The 10 Best Airports for Getting to Yosemite National Park

If you’re planning a trip out west, Yosemite National Park is a must. From the Half Dome to the waterfalls, Yosemite has no shortage of gorgeous natural landmarks. If you aren’t lucky enough to live nearby, you’re probably preparing for a lengthy road trip. Unfortunately, driving eats up a lot of vacation time. There’s good news: flying to a nearby airport not only gets you to Yosemite faster, but it’s often cheaper than paying for multiple tanks of gas – and saves wear and tear on your vehicle. Keep reading to discover the best airports for Yosemite National Park!

A Word On The Closest Airports To Yosemite

Before we dive into the nearest airports and their pros and cons, it’s important to understand Yosemite is very remote and mountainous. As such, you’ll have to fly as close as you can, and then take public transit or rent a car. There are several regional airports on the outskirts of the park, but finding flights there can be difficult as they won’t have the same availability as the nearby major airports in California and Nevada. By far, the best way to get into Yosemite is by flying to significant hubs and renting a vehicle. You’ll still have to do a bit of driving, but you’ll save so much time compared to driving the entire way. Lastly, we’ll be judging the distance of each airport based on the time it takes to go from the airport to the Yosemite Valley Visitor’s Center located inside Yosemite National Park.

1. Fresno-Yosemite International Airport (FAT)

Driving Distance to Yosemite: 2.5 hours

Airlines Serving Fresno-Yosemite International Airport

• AeroMexico
• Alaska Airlines
• Allegiant
• American Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• Southwest Airlines
• United Airlines
• Volaris

Car Rental Options at Fresno-Yosemite International Airport

• Alamo
• Avis
• Budget
• Dollar
• Enterprise
• Hertz
• National
• Payless
• Thrifty

Pros

Fresno-Yosemite is not the closest airport to Yosemite, but being a larger airport, it has more options for public transit and car rentals. And it’s certainly less busy than San Francisco or LAX. Ground transportation options include Amtrak, Greyhound, and YARTS – the Yosemite Area Regional Transport System.

Cons

YARTS only operates from May – September so this won’t be an option if you opt for going in late fall, winter, or early spring. Also, Amtrak does not have a stop in the heart of Yosemite Valley, so if you arrive in Fresno by rail, you’ll have to take a connecting YARTS bus to get to the National Park Visitor’s Center. Lastly, the YARTS bus from Fresno leaves quite early – 7:15 AM and 7:33 AM. So if you’re not a morning person, this may not be an ideal solution.

2. Merced Airport (MCE)

Driving Distance to Yosemite: 2 hours

Rental Car Options for Merced Regional Airpot

• Hertz
• Enterprise

Pros

Merced Regional Airport, located in Merced, California, is the closest airport to Yosemite National Park, so if you’re able to fly here, you won’t have to spend much time at all driving. Merced also offers free long-term parking, so you’ll save some money there.

Cons

Unfortunately, because it’s a regional airport, it doesn’t have much in the way of airline options. The only airline that operates there is Advanced Air, with connections to Las Vegas International Airport and LAX.

3. Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH)

Driving distance to Yosemite: 2.5 hours

Car Rental Options at Mammoth Yosemite Regional Airport

• Enterprise
• Hertz
• National

Pros

Like Merced, Mammoth has few options when it comes to airlines, but the two airlines that operate there are larger – United and Alaska. This means if you like to collect your frequent flier miles, you’re in luck. You can connect to Mammoth Airport via San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles, and Portland.

Cons

Limited public transit options exist if you don’t feel like renting a vehicle. YARTS operates in the area but only from June through September. They’ve extended service in October 2023, but it is dependent on whether Tioga Road is open.

4. Stockton Metropolitan Airport (SCK)

Driving Distance to Yosemite: 2 hours 52 minutes

Pros

Stockton’s status as a regional airport means there won’t be as much traffic or stress to deal with compared to larger airport hubs. Further, public transit operates year-round here compared to other regional airports that have limited seasonal availability. From Stockton Regional Airport, you can connect to Yosemite via Amtrak and Greyhound.

Cons

The only airline that operates out of Stockton is Allegiant. There’s parking onsite but it’s $12 per night, which might not seem like much, but it can add up if you’re vacationing in Yosemite for a week or more. And it’s a bit annoying when you consider that other regional airports offer free long-term parking. However, the most annoying part of this airport is the complete lack of car rental options. Of course, the surrounding city of Stockton itself has rental vehicles, but if you were hoping for the convenience of picking up a car right off the tarmac, think again.

5. Oakland International Airport (OAK)

Driving Distance to Yosemite: 3 hours 51 minutes

Airlines Serving Oakland International Airport

• Alaska
• Allegiant
• Avianca
• Contour
• Delta
• Hawaiian
• SATA Azores
• Southwest
• Spirit
• Volaris
• JSX

Car Rental Options at Oakland International Airport

• Hertz
• Dollar
• Thrifty
• Fox
• Avis
• Budget
• Payless
• National
• Enterprise
• Alama

Pros

As you’ve undoubtedly noticed, Oakland offers quite a selection of airlines and car rental companies. So, it’s easy to find the ideal flight and vehicle for your trip. If you prefer public transit, Greyhound and Amtrak are available year-round.

Cons

OAK is one of the biggest airports near Yosemite, so you’ll have to endure all the headaches that come with flying into a major hub. Further, it’s on the opposite side of the state, so if you opt for the rental car option, be prepared for a long, winding, mountainous drive.

6. Sacramento International Airport (SMF)

Driving Distance to Yosemite: 3 hours 44 minutes

Airlines Serving Sacramento Airport

• American
• Delta
• United
• Air Canada
• AeroMexico
• Alaska Airlines
• Frontier
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Horizon
• JetBlue
• Southwest
• Spirit
• Volaris

Car Rental Options At Sacramento Airport

• Avis
• Budget
• Hertz
• National

Pros

Sacramento Airport is approximately the same driving distance from San Francisco International Airport but comes with less traffic to deal with. Like the other major airports on this list, you have the choice of renting a vehicle and driving to Yosemite yourself, or you can hop aboard Amtrak or Greyhound, as service is continual throughout the year.

Cons

A major airport means more traffic, people, and stress to handle. Also, Sacramento, like many of the big California cities, is much closer to the coast than the mountains, which makes for longer drive times.

7. San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC)

Driving distance to Yosemite: 4 hours

Airlines Serving San Jose Mineta International Airport

• Air Canada
• Alaska
• American Airlines
• British Airways
• Delta
• Hawaiian
• JetBlue
• Southwest
• Spirit
• United
• Volaris
• Zipair

Car Rentals Options at San Jose Mineta International Airport

• Alamo
• Avis
• Budget
• Dollar
• Enterprise
• Fox
• Hertz
• National
• Payless
• Sixt
• Thrifty

Pros

San Jose Airport takes the cake when it comes to rental car options. Few other airports come close and you’re spoiled for choice. Additionally, their selection of airline carriers is impressive. Amtrak and Greyhound offer connections year-round, as well. Should you choose to drive yourself, you’ll have a few different options for getting to the Yosemite Valley, but they are all roughly four-hour drives, give or take five minutes. And whichever route you take, driving to Yosemite from San Jose affords you the chance to take in the lovely California countryside.

Cons

But what’s the catch, you ask? Well, even though San Jose is not as bad as LAX or San Francisco, it’s still caught up in Bay Area traffic. Depending on the time of day, you could get caught in rush hour or early morning commuting lines.

8. San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

Driving distance to Yosemite: 4 hours 35 minutes

Airlines Serving San Francisco Airport

• Aer Lingus
• AeroMexico
• Air Canada
• Air China
• Air France
• Air India
• Air New Zealand
• Air Transat
• Alaska
• American
• ANA
• Asiana Airlines
• Avianca
• Breeze
• British Airways
• Cathay Pacific
• China Airlines
• China Eastern
• China Southern
• Condor
• CopaAirlines
• Delta
• Emirates
• Eva Air
• Fiji Airways
• Flair Airlines
• Frenchbee
• Frontier
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Iberia
• ITA Airways
• Japan Airlines
• JetBlue
• KLM
• Korean Air
• Level
• Lufthansa
• Norse
• Philippine Airlines
• Qantas
• Qatar
• SAS
• Singapore Airlines
• Southwest
• Starlux
• Sun Country
• Swiss International Air Lines
• TAP Air Portugal
• Turkish Airlines
• United
• Vietnam Airlines
• Virgin Atlantic
• WestJet
• Zipair

Car Rental Options at San Francisco International Airport

• Alamo
• Avis
• Budget
• Dollar
• Enterprise
• Sixt
• Hertz
• National
• Thrifty

Pros

As you might have surmised from the staggering amount of airlines that operate out of San Francisco International Airport, this option is the closest major airport to Yosemite and is the largest airport in the area. If you’re visiting Yosemite as an international tourist, this airport might be your best option as it has SO many airlines and connections across the globe.

Because of the vast amount of flights to choose from, you’ll have more flexibility with dates and prices, as opposed to flying into a regional airport like Merced which only has one airline. Also, many of the airlines at SFO have designated lounges for passengers, which is a nicer option not available at most airports.

Amtrak and Greyhound have routes to the Yosemite Valley from SFO, and they run all year long.

Cons

No other airport, except perhaps LAX, is going to have the most delays, traffic, and confusion. For some, it’s the most direct route to Yosemite, but make sure to allow plenty of extra time for traffic.

9. Reno-Tahoe International Airport

Driving Distance to Yosemite: 4 hours 44 minutes to 5.5 hours depending on the route

Airlines Operating Out of Reno-Tahoe International Airport

• Alaska
• Allegiant
• American Airlines
• Delta
• JetBlue
• JSX
• New Pacific Airlines
• Southwest Airlines
• Spirit
• Sun Country Airlines
• United
• Volaris

Rental Car Options at Reno-Tahoe International Airport

• Alamo
• Avis
• Budget
• Dollar
• Enterprise
• Hertz
• National
• Payless
• Thrifty
• Reno-Tahoe

Pros

Aside from being a major gateway to Yosemite, Reno-Taho offers the chance to visit a world-class destination: Lake Tahoe. If you want to go on a side quest, it’s not that far out of the way. Additionally, if you’re arriving in Yosemite from the east, it’s the closest major airport.

Public transit options are available for a part of the year but are dependent on weather conditions so be sure to plan. According to the National Park Service site, from June through September, you can take Eastern Sierra Transit – weather permitting – and YARTS. As always, Amtrak and Greyhound are a year-round option.

Cons

Depending on which route you take, or if you do indeed stop to visit Lake Tahoe, the route from Reno to Yosemite is one of the longest drives, and it is one of the most mountainous with dozens of twists and turns.

10. Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)

Driving distance to Yosemite: 7.5 hours

Airlines Serving Harry Reid International Airport

• Advanced Airlines
• Aer Lingus
• Aerolineas Argentinas
• AeroMexico
• Air Canada
• Air China
• Air Europa
• Air France
• Air New Zealand
• Air Serbia
• Air Tahiti Nui
• Alaska Airlines
• ANA
• Allegiant Air
• American Airlines
• Asiana Airlines
• Austrian Airlines
• Avelo
• Avianca
• Azul
• Boutique Air
• Breeze Airways
• British Airways
• Brussels Airlines
• Cathay Pacific
• China Airlines
• China Eastern Airlines
• China Southern Airlines
• Condor
• Copa Airlines
• Delta Air Lines
• Discover Airlines
• Edelweiss Air
• El Al Israel Airlines
• Emirates
• Ethiopian Airlines
• Etihad Airways
• Fiji Airways
• Finnair
• Flair Airlines
• Flexjet
• Frontier Airlines
• Gol
• Gulf Air
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Iberia
• Icelandair
• ITA Airways
• Japan Airlines
• JetBlue Airways
• Jetlines
• JSX
• Kalitta Charters
• KLM
• Korean Air
• Latam Airlines
• LOT Polish Airlines
• Lufthansa
• Lynx Air
• NetJets Aviation
• Qantas
• Qatar Airways
• Ravn Alaska
• Royal Air Maroc
• Royal Jordanian
• SAS Scandinavian Airlines
• Singapore Airlines
• Southern Airways Express
• Southwest Airlines
• Spirit
• Sun Country
• Swiss
• Tap Air Portugal
• Turkish Airlines
• United Airlines
• Virgin Atlantic
• Virgin Australia
• Viva Aerobus
• Volaris
• WestJet
• XoJet

Car Rentals Serving Harry Reid International Airport

• Alamo
• National
• Dollar
• Enterprise
• Sixt
• Thrifty
• Payless
• Budget
• Avis
• Hertz

Pros

LAS is one of the easiest places to get to in the US. You can frequently find flights for under $100 from different hubs. This affords you a great deal of flexibility and options for budgeting and dates. Though the drive is long from LAS to Yosemite, you’ll be rewarded with fantastic views and plenty of places to pull over, stretch, and marvel at the California wilderness.

Cons

Unfortunately, LAS is the farthest major airport from Yosemite. Be prepared for a full day of driving if you decide to rent a vehicle. Also, there are no easy public transit options from this airport unless you’re fine with multiple transfers and at least 13 hours on a bus.

Summary of Best Airports for Yosemite National Park Trips