Billings Logan International Airport: Montana’s Underrated Little Hub

I’ll be honest – most people don’t think much about Billings, Montana when planning travel. But if you’ve got business in the region, or you’re heading toward Yellowstone from this direction, Billings Logan International is your airport. And it’s actually… kind of nice?

The airport sits on this plateau north of town, and when you’re coming in for a landing, you get these incredible views of the Yellowstone River Valley below. It’s one of those approaches where you actually want the window seat.

How This Place Got Started

So the airport’s been around since 1928, which blew my mind when I first learned that. Started as a simple airstrip for airmail – you know, back when that was a big deal. By 1958 they named it after Dick Logan, a local civic leader who apparently championed the whole thing.

It’s wild to think about how much it’s changed. From a handful of mail planes to handling close to a million passengers a year now. Not huge by national standards, but for Montana? It’s the real deal.

What You’ll Find Inside

The terminal’s not going to blow your mind with fancy amenities, but it’s got everything you actually need. Decent cafes, a few restaurants that don’t feel completely like “airport food,” gift shops for when you forgot to buy something in town, and those little convenience stores for last-minute stuff.

Free WiFi works throughout the terminal – I tested it last time through and it was surprisingly not terrible. They’ve got a business center tucked away somewhere with meeting rooms if you need to squeeze in some work.

And they’re pretty good about accessibility. Wheelchairs, assistance services, all that. I’ve traveled with my mom who needs help getting around, and the staff here were genuinely helpful rather than just going through the motions.

Getting There and Away

Here’s the nice part – the airport’s less than four miles from downtown Billings. So whether you’re grabbing a rental car, catching a taxi, or using one of those hotel shuttles, you’re not dealing with some massive transit situation.

Parking’s pretty straightforward too. Short-term right near the terminal, long-term a bit further out but still a short walk. Nobody’s making you take a bus to some lot in another zip code.

Car rentals – the usual suspects are all there. Hertz, Enterprise, Budget, that whole crew. Pick up your keys and you’re on your way.

Where Can You Actually Fly?

Delta, American, United – they all run routes through here. The main connections are Denver, Seattle, and Minneapolis, which gets you pretty much anywhere else you’d want to go.

During summer especially, they beef up the schedule. Makes sense – tons of tourists are heading this way for Yellowstone and the surrounding wilderness. Alaska Airlines tends to add extra flights when the tourism season hits.

Beyond Just Passengers

The airport does way more than just shuttle people around. There’s serious cargo operations here, plus support for general aviation – private planes, flight schools, that kind of thing.

Speaking of which, the Montana skies are apparently fantastic for learning to fly. Big open spaces, good weather a lot of the time. There are training schools in the area that take full advantage of that.

What It Means for Billings

This airport’s a bigger deal for the local economy than you might think. We’re talking over 3,000 jobs when you add it all up – directly and indirectly. Tourism dollars flowing in, business travel keeping things moving.

They even do events at the terminal sometimes – local art exhibitions, cultural stuff. It’s kind of charming, honestly. The airport actually tries to feel like part of the community rather than just some transit zone.

What’s Coming Next

From what I’ve heard, they’ve got expansion plans in the works. More capacity, better passenger experience, modernizing things that probably haven’t been touched since the 70s.

There’s also a push toward being more environmentally conscious. Energy-efficient systems, reducing waste, the whole sustainability thing that airports are finally starting to take seriously.

Practical Tips If You’re Flying Through

Honestly? This airport’s pretty easy. But a few things to keep in mind:

• Arrive maybe 90 minutes before domestic flights. That’s plenty of time, and you won’t be stressed.
• Check your flight status before you head out, especially in winter. Montana weather can get dicey.
• The cafes aren’t bad for killing time if you’re early. Grab a coffee, take advantage of the WiFi.
• If you’re visiting between November and March, pack layers and expect possible delays. Snow happens here.

Billings Logan isn’t glamorous, but it does what it needs to do without making you miserable in the process. And those Montana views on approach? Worth the trip.