Fly into U.S. Airports with Easy Ski Resort Access

Newsroom Flight Guide To Mountain Destinations Fly into U.S. Airports with Easy Ski Resort Access

Winter travel is unpredictable at best with surprise storms, unexpected delays and canceled flights. However, you can beat the ski travel blues by choosing ski resorts close to an airport with direct flights serviced by major airlines into and out of some of North America’s major cities. Pairing the right ski resort with the right airport can limit missed connections, eliminate lengthy white-knuckle drives, and make travel less stressful. Below, see our recommendations for U.S. airports with easy ski resort access, and see ourNorth America flight guides here.

Airports with easy ski resort access

1. Jackson Hole Airport (JAC)

Jackson Hole Airport, located at the base of the Teton Range, is approximately 20 miles from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and less than 10 miles from the town of Jackson. The airport has nonstop airline service from up to 16 destinations throughout the United States during peak seasons. Jackson Hole Airport is served year-round by Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, and seasonally by Frontier Airlines and Sun Country Airlines.

Fun fact: Jackson Hole Airport is the only commercial airport in the United States located inside a national park, conveniently located within Grand Teton National Park.

» Check out lodging options at Jackson Hole.

2. Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)

Flying into Salt Lake City International (SLC) puts skiers and riders within an hour’s drive of 11 ski areas, including Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley, Snowbird, Alta, Brighton, Solitude, and Sundance.

Salt Lake City International Airport is one of the West’s major hubs, served by 10 airlines and their affiliates offering more than 700 daily non-stop flights to/from 95+ destinations. Airlines that fly into SLC include AeroMexico, Alaska Airlines, American, Delta Air Lines, Frontier, JetBlue, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, SkyWest, Southwest and United. SLC is a major hub for Delta Air Lines with about 70 percent of total traffic.

Salt Lake City

3. Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE)

Searching for where to fly in Colorado for skiing? If you’re looking to skip the long, sometimes traffic-laden or snowy drive from Denver, catch a winter flight into Eagle County Regional Airport via United, Delta, or American Airlines. Most flights to Vail/Eagle are operated by American Airlines, connecting numerous airports to EGE.

Eagle County’s convenient, high-elevation airport places skiers and riders within a 40-minute drive of Beaver Creek and Vail ski areas, and just under an hour to Copper Mountain. In many cases there’s easy shuttle service to your hotel, too.

4. Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN)

Located in the heart of cowboy country, Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) is the closest airport to Big Sky and provides nonstop flights to and from 16 cities across the country, including Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Dallas, Chicago, New York-LaGuardia, Newark, Atlanta, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Portland and Seattle.

BZN Airport, which is serviced by Delta, Allegiant, Alaska, Avelo, JetBlue, United and American Airlines, puts travelers approximately 25 miles from Bridger Bowl and 50 miles from Big Sky Resort.

5. Burlington International Airport (BTV)

Fly direct into Vermont’s Burlington International Airport from 10 cities, including New York, Chicago, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Detroit, Washington, D.C., and Toronto. Enjoy easy access to Smugglers’ Notch and Stowe Mountain Resort, located approximately one hour from Burlington International Airport.

BTV is the closest airport to Vermont Ski resorts, and is serviced by Delta, JetBlue, American, Frontier, and United Airlines. Renting a car gives you access to other favorite Vermont resorts further south such as Bolton Valley, Sugarbush, Mad River, and Killington in Central Vermont.

6. Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (ASE)

The Aspen/Pitkin County Airport (also known as Sardy Field) is situated within 10 minutes of Aspen Mountain and Snowmass Village. Major carriers like Delta, United, and American provide nonstop service from some of the country’s biggest hubs. You can plan a direct flight to Aspen (or just to Denver and connect) whether flying out of Chicago, Atlanta, Phoenix, Houston, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, or Denver. It’s sometimes an exciting flight over the Rockies.

» Check out lodging options at Aspen Snowmass.

US airports easy ski access, Aspen night sky resort.
Aspen, Colorado. ©Shutterstock

7. Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO)

Hop aboard a Delta, Alaska, Allegiant, Frontier, Southwest, JetBlue, United, American Airlines, or Volaris flight to Reno from a number of hubs across the country and you’ll be skiing the Sierras in no time. Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley) is located within a one-hour drive of the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, which is the closest major airport to fly into for access to all Lake Tahoe ski resorts on either the north or south shores.

Consider making Reno your base for great hotel deals, lots of casinos and nightlife, and just a short drive to most of Lake Tahoe’s ski resorts.

8. Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN)

Alaska, Delta Connection, and United Express Airlines offer direct service into Sun Valley’s Friedman Memorial Airport, putting skiers and riders within 15 miles of the fabled Sun Valley ski slopes from a variety of major markets. Nonstop flights from Chicago, Denver, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle are available. For added convenience, shuttle serve is available from Hailey Friedman Airport to Sun Valley Resort.
» Check out lodging options at Sun Valley.

9. Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH) / Bishop Airport (BIH)

Air travel to Mammoth Lakes and Mammoth Mountain, the third most-visited ski resort in the United States, has gotten a whole lot easier. United Airlines now flies from Bishop, offering daily service to Bishop (BIH) airport from San Francisco (SFO) and Denver (DEN). The BIH flights replaced daily United service to Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH), making winter air travel to California’s most popular mountain resort more accessible and opening the door for expanded flight routes and access to Mammoth Lakes in the near future.

airplane at bishop airport mammoth mountain
Bishop Airport located just south of Mammoth

Shuttle and rental car services from Bishop to Mammoth Lakes are available to visitors on each flight. Drive time from Bishop to Mammoth Lakes is about 45 minutes, while there’s also free and regular bus service throughout Mammoth Lakes.

In addition, there’s Advanced Air service into MMH, which is just 12 miles from Mammoth Mountain. Advanced Air is now offering regional service to and from Burbank (BUR), Hawthorne (HHR), and Carlsbad (CLD) airports. Advanced Air flights also have the advantage of being able to land at BIH in the event of inclement weather in Mammoth Lakes.

10. Montrose-Telluride Regional Airport (MTJ)

Telluride-bound skiers and riders have a few different flight options. Montrose Regional Airport, dubbed the “runway to recreation,” is about as close as you can get with wings for a good-sized regional airport to the mountain (about an hour and 15 scenic minutes away).

You can fly into Montrose non-stop from numerous cities around the U.S. For even quicker mountain access, Boutique Air offers year-round service from Denver International Airport into Telluride Regional Airport (TEX), which is located just 10 minutes from town and the ski resort. They say “fly private at the cost of commercial.”

11. Yampa Valley Regional Airport (HDN)

Fly into Yampa Valley Regional Airport and you’re only about a 30-minute drive from Steamboat Resort (22 miles). There are non-stop flights from major airports across the country on Alaska, American, JetBlue, Southwest, and United during the winter season. Yampa Valley Airport is the place to go, not only for easy Steamboat access, but also for the towns of Hayden, Craig, and the rest of this beautiful Valley.
» » Check out lodging options at Steamboat.

Steamboat Resort
Yampa Valley Regional Airport is your gateway to Steamboat Springs Resort, Colorado.

12. Louisville Mohammed Ali International Airport (SFD/KSDF)

Most people will choose driving to Indiana’s Paoli Peaks and Perfect North ski resorts, but if you’re flying in, Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport is the closest bet, located 45-60 minutes from the ski areas. Plenty of airlines fly in from all over. The airport used to be called Standiford Field and the name change salutes the late, great fighter who hails from Louisville.

And a few more choices

In Montana, Glacier Park International Airport is just 30 minutes from Whitefish Mountain Resort, while Bridger Bowl Ski Area is just 30 minutes from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport and Big Sky an hour away. Live in Texas? Fly to Albuquerque International Sunport (ABQ) and drive north to Taos Ski Valley (2.5 hours), or, drive south to Ski Apache in the resort mountain town of Ruidoso (under three hours).

Flying into Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)? There’s nearby skiing at Bear Mountain, Snow Summit, and Snow Valley, or the Southern California snowboarding hotspot, Mountain High.

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