Flying to the American West: Which Arrival Airport Should You Choose for Your Itinerary?
Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Denver, or Salt Lake City: choosing the right arrival airport is the first step toward planning your American West itinerary.
By David Sanchez · · 5 min read
The American West is vast, and the airport where you land often determines several days of driving. Six hubs serve nearly all of the region's national parks: each opens up a different corridor, with its own nearby parks, flight considerations, and route-planning logic. This guide will help you choose the right entry point before you even book your ticket.
Los Angeles: ideal for Southern California and Death Valley
Los Angeles (LAX) is one of the best-served airports from Paris. Air France operates nonstop flights year-round, with round-trip fares generally around $900 to $1,100 depending on the season. La Compagnie also serves LAX exclusively in business class, on a separate route.
From the terminal, allow about 2 hours 30 minutes of driving to Joshua Tree, 3 hours 30 minutes to Death Valley, and 4 hours to Sequoia and Kings Canyon. All the major rental car companies have a presence at the airport and can be reached by shuttle from the arrival terminals.
LAX is particularly well suited to one-way itineraries heading north toward San Francisco along the coast or east toward Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. A loop from Los Angeles comfortably covers Southern California and Nevada.
San Francisco: the gateway to the northern parks
San Francisco (SFO) has nonstop service from Paris with Air France and United, with fares comparable to LAX, often between $850 and $1,050. The airport is well connected to the BART network, but a car is essential for reaching the parks.
Yosemite is about 3 hours away by car, Pinnacles 2 hours 30 minutes, Redwood 5 hours to the north, and Lassen Volcanic 4 hours away. SFO is the natural choice for road trips heading up the coast or crossing the Sierra Nevada.
If you fly into SFO and depart from LAX, or the other way around, a one-way itinerary makes the most sense: it avoids backtracking and keeps the mileage down.
Las Vegas: direct access to the parks of Utah and Arizona
Las Vegas (Harry Reid International, LAS) has no nonstop flights from Paris. Most itineraries include a connection in New York, Los Angeles, or Atlanta, with airfare generally around $800 to $1,000.
LAS, however, is the ideal gateway to the parks of the Southwest. Zion is about 2 hours 30 minutes away by car, Bryce Canyon 4 hours, the Grand Canyon (South Rim) about 4 hours 30 minutes, and Death Valley 2 hours 30 minutes to the west. Rental car companies offer competitive rates: competition is fierce, and cars head to the parks in large numbers.
Las Vegas works equally well as the starting point for a loop through Utah and Nevada or as the beginning of a road trip through the American West heading east or north.
Denver: the gateway to the Rockies
Denver (DEN) is connected to Paris with a layover, usually in New York or Atlanta, for around $850 to $1,050. It is the natural gateway to Colorado and the Rocky Mountains.
Rocky Mountain National Park is 1 hour 30 minutes from the airport. Great Sand Dunes is 4 hours away, Black Canyon of the Gunnison 3 hours, and Mesa Verde 5 hours to the southwest. For a trip focused on Colorado, Denver is the logical choice. Rental cars are located in a dedicated terminal, the Rental Car Center, which is accessible by shuttle from the baggage claim areas.
Salt Lake City: the hub for Utah
Salt Lake City (SLC) is often overlooked by French travelers, and that is a mistake. Flights from Paris require a layover and cost around $850 to $1,050. SLC, on the other hand, puts all five of Utah's major parks, known as the "Mighty Five," within a 5-hour radius.
Capitol Reef is 3 hours 30 minutes away by car, Arches and Canyonlands about 4 hours, Bryce Canyon 4 hours, and Zion 5 hours. If your itinerary revolves around Utah, this is the best starting point. The America the Beautiful pass quickly pays for itself on this type of trip: visiting five parks in ten days is standard here.
Phoenix: the ideal starting point for the greater Southwest
Phoenix (PHX) has connecting service from Paris, with fares around $800 to $1,000. Sky Harbor Airport is close to downtown, and plenty of rental car companies operate there.
Saguaro is 30 minutes from the airport. The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is 3 hours 30 minutes away, Petrified Forest 3 hours, White Sands 4 hours, and Carlsbad Caverns 5 hours. Phoenix is a good starting point for a loop through Arizona and New Mexico or a one-way trip heading north toward Las Vegas.
| Airport | Flight from Paris | Parks within 5 hours | Recommended for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles (LAX) | Nonstop, around $900-$1,100 | Joshua Tree, Death Valley, Sequoia | One-way trip to SF or LV |
| San Francisco (SFO) | Nonstop, around $850-$1,050 | Yosemite, Pinnacles, Redwood | One-way trip to LAX |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | Connecting, around $800-$1,000 | Zion, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, Death Valley | Utah loop or one-way trip |
| Denver (DEN) | Connecting, around $850-$1,050 | Rocky Mountain, Great Sand Dunes, Black Canyon | Colorado loop |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | Connecting, around $850-$1,050 | Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce, Zion | "Mighty Five" loop |
| Phoenix (PHX) | Connecting, around $800-$1,000 | Saguaro, Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest | Arizona loop or one-way trip to LV |
The right choice depends as much on your itinerary as on the ticket price when you book. We recommend comparing LAX and LAS if you are planning a trip between Southern California and Utah. For Utah alone, SLC is almost always the most efficient option. And if a one-way itinerary is possible, arriving in one city and departing from another, the fare is often the same as a round trip while saving you two unnecessary days of driving.