How to Get to Sun Valley, Idaho
Sun Valley is admired for it’s authentic, off-the-beaten-path vibe. While getting to Sun Valley is part of the adventure, new nonstop flights have made it easier than ever to visit this little corner of winter paradise. Fly to Hailey’s Friedman Memorial Airport from seven major cities, or land a bit further out and take the beautiful drive to Sun Valley. Either way, we’ll be waiting to welcome you.
Nonstop Flights to Friedman Memorial Airport
Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey is Sun Valley’s closest airport roughly 20 minutes away from lifts. A morning arrival will leave you enough time for a few laps on the mountain and an après beer at Apple’s. Friedman’s airport code, SUN, is a teaser of the blue skies you’re headed to.
Nonstop flights to Sun Valley are available from the following destinations:
- Seattle | Alaska & Delta
- San Francisco | United
- Los Angeles | Alaska & Delta
- Salt Lake City | Delta
- Denver | United
- Chicago | United
Winter Airline Specials
Fly Alaska Airlines & Grab a Discount
Redeem your Alaska Airlines boarding pass from Seattle to Sun Valley for one of these offers:
- 50% off adult group lesson the day after arrival
Flying with sports equipment? Skis, snowboards and more now fly for $25.
Connecting Flights to Friedman Memorial Airport
Don’t live near one of the major cities with direct flights? Never fear. All those direct flights mean less time connecting in the airport and more time basking in the winter sun. Major connection points on most airlines are through Salt Lake City and Denver. Connection Tip: if you find yourself in Salt Lake City with time to spare, head to the E Terminal. Though you won’t find your departure gate here, High West Distillery is worth the walk. Sip a flight of whiskey in the saloon-inspired restaurant. Watch the time though, and don’t let your whiskey flight cause you to miss your actual flight to Sun Valley.
Landing at Friedman Memorial Airport
If your camera is at the bottom of your carry on, dig it out before your flight begins its descent. Sun Valley is surrounded by five mountain ranges, and you’ll get a bird’s eye view of most of them while landing. The panoramic view is the first of many welcomes to this mountain town. Keep your camera handy as planes disembark directly onto the tarmac with a great view of the Hailey foothills. Pick up oversized carry-on bags before heading inside, then stand by the warmth of the fireplace until your checked luggage is unloaded.
New Flight Approach Procedures
A new proprietary flight approach procedure is now in use. This allows flights to land with much lower ceiling and visibility than permitted by SUN’s past approach procedures. Alaska Airlines has used similar technology at SUN since 2016 and has seen a dramatic drop in their number of weather-related flight diversions. However, it is important to remember, this does not mean SUN is immune from weather-related diversions, but it has “saved” 38 flights in its first two months of operation.
Getting Around
There are plenty of ways to get from Friedman Memorial Airport to your lodgings, and around town once you’ve settled in.
- Uber: now in serving the Sun Valley area! Download the Uber app and request a car for airport service and for travel throughout the area. Learn More About Using Uber
- Mountain Rides Bus: Mountain Rides will begin operating with rides to Hailey and Ketchum from the airport this during peak season. Be sure to check their website for the latest scheduling and fares.
- Shuttles: many resorts – including Sun Valley Resort, Les Saisons and Knob Hill – offer shuttle service from the airport and around town. Reservations are almost always required. Call in advance to arrange airport shuttle service.
- Taxis: available in a limited quantity at the airport and around town. Plan ahead here if you find yourself using this mode of transportation.
- Rental Cars: renting a car for your stay is simple with Avis, Enterprise, Budget, National and Hertz rental booths inside the airport terminal. Book in advance for the best rates and to be guaranteed a car upon arrival.
Once you arrive in Ketchum or Sun Valley the best way to get around is by foot or bus. Most everything is walking distance on sidewalk or groomed bike path. For those who prefer to ride, Mountain Rides provides free bus service throughout Ketchum and Sun Valley. Buses are equipped for skis, snowboards, and bikes. Schedules are posted at each stop and online. Taxis can be rather hit or miss in town.
An Alternate Path: Flying into Boise or Salt Lake City
Sun Valley’s closest major airports are Boise (BOI) and Salt Lake City (SLC). Located 2.5 hours west of Sun Valley, the drive from Boise crosses over the Bennett Hills and through the Camas Prairie before turning north into the mountains. The Boise Airport services all major car rental companies. Once behind the wheel you have few route choices. For the shortest drive time – and the best scenery – take Route 20 from Mountain Home to the junction of Highway 75. To make sure white-knuckling a mountain road covered in snow and ice isn’t on your vacation itinerary, check Idaho’s 511 Traveler Information for road conditions during the winter months. If Route 20 is snow covered or icy take Highway 84 east to Route 26 then head north at Shoshone on 75. Better yet, let someone else do the driving. Book passage on the Sun Valley Express between Boise and Sun Valley ($85 each way). Reservations are required. The drive from Salt Lake City is 4.5 hours in good weather. The route is mostly highway, with two low mountain passes between Tremonton and Snowville, Utah. Roads can be snow covered and icy, so check conditions before leaving Salt Lake.
See all the Travel Options
To give you an idea of all the ways to get to Sun Valley, check out a site call Rio2Rome.com. Plug in your originating city and the stie will deliver all the best routing options ranked by travel times. It’s a great resource to see a variety of scenarios for getting to the unbeaten path.
Need another reason to book your flight to Sun Valley? Check out our calendar of events:
Ready to go? We’ve built out a flight search tool with all the best information on flying in to Sun Valley and the surrounding areas.
It’s easy to get to Sun Valley for thrilling skiing and snowboarding on some of the finest slopes in the West. The resort is only 12 miles from the town of Hailey. Hailey has a smaller airport – Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN) – that has inbound and outbound flights during the ski season from a few major U.S. cities: Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Denver. A larger airport in Boise has additional flights during the winter. Boise is about a 2.5-hour drive from Sun Valley.
The airport in Sun Valley is called Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN). It is a smaller airport located in the town of Hailey, about 12 miles from Ketchum and Sun Valley Ski Resort. Friedman Memorial Airport has numerous inbound and outbound flights daily from major U.S. carriers like Alaska Airlines, Delta and United. The airport has several daily nonstop flights from Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, San Francisco and Seattle.
If you catch a nonstop flight to Friedman Memorial Airport in Hailey, you’ll only be about 12 miles from the ski lifts at Sun Valley. There are several options to get you from the airport to the lifts or your accommodations in Ketchum or Sun Valley. You can use public transportation and take one of the many free local buses that service the community, or you can rent a car from one of the rental car companies. Rideshares like Lyft and Uber are also prevalent in the area.
Some of the largest U.S. cities have nonstop flights daily to Sun Valley’s Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN). You can get to Sun Valley directly from Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, San Francisco and Seattle via a flight with Alaska Airlines, Delta and United. The Boise airport has additional flight options. It is about 2.5 hours’ drive from the ski resort.
You can search for nonstop flights directly on our website. Browse available flights and prices from major carriers. Direct flights to Sun Valley during the winter are provided by Alaska Airlines and Delta from Seattle and Los Angeles. United Airlines offers flights from San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Denver and Chicago.
Yes! You can save a little moolah on a group ski lesson if you’re headed to Sun Valley from Seattle. Redeem your Alaska Airlines boarding pass from Seattle to Sun Valley and receive 50% off an adult group lesson the day after you arrive. Or, if you’re bringing your gear with you from home, you can get a special, flat rate of $25 to fly your skis. Pick the deal that’s best for you!
Don’t live near a city with a nonstop flight? No worries. Most connection points in the West are through either Salt Lake City or Denver. If you can connect there or through Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco or Seattle, you should be able to find a direct flight to Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN) in Sun Valley.
Yes. If you believe you left something on the airplane or in the airport terminal, please contact your airline, or the Airport Manager’s Office at (208) 788-4956, extension 101.
Friedman Memorial Airport has limited food in the terminal, but The Coffee House has some of the tastiest brews in the valley. The Coffee House has traditional coffee drinks featuring locally roasted Lizzy’s Coffee. Enjoy free Wi-Fi while you sip your beverage of choice.
Like many airports at higher elevations, Friedman Memorial Airport does have flight delays from time to time, mostly due to high winds or heavy snowfall during the winter. In most cases, flights will be delayed until they can either takeoff or arrive safely at the airport. In rare cases where flights are diverted, they are often sent to either Twin Falls or Boise, depending on current weather conditions. Twin Falls is about 1.5 hours’ drive from Sun Valley.
Yes! Rideshare programs are popular in the mountain town. You should be able to get a ride on Lyft, Uber or your other favorite rideshare app. Keep in mind that there may be delays during high points of the season. Sun Valley has lots of vacationers who need to get around!
One of the best amenities a ski lodge can have is a convenient ski shuttle that can deliver you to the slopes easily. Many resorts – like Sun Valley Resort, Knob Hill and Les Saisons – offer shuttle service from the airport and around town. Call in advance to arrange airport shuttle service. Reservations are alway recommended.
Sun Valley is a contemporary mountain ski town with a full slate of events and cultural activities all year. When you’re not billowing through fresh powder on the mountain, snag tickets for dance, theater, music, stand-up comedy or intriguing panel discussion. There are indoor activities throughout the day at the local library and community center, and amazing evening events at the town’s finest hotels, restaurants and other gathering spots. There are even outdoor events off the slopes that shouldn’t be missed. Our calendar page lists it all!
Once you arrive in Ketchum or Sun Valley, the best way to get around is by foot or by bus. Almost everything is within walking distance on either a sidewalk or groomed bike path. Mountain Rides provides free bus service throughout Ketchum and Sun Valley, for those who prefer to ride. Buses are equipped for skis, snowboards and bikes. Schedules are posted at each stop as well as online. There are also taxis around town.
Sun Valley is about 1.5 hours north of Twin Falls. Located 2.5 hours west of Sun Valley, the drive from Boise crosses the Bennett Hills and through the Camas Prairie before turning into the mountains. The drive from Salt Lake City is 4.5 hours in good weather. The route is mostly highway, with two low mountain passes between Tremonton and Snowville, Utah.