Cheap Flight Routes to America’s Top National Parks

Budget-Friendly Flight Routes to America’s Most Popular National Parks
There’s no denying the beauty of America’s national parks but reaching them isn’t always easy. Getting there can be time-consuming and costly depending on how you choose to travel. Fortunately, the team of experts at metasearch engine and booking tool Skyscanner has rounded up some of the cheapest flight routes to the most popular national parks across the country this July, which happens to be National Park and Recreation Month. Whether flying into a major hub and making the drive to your favorite park or arriving at a regional airport closer to a gateway destination, travelers have lots of choices this summer, especially if they’re flying out of a major U.S. city. Here are some of the most budget-friendly route possibilities, according to Skyscanner.

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
Travelers hoping to scratch the Grand Canyon off of their bucket list can score flights to Arizona’s Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) from a handful of cities for under $100, including Las Vegas (from $33), Colorado Springs, Colorado (from $75), San Diego (from $76) and Dallas (from $97). Skyscanner also found fares from Burbank, California to PHX from as low as $114.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina
Great Smoky Mountains National Park in eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina is the nation’s most-visited national park, attracting more than 14 million visitors in 2021. Getting there doesn’t have to break the bank though as travelers can find flights to McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) just south of Knoxville, Tennessee from as low as $67 (Minneapolis). Passengers can also reach TYS affordably from Orlando (from $95), Punta Gorda, Florida (from $95), New York (from $104) and Fort Lauderdale (from $141), according to Skyscanner.

Olympic National Park, Washington
Travelers hoping to explore Olympic National Park in the Pacific Northwest will first need to reach Seattle. Skyscanner reports seeing flights from El Paso, Texas to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) from as low as $150 as well as flights from Portland, Oregon to SEA from $167. Other wallet-friendly departure cities include Las Vegas (from $171), Sacramento (from $173) and Boise, Idaho (from $174).

Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Whether traveling from Tennessee or Southern California, getting to Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park can be cheap, based on Skyscanner’s findings, which include fares from Memphis to Denver International Airport (DEN) from $46, Las Vegas to DEN from $48, San Francisco to DEN from $51, Salt Lake City to DEN from $56 and Burbank, California to DEN from $58.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho
The nation’s first national park announced a partial reopening following record rainfall and intense flooding last month. Those wishing to visit Yellowstone, which spreads into three states, including Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, will want to target either Yellowstone Regional Airport (COD) or Jackson Hole Airport (JAC). Affordable fares to COD include flights out of Los Angeles from $208, nearby Burbank, California from $226 and Ontario, California from $281. Visitors can also begin their journey from Santa Ana, California from $332 or further east in Albuquerque from $190. Meanwhile, parkgoers can reach JAC from Las Vegas for $122, L.A. from $186, Reno, Nevada from $221 and New York for under $280.

Yosemite National Park, California
Visitors to California’s Yosemite National Park also have a pair of airport options, including Fresno-Yosemite International Airport (FAT) and the much closer Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH). The former can be reached by Boise for as little as $60 or San Francisco from $63. Flights to FAT from San Diego can be had for as low as $69 while travel from Oakland can be completed for just $117. Skyscanner also found flights from Houston for $129. Travelers flying into MMH can find fares from San Diego from $176 and Hawthorne, California from $207.

Zion National Park, Utah
Utah’s first national park, Zion National Park is beloved for its gorgeous red cliffs, canyons and winding trails. Budget-conscious travelers can target Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) and drive a couple of hours northeast to the park. Low fares to LAS uncovered by Skyscanner this summer include San Francisco and Santa Ana, California from just $17, Phoenix from $18, Houston from $79 and Atlanta from $111. To get closer to the park, travelers can fly to St. George Regional Airport (SGU) but that will prove more costly. Skyscanner reports seeing fares from Provo, Utah to SGU from $345 and Abilene, Texas from $333. However, visitors can fly in from Albuquerque for as low as $118.