I am trying to book flights for 4 from NE OH to Yellowstone area in late July. Rates are no less than $600.00 each and higher. Anyone ever been able to do this cheaper? Where should I be looking and what airport would be most reasonable? I don't mind driving up to 4 hours in to it.
Thanks!

I just looked on expedia and found several flights from Cleveland to Jackson Hole for $386 flying Delta or United. $438 for American Airlines. This was leaving on Jul 23 and returning Jul 30 both days a Thursday. If you book directly with the airlines you will probably save another $5.00. Sound like a decent price to me and you are less than an hour from Yellowstone and you land in Grand Tetons. The Jackson Hole airport is in middle of a valley. Jackson is on one end and the Grand Teton Park is on the other. Less than a 30 minute drive to either.

Ok, thanks. Maybe my day of departure and return needs to be on a weekday. I will check in to it!

We spent a week in Yellowstone last July and flew into Salt Lake City. We added two nights in Park City since it was close.

That brought down the airline prices by about $150 a person (we payed $400). It was about a 5 hour drive from SLC to West Yellowstone.

You have reservations in Yellowstone yet? Those fill up fast. Grab anything you can and keep calling back as things open up as you get closer.

I could go on and on about Yellowstone so I'll stop.

You could also fly into Bozeman but you likely won't find a cheaper fare than SLC. That being said, flying into SLC will pretty much kill 2 days of your trip with flying and driving. Also, don't overlook Grand Teton N.P. While Yellowstone is more popular, I believe GTNP is more scenic. Plan at least 2 days there on your trip. Oh, get off the highway and do a little hiking if you are able, there is so much you can't see from the asphalt. There are all sorts of hikes from easy to difficult.

Cody, Wyoming, is another option, but probably not a cheaper one. Airport code is COD.

COD is about 60 miles from the park.

Idaho Falls (IDA) is about 100 miles.

expedia shows only a few dollars difference for SLC and Jackson on the days that I checked as indicated above. so, I would save the driving and additional fuel cost and head to Jackson. It would be easier, faster, and much more scenic looking at the Tetons as you fly in. Although, SLC Salt is interesting if you haven't ever seen it.

We flew from NEO to Montana last summer. The best rate I found was from Akron-Canton (CAK)to Billings on Frontier. We flew on Saturday each way.

Those are all great tips. thank you so much. I haven't yet reserved with Xanterra. Can you cancell with them if you have to? I have a senior who might need to travel to see more colleges so I'm tentative about this trip, but we've wanted to go for so long. I thought that too about calling often because of cancellations, especially in this economy. I was surpised how much Frontier was when I checked at times too. Guess you have to keep checking.

Boom,

Yes you can cancel with Xanterra within their time limit. I believe they charge a fee of $15.

Keep calling and calling. You'll snag a cancellation if you try.