Six National Parks With Nearby Airports

Of the sites, 63 have “national park” as part of their official names, and this is the category from which we chose our list of six with nearby airports that make them ideal destinations for general aviation pilots. Of course, there are many more that are just as flyable.

The idea is to avoid being overwhelmed by the number of choices and just start planning visits. See how many you can fly to in a year, and then keep going.

Be sure to check the National Park Service website for information about park conditions, temporary road closures, guided tours, and suggestions that can help you plan the visit.

This is the biggie, the top dog, the first national park, having opened in 1872, and the one people tend to think of first. It covers 2.2 million acres and has a diversity of wildlife and landscapes, and a wealth of geysers. The airport has an 8,400-foot runway and sits only about three miles from the west entrance to the park. The airport closes for the winter, so check its status before planning to fly in. 

Known for Going to the Sun Mountain—a peak of more than 9,600 feet in the Lewis Range—the park also has a road of the same name with dramatic scenery. Hikers can explore more than 700 miles of trails. During the summer, Blackfeet, Salish, Kootenai, and Pend d'Oreille tribal members share knowledge of their history and culture as part of the “Native America Speaks” program, which marks its 40th anniversary this year.

Just about everyone wants to see this magnificent hole in the ground. To make the most of your flying privileges and the airport’s convenient location, it is best to avoid visiting during busy times like spring break or during peak hours in the summer. Lines at entry points tend to get long between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. The airport is two miles from the park entrance and seven miles from the South Rim, which is currently open (the North Rim is still closed for the winter season). 

Boating, fishing, and paddling canoes and kayaks are among the popular activities for visitors, who need to be especially careful to respect the many species that live in the area. The instruction to “stay at least 15 feet from alligators and crocodiles” leaps off the page listing various warnings about wildlife. The airport is less than 10 miles from the park’s eastern entrance. 

Known as a refuge for native wildlife and plants, the park also has a transportation history theme. Visitors can walk or ride bikes on a trail that is part of the old Ohio and Erie Canal towpath. The park’s trails total more than 125 miles and include part of the statewide Buckeye Trail. The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway offers rides through the park on a vintage train from the 1940s.

It’s less than 10 miles from the airport to the park, which borders bustling Bar Harbor but offers quiet escapes on miles of forest hiking trails. Acadia is a particular joy for bicyclists, who can tour for hours on the park’s 45 miles of carriage, a gift from John D. Rockefeller, Jr., built between 1913 and 1940. You can also ride or drive up Cadillac Mountain for dramatic views of the harbor and surrounding hills.