Car rental near Yellowstone National Park
An adventurous trip to Yellowstone National Park asks for freedom that only a rental car can provide. In fact, renting a car for the drive to Yellowstone National Park is the only solution that gives the travelers the desired mix of affordability, comfort and the liberty to move as you please! Yellowstone is so big, exploring it thoroughly without a self-drive rental vehicle is almost impossible; without a car, you won’t be able to move around the National Park like a free bird.
The drive to Yellowstone National Park is loved by both travelers and locals alike. Owing to the drive’s popularity, all big brands make it a point that they have rental deals at a variety of locations.
Facts about Yellowstone National Park
Located in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, Yellowstone National Park was US’s first National Park. Sprawled over an area of about 3,468.4 square miles, YellowStone National Park is a beautiful piece of land full of mountain ranges, lakes, rivers and of course, Canyons. Its lake, YellowStone Lake is North America’s highest-elevation lake. Another gripping fact is that half of the World’s geysers are in YellowStone National Park, fuelled by its active volcano called ‘Caldera’.
Activity highlights
- Camping
- Bicycling
- Boating
- Hiking
- Fishing
West Yellowstone: Established in 1908, the town of West Yellowstone is the main gateway into Yellowstone National Park. It is an interesting place to visit, will prove to be a worthy addition to your itinerary.
Best time to visit Yellowstone: Though the National Park remains open throughout the year, May to September are the best months to visit. However, if you enjoy skiing, ice-climbing, snowshoeing or snowmobiling, winter would be a better idea (from late December to March).
Best things to see at Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park is really BIG, full of wonders, some of which are listed below:
Where to pick your rental car for Yellowstone trip
As the starting point of your drive to yellowstone national park, you can choose the US city you prefer. Some popular cities are listed below:
| US City/National Park | Distance from Yellowstone National Park | Popular car rental pickup point in the city |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago | 1,346.3 mi via I-90 W | Chicago Airport |
| Denver | 543.8 mi via I-25 N | Denver Airport |
| Grand Canyon | 698.9 mi via I-15 N | – |
| Jackson, WY | 57.3 mi via US-191 N/US-89 N | Jackson Airport |
| Las Vegas | 739.3 mi via I-15 N | Las Vegas Airport |
| Los Angeles | 1,007.0 mi via I-15 N | Los Angeles Airport |
| Salt Lake City | 320.7 mi via I-15 N and Hwy 20 E | Salt Lake City Airport |
| San Francisco | 936.7 mi via I-80 E | San Francisco Airport |
Nearest Airports to Yellowstone Airport
If you are looking for an airport real close to Yellowstone National park for car rental pickup, here are a few names that you may consider:
What car type to rent for your Yellowstone National Park
Most of the travelers arrive at Yellowstone National Park from cities like Chicago and Seattle as they want to enjoy a road trip as well as Yellowstone’s beauty – two things that can be accomplished easily with a rental car. Since road-tripping to Yellowstone National park is really common, SUVs, vans and minivans are the most booked rental vehicles for this trip.
However, we also provide other car categories like economy, sedans, minis and even luxurious and convertible vehicles. However they are not at all apt for the trip type.
Popular road trips to Yellowstone National Park
Since these trips are awfully long, travelers usually break the drive into a few days that involves camping and adventures like Kayaking.
Denver to Yellowstone National Park
Start your trip in Denver and travel to Estes Park. Make time to explore Denver though; shopping at the 16th Street Mall and a visit to Denver Botanic Gardens are some of the best experiences of the city. From Estes Park, make a stop in Loveland for a quick bite and walk through this beautiful time – it is great for some hiking and having a taste of Loveland Co. Brewery’s beer is a must!
If you feel like, pay a visit to Grand Teton, another National Park (NP), on your way to Yellowstone. This NP is great for hiking with more than 200 miles of trails and a beautiful lake, called Snake Lake which is great for boating.
San Francisco to Yellowstone National Park
| Distance: | 936.7 mi |
|---|---|
| Route: | via I-80 E |
| Places to see on the way: | Sacramento, Reno, Battle Mountain, Twin Falls, Idaho Falls and West Yellowstone |
Jackson Hole to Yellowstone National Park
| Distance: | 57.3 mi |
|---|---|
| Route: | via US-191 N/US-89 N |
| Places to see on the way: | Saint Anthony, West Yellowstone, Bozeman and Gardiner |
Salt Lake City to Yellowstone
| Distance: | 320.7 mi |
|---|---|
| Route: | via I-15 N and Hwy 20 E |
| Places to see on the way: | Evanston (Wyoming), Bear Lake, Jackson (Wyoming) and Old Faithful |
Seattle to Yellowstone National Park
| Distance: | 739.5 mi |
|---|---|
| Route: | via I-90 E |
| Places to see on the way: | Leavenworth (Washington), Spokane, Missoula and Bozeman |
Grand Canyon to Yellowstone National Park
This is the trip we categorize as ‘Excellent’, the one that requires at least 2-3 weeks to cover completely. Many people add Grand Teton National Park to the list for a more memorable trip.