Lamar Valley sunrise — Yellowstone National Park, the destination of a Seattle road trip

Trip Planning · From Seattle

Seattle to Yellowstone — Drive, Fly & Where to Stay

Everything Pacific Northwest visitors need to plan the perfect Yellowstone & Grand Teton trip — the 2-day I-90 drive, direct flights, and the basecamp that puts both parks in reach.

~830 mi
Driving Distance
~13 hrs
Drive Time
1h 45m
Flight to BZN
Yes
Both parks from basecamp

Drive or Fly from Seattle?

For most Seattle visitors, flying wins on time and often on cost. The drive is beautiful but consumes 4 days round-trip.

Drive (2 days each way)

Best if you have 10+ days and want a Pacific Northwest road trip. Bring all your gear, stop in Missoula or Coeur d'Alene, and enjoy I-90 scenery through the Bitterroots.

Fly (under 2 hours) ✓

Best for trips of 7 days or less. Alaska and Delta run direct SEA → BZN seasonally. Pick up an SUV at the airport and save 4 full days vs driving.

Best Airports from Seattle (SEA)

BZN Bozeman Yellowstone Intl Best Pick
2 hr to Island Park

Direct from SEA on Alaska and Delta (seasonal). Best balance of price, options, and drive time. Drive south on US-191 through Big Sky.

IDA Idaho Falls Regional
90 min to Island Park

Closest airport to our cabin but requires a connection from SEA (usually SLC or DEN). Good pick if BZN fares spike.

JAC Jackson Hole
2 hr to Island Park

Most scenic arrival. Direct from SEA on Alaska seasonally. Premium pricing — pick this if Grand Teton is your priority.

SLC Salt Lake City Intl
4.5 hr to Island Park

Cheapest fares from SEA and biggest selection (Delta hub). Worth it only if savings exceed $200/ticket.

See our complete airport comparison →

Driving Route from Seattle

The classic route: I-90 East across Washington, Idaho, and Montana → US-287 South at Three Forks → US-20 East into Idaho. About 830 miles total to Island Park.

Day 1: Seattle → Missoula, MT

7 hrs

I-90 East across Snoqualmie Pass and the Columbia Plateau, through Spokane and Coeur d'Alene. Missoula has great breweries and an easy walkable downtown for an evening.

Day 2: Missoula, MT → Island Park, ID

6 hrs

Continue I-90 East to Three Forks, then US-287 South past Henrys Lake and into Island Park. Bonus: drive past the West Yellowstone entrance turn-off.

Tip: Don't try to drive Seattle to Island Park in one day — 13+ hours leaves you wrecked. Missoula is the perfect halfway split.

Why Island Park is Your Basecamp

Most Seattle visitors burn time and money jumping between hotels in Bozeman, West Yellowstone, and Jackson. Island Park solves that — one cabin, both parks, no daily packing.

30 min to Yellowstone

West Entrance is a quick US-20 drive — be at Old Faithful by 8 AM.

90 min to Grand Teton

Day trip to Jackson, Snake River, and Mormon Row — back for the hot tub by dinner.

Cheaper than Jackson

Cabin pricing is a fraction of Jackson Hole hotels — and you sleep in actual lodgepole forest.

Check Cabin Availability → See the Cabin

Plan the Rest of Your Trip