10 Cheapest National Parks To Fly To

Gatorade-colored lakes, Seussian trees, rocky isles, and snow-capped peaks: The US national parks are home to some of the most awe-inspiring natural wonders and cultural history that our country has to offer. Making the decision to see the parks doesn’t take much convincing, but working out the logistics is what can take your trip from zero to officially-out-of-the-group-chat. 

Sure, road-tripping the country to hit all 63 parks sounds like a vibe, but unless you have a few weeks—or months—on your hands and several thousand dollars burning a hole in your pocket, chances are you’re hopping on a plane to get close to your chosen national park, then renting a car to get you the rest of the way there. That’s why we’ve rounded up the 10 cheapest national parks that you can fly to right now, based on the average cost of deals that we’ve sent to our members in the past year. Buckle up and read on. 

(If your favorite national parks didn’t crack the list, keep scrolling—we’ve included airport and flight information for every US national park below the list.)

Methodology

National parks—many, though not all—are notoriously remote (hey, it’s part of what makes them so satisfying to visit). But because of this, it’s pretty uncommon to find an airport that butts up right next to every national park. So to create our list, we’ve begun by looking at airports within about 200 miles (a three-hour drive) of each national park, though the shorter the distance the better. Major airports (think LAX, SFO, and ORD) were used when possible, as they tend to have more and cheaper flight deals. 

We took several criteria into account when ranking the national parks. In addition to the average cost of deals, we also looked at the number of deals that we sent and access to alternate airports. For example, if a national park had the cheapest average flight cost but we sent few deals overall and it was super far from the nearest airport, then it got bumped from the list. 

In other words, don’t take this list as gospel, but rather which national parks you might consider visiting if you’re looking to spend less money to get there. 

The cheapest national parks in the US to fly to are: 

10. Joshua Tree National Park, California

With its otherworldly terrain and flora seemingly straight out of a storybook, Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California makes it incredibly easy to visit—not just thanks to its photographable landscape but also because it has several nearby airports to which most people around the US will be able to find a good deal. Twentynine Palms (TNP) is closest to the park entrance, but you can also keep an eye out for deals to Los Angeles (LAX), San Bernardino (SBD), and Palm Springs (PSP). In the past year, we’ve sent a whopping 66 deals to LAX, with an average Going deal for cheap flights to LAX at $169 roundtrip and the best deal at $32 roundtrip. 

9. Channel Islands National Park, California

While you’re flying into Los Angeles, you may as well consider Channel Islands National Park—the eight-island archipelago located off the coast of Southern California. Flying into LAX will be your best bet, as it’s about 68 miles from where you’d set off for the islands via park concessionaire boats or a private boat; once on the islands, there is no transportation, so you’ll need to get around on foot or by kayak or private boat. In the past year, we’ve sent 66 deals to LAX, with an average Going deal for cheap flights to LAX at $169 roundtrip and the best deal at $32 roundtrip. 

8. Pinnacles National Park, California 

California’s central Pinnacles National Park, known for its rugged terrain and diverse wildlife (including the California condor with its 9.5-foot-wide wingspan) stole a spot on our top 10. The park is nearest to Monterey airport (MRY); in the past year, we’ve sent 3 deals to MRY, with an average Going deal cost for cheap flights to MRY at $168 roundtrip and the best deal at $138 roundtrip. However, Pinnacles offers no shortage of alternate airports, including San Jose (SJC, 74 miles away), Fresno (FAT, 84 miles away), Oakland (OAK, 102 miles away), and San Francisco (SFO, 103 miles away).

7. Lassen Volcanic National Park, California

 Another point for California. The state’s north-central Lassen Volcanic National Park comprises numerous volcanoes, steaming fumaroles, wildflower-filled meadows, and Gatorade-colored lakes. While the Redding airport (RDD) is no doubt closest to the park, you may have an easier time finding a deal into Sacramento (SMF), located 183 miles south of the park. In the past year, we’ve sent 20 deals to SMF, with an average Going deal cost for cheap flights to SMF at $166 roundtrip and the best deal at $78 roundtrip. 

6. Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky 

Located in south-central Kentucky, Mammoth Cave National Park is home to the longest known cave system in the world. Louisville (SDF) and Nashville (BNA) are both in driving distance, with the former about 72 miles from the park and the latter about 80 miles away, though you may have a better chance finding a deal into Nashville; as a backup, you also have Owensboro-Daviess (OWB) that you can bookmark for deals. In the past year, we’ve sent 52 deals to BNA, with an average Going deal cost for cheap flights to BNA at $164 roundtrip and the best deal at $64 roundtrip. 

5. Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio

A moment for the Midwest! Northern Ohio’s Cuyahoga Valley National Park, comprising rolling hills, forests, and farmland, sits nearly equidistant between Cleveland and Akron. The Cleveland airport (CLE) is just barely closer (less than a 30-minute drive from the park) and is probably where you’ll find most deals, though you can check Pittsburgh (PIT) and Columbus (CMH), both within two hours of the park, if you want to cover your bases. In the past year, we’ve sent 17 deals to CLE, with an average Going deal cost for cheap flights to CLE at $161 roundtrip and the best deal at $89 roundtrip. 

4. Glacier National Park, Montana

Aptly named, this glacier-carved park is located in the Montana Rockies near the Canadian border, where major airports replete with deals are a bit harder to find. Luckily, Glacier Park International Airport (FCA) in Kalispell is located just next door to the national park, and it’s seen a fair amount of deals over the past year—seven to be exact. The average Going deal cost for cheap flights to FCA is $156 roundtrip, while the lowest deal we’ve sent is $98 roundtrip. If FCA isn’t turning up any deals from your home airport, try flying into Missoula (MSO), 120 miles from Glacier.

3. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, California

Located in California’s southern Sierra Nevadas, adjacent Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park have been jointly administered since World War II. While the duo technically tied with Yosemite for second place on our list, they were narrowly beaten, as they have slightly fewer options when it comes to alternate airports where you may be able to find a deal. Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) is the closest, while LAX, located 212 miles away, could work in a pinch if you planned to add Sequoia and Kings Canyon to a larger Southern California road trip with other parks, such as Joshua Tree and Death Valley. In the past year, we’ve sent two deals to FAT (and a bunch more to LAX), with an average Going deal cost for cheap flights to FAT at $148 roundtrip and the best deal at $138 roundtrip. 

2. Yosemite National Park, California

Tied for second place with Sequoia and Kings Canyon in terms of average Going deal cost, Yosemite squeaked ahead on our list thanks to its access to alternate airports. The national park—California’s most-visited in 2023—is closest to Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT), but you could easily snag a deal into Sacramento (SMF), San Francisco (SFO), or Oakland (OAK), all located less than 200 miles (within a 3.5-hour drive) of Yosemite—here’s hoping you don’t hit traffic. In the past year, we’ve sent two deals to FAT (and a ton more to the other three airports), with an average Going deal cost for cheap flights to FAT at $148 roundtrip and the best deal at $138 roundtrip. 

1. Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana

Taking the top spot for the cheapest—and probably one of the most accessible—national parks on our list is Indiana Dunes National Park. Located on the southern shore of Lake Michigan, these lakeside dunes sit about 37 miles from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW), but you’d also be wise to check out deals into Indiana’s South Bend International Airport (SBN) and Chicago O’Hare (ORD), both located less than 50 miles from the park. In the past year, we’ve sent 12 deals to MDW, with an average Going deal cost for cheap flights to MDW at $142 roundtrip and the best deal that we’ve sent coming in at $75 roundtrip. 

That means the top 10 cheapest national parks in the US to fly to are: 

Alternatively, the bottom 10 national parks—those that would be considered the most expensive to fly to—are: 

All national parks 

You’ll notice that some national parks on this list contain airports that are outside the 200-mile radius we mentioned above. In many cases, this is to account for major airports that are close enough to the national parks to include them, like if it’s common for visitors to fly into a larger (but farther) airport or combine the national park with other nearby sites or activities. 

For example, it might make sense to fly into Portland (PDX) to visit Crater Lake—even though it’s about four hours away—if you were planning to visit Portland as well. Or, it might make sense to fly into Salt Lake City (SLC) to visit Utah national parks, all pretty far south in the state, if you were planning to make a road trip of it. 

Here's how all the US national parks stacked up, from A to Z. 

Acadia National Park

• Airports: Bangor (BGR), Portland (PWM)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Bangor: $192 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 4 
• Lowest deal: $168 roundtrip

Arches National Park

• Airports: Moab (CNY), Salt Lake City (SLC), Provo (PVU)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Moab: $193 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 4 
• Lowest deal: $148 roundtrip

Badlands National Park 

• Airports: Rapid City (RAP), Sioux Falls (FSD)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Rapid City: $183 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 4 
• Lowest deal: $148 roundtrip

Big Bend National Park

• Airports: El Paso (ELP), San Antonio (SAT)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to El Paso: $218 roundtrip 
• Number of deals found: 8 
• Lowest deal: $90 roundtrip

Biscayne National Park

• Airports: Miami (MIA), Palm Beach (PBI), Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Miami: $170 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 43 
• Lowest deal: $90 roundtrip

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

• Airports: Montrose (MTJ), Grand Junction (GJT), Colorado Springs (COS), Denver (DEN)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Montrose: $206 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 2
• Lowest deal: $194 roundtrip

Bryce Canyon National Park

• Airports: St. George (SGU), Salt Lake City (SLC)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to St. George: $208 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 2 
• Lowest deal: $147 roundtrip

Canyonlands National Park

• Airports: Moab (CNY), Salt Lake City (SLC), Provo (PVU)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Moab: $193 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 4 
• Lowest deal: $148 roundtrip

Capitol Reef National Park

• Airports: Grand Junction (GJT), Salt Lake City (SLC)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Grand Junction: $109 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 2 
• Lowest deal: $78 roundtrip

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

• Airport: El Paso (ELP) 
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to El Paso: $218 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 8 
• Lowest deal: $90 roundtrip

Channel Islands National Park

• Airport: Los Angeles (LAX)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to LA: $169 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 66 
• Lowest deal: $32 roundtrip

Congaree National Park

• Airports: Columbia (CAE), Charleston (CHS)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Columbia: $178 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 5 
• Lowest deal: $148 roundtrip

Crater Lake National Park

• Airports: Eugene (EUG), Redmond (RDM), Portland (PDX)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Eugene: $192 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 16 
• Lowest deal: $98 roundtrip

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

• Airports: Cleveland (CLE), Pittsburgh (PIT), Columbus (CMH)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Cleveland: $161 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 17 
• Lowest deal: $89 roundtrip

Death Valley National Park

• Airports: Furnace Creek (DTH), Las Vegas (LAS), Los Angeles (LAX)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Las Vegas: $173 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 52
• Lowest deal: $58 roundtrip

Denali National Park and Preserve

• Airports: Fairbanks (FAI), Anchorage (ANC)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Fairbanks: $343 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 4 
• Lowest deal: $258 roundtrip

Dry Tortugas National Park

• Airports: Key West (EYW), Miami (MIA)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Key West: $191 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 13 
• Lowest deal: $145 roundtrip

Everglades National Park

• Airports: Miami (MIA), Fort Lauderdale (FLL)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Miami: $170 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 43 
• Lowest deal: $90 roundtrip

Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve

• Airport: Fairbanks (FAI)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Fairbanks: $343 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 4 
• Lowest deal: $258 roundtrip

Gateway Arch National Park 

• Airport: St. Louis (STL) 
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to St. Louis: $177 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 14 
• Lowest deal: $87 roundtrip

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

• Airports: Juneau (JNU), Anchorage (ANC)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Juneau: $329 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 6 
• Lowest deal: $198 roundtrip

Glacier National Park

• Airports: Kalispell (FCA), Missoula (MSO)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Kalispell: $156 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 7 
• Lowest deal: $98 roundtrip

Grand Canyon National Park

• Airports: Flagstaff (FLG), Phoenix (PHX), Las Vegas (LAS)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Phoenix: $177 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 52 
• Lowest deal: $58 roundtrip

Grand Teton National Park

• Airports: Jackson Hole (JAC), Bozeman (BZN)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Bozeman: $236 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 27
• Lowest deal: $58 roundtrip

Great Basin National Park

• Airports: Cedar City (CDC), St. George (SGU)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Cedar City: $179 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 6 
• Lowest deal: $158 roundtrip

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

• Airports: San Luis Valley (ALS), Colorado Springs (COS), Denver (DEN)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Colorado Springs: $181 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 16 
• Lowest deal: $58 roundtrip

Great Smoky Mountains National Park

• Airports: Knoxville (TYS), Nashville (BNA)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Knoxville: $172 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 6 
• Lowest deal: $118 roundtrip

Guadalupe Mountains National Park

• Airport: El Paso (ELP)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to El Paso: $218 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 8
• Lowest deal: $90 roundtrip

Haleakalā National Park

• Airport: Kahului (OGG)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Kahului: $340 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 40
• Lowest deal: $123 roundtrip

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

• Airports: Kailua-Kona (KOA), Hilo (ITO)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Kailua-Kona: $327 roundtrip 
• Number of deals found: 40
• Lowest deal: $87 roundtrip

Hot Springs National Park

• Airport: Hot Springs (HOT), Little Rock (LIT)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Little Rock: $177 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 6 
• Lowest deal: $148 roundtrip

Indiana Dunes National Park

• Airports: Chicago Midway (MDW), South Bend (SBN), Chicago O’Hare (ORD)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Chicago Midway: $142 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 12 
• Lowest deal: $75 roundtrip

Isle Royale National Park

• Airports: Duluth (DLH), Minneapolis (MSP), Milwaukee (MKE)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Minneapolis: $152 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 27 
• Lowest deal: $78 roundtrip

Joshua Tree National Park 

• Airports: Twentynine Palms (TNP), Los Angeles (LAX), San Bernardino (SBD), Palm Springs (PSP)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to LA: $169 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 66 
• Lowest deal: $32 roundtrip

Katmai National Park and Preserve

• Airports: King Salmon (AKN), Anchorage (ANC)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Anchorage: $355 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 12 
• Lowest deal: $218 roundtrip

Kenai Fjords National Park

• Airports: Seward (SWD), Anchorage (ANC)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Anchorage: $355 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 12 
• Lowest deal: $218 roundtrip

Kings Canyon National Park 

• Airports: Fresno (FAT), Los Angeles (LAX)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Fresno: $148 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 2 
• Lowest deal: $138 roundtrip

Kobuk Valley National Park

• Airports: Fairbanks (FAI), Anchorage (ANC)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Fairbanks: $343 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 4 
• Lowest deal: $258 roundtrip

Lake Clark National Park and Preserve

• Airports: Homer (HOM), Anchorage (ANC)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Anchorage: $355 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 12 
• Lowest deal: $218 roundtrip

Lassen Volcanic National Park

• Airports: Redding (RDD), Sacramento (SMF)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Sacramento: $166 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 20
• Lowest deal: $78 roundtrip

Mammoth Cave National Park

• Airports: Louisville (SDF), Nashville (BNA), Owensboro-Daviess (OWB)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Nashville: $164 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 52
• Lowest deal: $64 roundtrip

Mesa Verde National Park 

• Airports: Cortez (CEZ), Albuquerque (ABQ), Durango-La Plata (DRO)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Albuquerque: $175 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 5 
• Lowest deal: $144 roundtrip

Mount Rainier National Park

• Airports: Seattle (SEA), Snohomish County (PAE), Portland (PDX), Yakima (YAK)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Seattle: $182 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 60 
• Lowest deal: $90 roundtrip

National Park of American Samoa

• Airports: Pago Pago (PPG)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Pago Pago: $2,481 roundtrip in business class
• Number of deals found: 1 
• Lowest deal: $1,878 roundtrip in business class

New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

• Airports: Beckley (BKW), Charlotte (CLT), Greensboro (GSO), Raleigh-Durham (RDU)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Charlotte: $142 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 17 
• Lowest deal: $77 roundtrip

North Cascades National Park

• Airports: Bellingham (BLI), Seattle (SEA), Snohomish County (PAE), Vancouver (YVR)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Seattle: $182 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 60 
• Lowest deal: $90 roundtrip

Olympic National Park

• Airports: Seattle (SEA), Snohomish County (PAE), Portland (PDX)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Seattle: $182 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 60 
• Lowest deal: $90 roundtrip

Petrified Forest National Park

• Airports: Show Low (SOW), Albuquerque (ABQ), Phoenix (PHX)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Albuquerque: $177 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 8 
• Lowest deal: $115 roundtrip

Pinnacles National Park

• Airports: Monterey (MRY), San Jose (SJC), Fresno (FAT), Oakland (OAK), San Francisco (SFO)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Monterey: $168 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 3 
• Lowest deal: $138 roundtrip

Redwood National and State Parks

• Airport: Arcata (ACV) 
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Arcata: $170 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 2 
• Lowest deal: $153 roundtrip

Rocky Mountain National Park

• Airport: Denver (DEN) 
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Denver: $177 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 67 
• Lowest deal: $98 roundtrip

Saguaro National Park

• Airports: Tucson (TUS), Phoenix (PHX)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Tucson: $188 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 17 
• Lowest deal: $104 roundtrip

Sequoia National Park

• Airports: Fresno (FAT), Los Angeles (LAX)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Fresno: $148 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 2 
• Lowest deal: $138 roundtrip

Shenandoah National Park

• Airports: Charlottesville (CHO), Washington Dulles (IAD), Washington Reagan (DCA), Richmond (RIC), Baltimore (BWI)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Charlottesville: $184 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 3 
• Lowest deal: $98 roundtrip

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

• Airports: Dickinson-Theodore Roosevelt (DIK), Billings (BIL)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Billings: $212 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 5 
• Lowest deal: $148 roundtrip

Virgin Islands National Park

• Airport: St. Thomas (STT)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to St. Thomas: $295 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 33 
• Lowest deal: $167 roundtrip

Voyageurs National Park

• Airport: International Falls (INL), Minneapolis (MSP) 
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Minneapolis: $152 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 27 
• Lowest deal: $78 roundtrip

White Sands National Park

• Airports: Las Cruces (LRU), El Paso (ELP), Albuquerque (ABQ)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to El Paso: $218 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 8 
• Lowest deal: $90 roundtrip

Wind Cave National Park

• Airport: Rapid City (RAP)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Rapid City: $183 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 4 
• Lowest deal: $148 roundtrip

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve

• Airport: Anchorage (ANC) 
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Anchorage: $355 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 12 
• Lowest deal: $218 roundtrip

Yellowstone National Park

• Airports: Yellowstone (WYS), Bozeman (BZN), Jackson Hole (JAC)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Bozeman: $236 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 27 
• Lowest deal: $58 roundtrip

Yosemite National Park

• Airports: Fresno (FAT), Sacramento (SMF), San Francisco (SFO), Oakland (OAK)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to Fresno: $148 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 2 
• Lowest deal: $138 roundtrip

Zion National Park

• Airports: St. George (SGU), Las Vegas (LAS)
• Average Going deal for cheap flights to St. George: $208 roundtrip
• Number of deals found: 2 
• Lowest deal: $147 roundtrip