How to Get to National Parks on Points and Miles

National Park Week is August 22-30, 2026 and Tuesday, August 25, 2026, entrance fees to all National Parks will be waived at parks that normally charge. 

This year is extra special because 2026 marks the 110th anniversary of the National Park Service. 

National Parks are great ways to explore the outdoors and gain a deeper understanding of US history, but sometimes, getting to a National Park can be half the battle. 

How to get to national parks on points and miles

Here at Going, we talk a lot about the Greek Islands Trick to find cheap flights. The idea is to focus on finding the lowest-cost flight option to cross the ocean. From there, you could drive, take a short regional flight, catch a train, or ride a horse and buggy to your final destination. 

The same principle can apply when finding flights to redeem with your points and miles. Focus on finding a direct flight for the longest leg of your journey in order to get a seat for fewer miles. 

When it comes to flying to national parks, you may not need to cross the ocean, but we can use the same idea to find flights across the US. 

Whether it’s the redwood forests, Gulf Stream waters, or somewhere in between, here are some ideas to get to national parks on point and miles.

Nearby airports to top national parks 

Here are some popular national parks and nearby airports. Use these airports as references when planning your points-and-miles trip to visit a national park. 

Great Smoky Mountains

Best airport to fly into: Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS), Asheville Regional Airport (AVL)

Driving distance: 1 hour from TYS, 2 hours from AVL

You could also fly into Nashville (BNA), if you’re willing to take a longer drive, approximately 3 hours.

Zion National Park

Best airport to fly into: Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS)

Driving distance: 2 hours

Yellowstone National Park

Best airport to fly into: Jackson Hole Airport (JAC) or Bozeman Yellowstone International (BZN)

Driving distance: 1 hour from JAC, 1.5-2 hours from BZN (depending on the entrance)

BZN is best for the north and west entrances to Yellowstone, while JAC is best for the south entrance. 

Grand Canyon National Parks

Best airport to fly into: Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) or Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)

Driving distance: 1.5 hours from FLG, 3.5 hours from PHX

These times are to the Grand Canyon South Rim entrance, the park’s main entrance. The North Rim is farther and opened seasonally.  

Yosemite National Park

Best airport to fly into: Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) or San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Driving distance: 2 hours from Fresno, California; 3.5-4 hours from San Francisco

Rocky Mountain National Park

Best airports to fly into: Denver International Airport (DEN)

Driving distance: 1.5 hours

Olympic National Park

Best airports to fly into: Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA)

Driving distance: 2.5 hours

Indiana Dunes National Park

Best airports to fly into: Chicago O’Hare International (ORD) or Chicago Midway International (MDW)

Driving distance: 1 hour

Acadia National Park

Best airport to fly into: Portland International Jetport (PWM) or Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Driving distance: 3 hours from Portland, Maine; 4 hours from Boston

Acadia National Park could also be within driving distance if you’re in or near the Northeastern US.

Glacier National Park

Best airports to fly into: Kalispell Glacier Park International Airport (FCA)

Driving distance: 45 minutes

Kalispell is the epitome of the small, regional airport nearby a national park. It surprisingly has a decent amount of direct flights from the eastern US during peak season, but another option to consider would be Great Falls International Airport (GTF).

What cards can help you earn the points and miles to get to a national park?

Many travel credit cards can help you get closer to a national park. 

Here are some airline card options to consider:

Here are some travel cards that earn transferable points to consider:

How cards can help with renting a car

No matter where you fly to, you’re likely going to need to drive a car to get to the national park you're visiting. This is another area where your travel credit cards can help. 

Paying for a rental car with credit cards

If you have a card that earns bonus points per dollar on travel expenses, such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card, which earns 2X points per dollar on travel, paying for the car rental on that travel card will help you earn more points for a future flight. 

If your card has a travel portal, you could also book your rental car through it. This may help you earn additional points per dollar, but before you book through this method, you’ll want to compare the rental price through the portal with the price if you booked directly with the car rental company. You don’t want to spend more through a travel portal just to earn more points. 

Rental car insurance with credit cards

Many of the cards above offer secondary insurance for rental cars, which means that if there was a claim, your card’s rental car insurance would only kick in after your personal auto insurance policy. But, if you pay for your rental car on one of the following credit cards, they provide primary coverage. 

Because these cards offer primary insurance on a rental car, that policy would apply first (as the name implies. This means that if you had an accident or issue with the rental car, you would not need to file a claim for your personal auto insurance policy. Learn more about our picks for the best credit cards to use when renting a car here.  

Can credit cards help with where to stay in national parks?

I’m told that you may need to book a year or more in advance for hotel reservations inside the national park. You might have better luck staying outside, but nearby the park. 

What cards should to use for each?

Staying at an Airbnb? 

Staying at a hotel chain?