Travel Guide
Getting Here & Getting Around
Airports, driving directions, and what to expect from cell service and GPS.
Airports
- Yellowstone Airport (WYS), West Yellowstone, Montana: the closest, about 30 miles away. Seasonal, with commercial flights roughly May through October. yellowstoneairport.mdt.mt.gov
- Idaho Falls Regional (IDA): about 80 miles, an hour and a half. Open year round. idahofallsidaho.gov
- Bozeman Yellowstone International (BZN): about 120 miles, two and a half hours. Open year round, with the most flights. bozemanairport.com
- Jackson Hole (JAC): about 100 miles, two and a half hours over Teton Pass. Open year round. jacksonholeairport.com
- Salt Lake City International (SLC): about 290 miles, five hours. slcairport.com
Distances and times are approximate, from the middle of Island Park, and longer in winter.
Driving directions
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- From Idaho Falls: US-20 north through Rexburg, St. Anthony and Ashton into Island Park, about an hour and a half.
- From Salt Lake City: I-15 north to Idaho Falls, then US-20 north, about five hours.
- From Bozeman: US-191 south through Gallatin Canyon to West Yellowstone, then US-20 west over Targhee Pass into Island Park, about two and a half hours.
- From Jackson: WY-22 over Teton Pass, then Idaho 33 and 32 to Ashton and US-20 north, about two and a half hours. Teton Pass can close in winter storms.
- From Island Park to the West Entrance: US-20 east over Targhee Pass to West Yellowstone, about 35 to 40 minutes from the middle of Island Park.
Cell service & navigation
Cell service in Island Park and nearby towns is generally good, but it changes once you are inside Yellowstone. Large parts of the park have little or no coverage; service is strongest near developed areas like visitor centers and lodges. Losing signal, data and live GPS is completely normal.
- Download maps before you enter the park, and save directions offline.
- Download the National Park Service app before your visit; it works offline.
- Do not rely on live navigation alone. A printed map is still extremely useful.
Getting here questions
Is there cell service inside Yellowstone?
Cell service is limited and unreliable in most of Yellowstone. Download Google Maps offline coverage and the NPS Yellowstone app before you enter.
How far is Island Park from Old Faithful?
Old Faithful is approximately 52 miles from the center of Island Park — about 1 hour and 15 minutes. During peak summer, wildlife jams and traffic near the West Entrance can add 30–45 minutes each way.
What is the closest airport to Island Park?
Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA) is approximately 90 minutes from Island Park. Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) is about 2 hours away with more flight options.
Do I need a GPS to navigate Yellowstone?
A GPS is useful, but many areas have no cell service for map apps. Download offline maps through Google Maps or the NPS Yellowstone app before entering the park.
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