Fly FAT, the Closest Airport to Yosemite

Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) is the closest airport to Yosemite, and worlds away from the mad bustle of LAX and SFO.  With major air carrier service, on-airport rental car center and amenities that beautifully preview the iconic terrain ahead, Fresno Yosemite International Airport is your go-to Yosemite airport.

Southwest Airlines inaugurates service here this spring, joining Aeromexico, Alaska Airlines, Allegiant, American, Delta, Frontier, United and Volaris to offer Yosemite-bound travelers the best way to Yosemite Mariposa wonderland.   When flying to the California Sierra’s signature national park, there’s no better commercial airport near Yosemite National Park than FAT.

Yosemite Adventure Takes Flight

Yosemite National Park is one of the most beautiful places on earth.  Its natural splendor is timeless, awe-inspiring, and even spiritual.  As the best air portal to Yosemite, Fresno Yosemite International Airport delivers keynote advantages that are just as mighty from a traveler’s perspective:  easy, fast and convenient.

• Easy – FAT is right-sized, with one terminal and 10 gates. Navigating the air terminal is a snap, where travelers will find their journey from jetway to highway a simple, linear and inviting experience. Travel time to Yosemite will vary, but 90 minutes is your over/under for airport to national park entrance. Yosemite Area Regional Transit System (YARTS) is also available with seasonal “Gold Route” bus service between FAT and multiple stops within Yosemite National Park. Advance reservations are available and highly recommended. (Note: YARTS is set to resume its airport connecting service in Summer 2021.)
•  Fast – Arrivals at FAT are fast with baggage claim and traveler amenities designed to be easily navigated. Rental car counters are located directly behind baggage claim, and with on-airport vehicle pickup and dropoff, there’s no need for crowded shuttles. Before you can say Chilnualna, you’re on your way to higher ground!
• Convenient – Fresno Yosemite International Airport offers non-stop flights to 15 major cities, including Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, and Seattle in the U.S., and four additional cities in Mexico with direct connections through Central and South America. And with Southwest Airlines joining the line-up, dozens of additional connections will provide an even wider network of convenient low-fare options.

FAT’s first multi-level, covered parking structure will be located directly across from the terminal to further elevate the customer experience.  Providing parking conveniently located on airport property eliminates the need for shuttles and supports sustainability initiatives. When completed in November 2021, the structure will create 917 new parking spaces, including ADA accessible covered parking, electric vehicle charging stations, park-assist technology to guide motorists to available spaces, and pay kiosks.  Plus, long-term parking rates at FAT are among the least expensive in California.

FAT Yosemite Airport Amenities

Fresno Yosemite International Airport scores high marks for amenities and ambiance as well.  A little extra time before your flight?  Score a local craft libation or tasty snack, and wander through a life-size depiction of a Giant Sequoia Forest to get an enticing preview of the colossal groves of Sequoiadendron giganteum that thrive in Yosemite Mariposa.

Fresno Yosemite International Airport’s Art & Culture program enriches the traveler experience through contemporary art, musical performances, and other cultural touches. FAT is a showcase of local talent from California’s Central Valley region.  Even the FAT baggage carousel features dramatic, mural-size photos of dramatic vistas including Half Dome. Selfie ops abound, so tag your pics and post with #YosemiteNation and #iflyfresno to get in the game.

Go local with the menus at FAT’s John Muir Tavern, checking all the boxes with great Sierra Alpine cuisine and a deep list of regional wine (including vintages from Fresno State Winery) and craft beer from Fresno’s Tioga Sequoia Brewing Co.  Lovers of the bean and leaf will find a Starbucks Café ready to serve.

FAT’s Information Center is the resource hub of the airport providing passengers and guests with trip planning information, wayfinding assistance, complimentary tourism guides, attraction brochures, hotel information, ground transportation tips, maps and directions, and terminal paging assistance.  It is conveniently  located near the main entrance of the terminal lobby.

All this to say, Fresno Yosemite International Airport is not only the closest airport to Yosemite National Park – it’s also the most fun to fly.

Go Your Own Way via FAT

There is a legacy of travelers making the once-difficult journey to experience the glory of Yosemite National Park.  John Muir famously walked to Yosemite from San Francisco Bay in 1868.  Buffalo Soldier Colonel Charles Young rode a similar route via horseback at the turn of the 20^th century, while the first Yosemite leisure travelers took arduous combinations of rail and stagecoach.  Today, those sacrifices are well behind us. Fresno Yosemite International Airport and its ever-expanding services and world-class amenities provide travelers with the best air gateway to Yosemite Mariposa’s storybook Sierra majesty.