationwide Park (40 minutes)
- 🔄 Prime Airline Offers: Alaska, Delta, United, American
Flying into Kalispell drops you proper on the doorstep of Glacier Nationwide Park…no lengthy drives, no layovers by main hubs. It’s the closest airport to the park and a no brainer if you wish to spend extra time mountaineering alpine trails and fewer time on highways.
Whereas FCA is a smaller regional airport, offers pop up greater than you’d count on. Going ceaselessly surfaces roundtrip fares underneath $250 from cities like Denver, Seattle, or L.A., particularly in early summer time earlier than crowds surge.
Automobile leases can be found on-site, and inside an hour of touchdown, you could be driving the Going-to-the-Solar Street or recognizing grizzlies close to Lake McDonald. For direct entry to probably the most jaw-dropping parks within the nation, Kalispell is value each penny.
7. Ted Stevens Anchorage Worldwide Airport (ANC)
- ✈️ Flight Value Vary: $375–$400 roundtrip
🏞️ Nationwide Parks Close by: Kenai Fjords (2.5 hrs), Denali (4 hrs), Wrangell–St. Elias (5 hrs) - 🔄 Prime Airline Offers: Alaska, Delta, United
In the event you’ve been dreaming of glaciers, wildlife, and huge untamed landscapes, Anchorage is your gateway. It’s the perfect base for accessing three huge nationwide parks, together with Denali, house to North America’s tallest peak.
Alaska Airways runs nonstop flights from dozens of cities within the decrease 48, and Going ceaselessly finds summer time fares within the $200s – a steal for a bucket-list journey. Fly in, lease a automobile or hop a prepare, and also you’re in your option to glacier cruises, bear sightings, and alpine hikes.
ANC is very nice for vacationers wanting one thing off the crushed path. It presents surprisingly good infrastructure, simple leases, and unforgettable street journey routes. If you need wild magnificence with out paying luxurious costs, Anchorage delivers.
8. Seattle-Tacoma Worldwide Airport (SEA)
- ✈️ Flight Value Vary: $140–$230 roundtrip
- 🏞️ Nationwide Parks Close by: Mount Rainier (2 hrs), Olympic (2.5 hrs), North Cascades (2.5 hrs)
- 🔄 Prime Airline Offers: Alaska, Delta, Southwest
Seattle is a jackpot for nationwide park lovers – you possibly can hit three parks inside a couple of hours of touchdown. Whether or not you need snowcapped peaks, lush rainforests, or rugged coastlines, SEA offers you quick access to all of it.
Because of fierce airline competitors and Seattle’s hub standing with Alaska and Delta, fares keep comparatively low year-round. I’ve usually discovered fares underneath $200 from most main U.S. cities. Add in versatile dates or shoulder season journey, and also you’ll unlock some severe worth.
The airport connects seamlessly to town through gentle rail, and rental vehicles are simple to snag for a fast escape to the mountains. A few of my absolute favourite spots within the Pacific Northwest are inside 3-4 hours of the airport. In the event you’re on the lookout for selection, accessibility, and financial savings in a single journey, Seattle is a no brainer.
9. Portland Worldwide Airport (PDX)
- ✈️ Flight Value Vary: $140–$220 roundtrip
- 🏞️ Nationwide Parks Close by: Crater Lake (4.5 hrs), Mount Rainier (2.5 hrs), Olympic (3.5 hrs)
- 🔄 Prime Airline Offers: Alaska, Southwest, Delta
Portland is likely one of the most inexpensive West Coast airports. It’s additionally an important launchpad for nature-packed adventures! You may pair your journey with a metropolis keep, then street journey all the way down to Crater Lake, probably the most surreal (and photogenic) parks within the nation.
PDX is a hub for Alaska Airways, which implies frequent gross sales and direct routes from throughout the U.S. Going usually finds offers underneath $200 roundtrip, particularly for midweek departures. It’s a strong choose if you would like nationwide park magnificence plus a cool foodie metropolis to kick issues off.
Bonus: Oregon’s scenic byways and forested roads make the journey simply as rewarding because the vacation spot. For flexibility, affordability, and killer views, Portland has all of it.
10. Albuquerque Worldwide Sunport (ABQ)
- ✈️ Flight Value Vary: <$250 roundtrip
- 🏞️ Nationwide Parks Close by: White Sands (3.5 hrs), Carlsbad Caverns (4.5 hrs), Petrified Forest (3 hrs)
- 🔄 Prime Airline Offers: Southwest, American, Delta
Albuquerque may simply be probably the most underrated airport on this checklist. Flights are persistently low-cost, and it offers you entry to a few of the most original nationwide parks within the American Southwest—suppose otherworldly dunes, underground caverns, and historic fossilized forests.
Southwest dominates ABQ with tons of nonstop routes, and Going recurrently highlights sub-$200 fares from cities coast to coast. It’s particularly budget-friendly in the event you’re flying from the West or Midwest.
The wide-open roads of New Mexico make for an unforgettable street journey. Hire a automobile and also you’ll be exploring alien-like landscapes and vibrant desert cities inside hours. For vacationers in search of one thing totally different and deeply scenic, ABQ is a sleeper choose!
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