The closest, (and only) airport in Grand Junction, Colorado is Grand Junction Regional Airport, which serves just under a half a million passengers each year with daily flights to and from Denver, Salt Lake City, and points elsewhere.
The airport has a clean, 73,000 square feet terminal with a cafe, gift shop, five rental car agencies and four airlines operating flights.
GJT is tucked away about halfway between the ski areas of western Colorado, and the national parks in southeast Utah, making the Grand Junction airport a popular and busy starting point for flyers coming in from all over the world.
In fact, for most travelers visiting Western Colorado or Eastern Utah, the nearest and most convenient airport is the Grand Junction Regional Airport with four major carriers: United, Delta, American Airlines, and Breeze Airways.
But depending on your flight availability, ticket prices, or driving plans, a few different airports on the Western Slope (all located within a reasonable distance), may be better for you.
If you have a vacation to Vail, for example, flying directly into their smaller county airport would save you time, however you may have to pony up a lot more for your tickets.
Here’s a simple guide that helps you choose the best airport for your trip.
Nearest Airport to Grand Junction: Grand Junction Regional Airport)
Grand Junction Regional Airport (code GJT), is the primary airport serving western Colorado and Eastern Utah. It’s the busiest airport between Denver and Salt Lake.
Since we’re still a smaller town, our airport is very close and convenient to the town itself. If you’ve ever had to drive from Denver to the Denver International Airport (located in Kansas – almost), you’ll appreciate the fact you can get from downtown Grand Junction to GJT in 15 minutes.
Located on the north side of town, the Grand Junction Regional Airport is just a six mile drive from Main Street, and offers quick access to Palisade, Fruita and the Colorado National Monument.
It’s a mid-sized regional airport and easy to navigate. There isn’t a lot of traffic, and being smaller means very close parking (no long shuttle drives or marathon-type walks to your car)
There are also short wait times to check your bag, and an overall more relaxed travel experience compared to big city airports.
Even the rental car lot is directly next to the airport. You can literally leave the terminal and be inside your rental car in two minutes.
Airlines that Fly In and Out of Grand Junction Airport
There are four major carriers that fly and out of GJT:
- United
- American
- Delta
- Breeze Airways
These airlines have daily flights year-round to Denver, Salt Lake City, Dallas and Phoenix. Combined, they offer direct flights into 8 different US cities, from Los Angeles to Hartford, Connecticut, although some of these Breeze destinations are seasonal.
Next Closest Airports to Grand Junction
Although GJT is the nearest airport to Grand Junction, sometimes it’s cheaper and easier to fly into Montrose, Colorado, or other nearby airports.
Here are the closest alternatives, along with typical driving times from Grand Junction.
Montrose Regional Airport (MTJ)
Grand Junction and Montrose aren’t just rivals in high school football, the town’s airports also fight it out for local airport bragging rights.
The Montrose Airport is bigger, but Grand Junction’s airport is just slightly busier, with just over 2,000 more passengers flying in and out last year. (Source: KREX TV)
At 58 miles away, Montrose is the next, main nearby commercial airport to the Grand Valley (Grand Junction/Fruita/Palisade). It’s at just an hour an 15 minute drive.
And while I’m a Grand Junction resident and homer, I really love the Montrose Regional Airport. Oftentimes we have to drive from Grand Junction to Montrose to fly out of there because of lower fares. Unlike with GJT, Southwest flies out of the Montrose Regional Airport.
MTJ’s beautiful terminal is newer and spacious, with a recent expansion increasing the size to 75,000 square feet.
It’s a popular choice for winter travelers headed to Telluride and summer visitors exploring the San Juan Mountains. American, Delta and United all fly out of there, along with the aforementioned Southwest Airlines.
I believe Telluride Ski Area subsidizes some flights, which explains why you’ll see direct flights in and out of Montrose to places like New York, Chicago and Atlanta.
The drive between Montrose and Grand Junction is mostly flat, easy, and Highway 50 between the two towns is never crowded.
Canyonlands Regional Airport
This is the second closest airport to Grand Junction, but is very much off the radar as it is small with not very many options.
This tiny airport serves Moab, which is 112 miles from Grand Junction. It’s a 90 minute or so, drive away.
Contour Airlines (a partner with American Airlines I believe), offers flights to Denver and Phoenix. I was surprised when checking prices recently that Moab to Denver was pretty reasonable.
A company called Redtail Connections has two weekly flights from Salt Lake City to Moab.
Aspen–Pitkin County Airport (ASE)
Grand Junction to Aspen is about a 2 and a half hour drive.
The Aspen airport is located 4 miles northwest of downtown Aspen and its world-famous ski resort. During holidays the tarmac is filled with private planes as the world’s rich and famous flock here for skiing.
For us normal people, ASE has seasonal routes from major cities including direct flights from Denver, Los Angeles and Atlanta.
(Related: Grand Junction to Aspen Shuttle)
Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE)
This is the closest airport to Vail, but Grand Junction to Vail is about a 2 hour and 15 minute drive.
Located 35 miles west of Vail, EGE offers a surprising number of direct flights during peak ski season, including direct flights to and from Houston, Miami, Washington D.C. and elsewhere.
Denver International Airport (DEN)
DIA (now called “DEN” I guess), is the third busiest airport in the United States and obviously offers you direct flights to just about anywhere, however the drive from Grand Junction to Denver is 266 miles, or just over four hours.
If you’re wanting to fly to Grand Junction, you’ll almost always find it to be much cheaper to fly into Denver, however the catch is that long 4 ½ hour drive over the Continental Divide, which isn’t always fun in the winter.
My family and I always struggle with this when planning vacations: do we want to save hundred bucks on airfare, if it costs us ten hours (roundrip) driving over Vail Pass and/or maybe having to buy a hotel room the night before the flight? Usually the answer is “no.”
Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
Salt Lake City is the second closest international hub to Grand Junction, at 288 hours to the west. It’s also just about a 4 ½ hour drive.
As with driving to DIA, a road trip to and from this airport could have you driving through treacherous conditions in the winter – especially since this drive isn’t all on the interstate, unlike a drive to Denver’s airport.
Which Airport Is Best for Your Trip?
Choosing the best airport depends on what matters most to you:
If you want the quickest, most convenient option:
Grand Junction Regional Airport is your clear choice. Short lines, a small terminal, and close access to town make it ideal for most visits.
If you want the cheapest flight or the most direct connections:
Denver (DEN) or Salt Lake City (SLC) have tons more cities available and almost always lower ticket prices.
If you’re going skiing or visiting a mountain resort:
If you can afford it, flying directly into Eagle (EGE), Aspen (ASE), or Montrose (Telluride) would be a lot closer to your resort, and makes more sense, depending on your itinerary.
FAQ
Do you think Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce will last?
We meant questions about the Grand Junction Regional Airport.
What is the closest airport to Grand Junction, CO?
The closest and most convenient airport is Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT), located just a few miles from downtown Grand Junction.
How far is the Grand Junction Airport from downtown?
It’s six miles from Main Street, or only about a 10 to 15 minute drive from most hotels and attractions in Grand Junction.
What airlines fly into Grand Junction Regional Airport?
American Airlines, United, Delta, and Breeze Airways all fly out of GJT.
Are there other airports near Grand Junction?
Yes. Montrose Regional Airport is about 1 hour and 15 minutes away. Other airports like Eagle County (Vail), Aspen, Salt Lake City, and Denver airports are are a two to 4 /12 hour drive away.
How much does it cost to park at GJT?
The cost to park at the Grand Junction Regional Airport is $14 per day.
Is it cheaper to fly into Denver or Grand Junction?
Almost always Denver. There’s a lot more competition and available routes. I’ve had trips where it was cheaper to fly from Denver to Orlando, than it was from Grand Junction to Denver. But you to have balance that with time (9 – 10 hours roundtrip drive), gas and a hotel stay.
Does Grand Junction Airport have rental cars and transportation?
Yes, there are five major rental car agencies that operate inside the GJT terminal: Alamo, Avis, Hertz, Enterprise and Nation. And both taxis and rideshare services are plentiful. In fact, there is a Sunshine Rides (our local taxi company) desk at the airport which is usually staffed. In addition, y ou won’t have trouble getting an Uber or Lyft.
(By Steve Beauregard. Most photos copyright GJFruita.com. DIA photo courtesy of Timothy Vollmer via Flickr. MTJ picture from Montrose Regional Airport’s Press site).