Things to Do in Gardiner, MT: Yellowstone North Entrance Guide

Gardiner straddles the Yellowstone River right at the park’s North Entrance, about 98 minutes (88 miles) from our homes in Belgrade (approximate, OSRM routing; real times vary with weather, traffic and road work) OSRM. It is the only entrance open to regular cars all year. NPS

Plan your visit

Worth visiting? Yes, as the doorway to Mammoth Hot Springs and Lamar Valley, and the only entrance open to cars in winter.
How long: A full day from Belgrade, including time in the park.
With kids: the Roosevelt Arch and wildlife watching are big hits; services are limited off-season.
Combine with: Livingston and Paradise Valley on the way.
Bad-weather option: wildlife watching from the car on the year-round road, weather permitting.

Things to do in Gardiner

Roosevelt Arch and the walk along the river.
Mammoth Hot Springs, about 15 minutes in (NPS estimate). NPS
Lamar Valley wildlife watching on the year-round road to Cooke City.
Rafting and fishing on the Yellowstone in summer.
Local listings: Visit Gardiner

North Entrance & Lamar Valley tours

VIP Private North Yellowstone Winter Excursion

⏱ 5–7 hours📍 Pickup: Bozeman, Gardiner, Livingston

A private 4WD day through the North Entrance: wildlife, Mammoth Hot Springs and the northern range. Runs November to April, Tuesday to Thursday.

Good for: Wildlife

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Yellowstone Wildlife Safari in Lamar Valley from Bozeman

⏱ Full day📍 Starts in Bozeman

A guided day in Lamar Valley searching for wolves, bison and elk with a naturalist guide and spotting scopes.

Good for: Wildlife

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Affiliate links: if you book through Viator or GetYourGuide we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.

Suggested itinerary from Belgrade: a full day in the northern park

Belgrade → Gardiner via Livingston and US-89 (about 98 min / 88 mi).
Photo stop at the Roosevelt Arch.
Drive into the park to Mammoth Hot Springs (about 15 min / 5 mi from Gardiner; NPS also gives about 15 minutes).
Optional: Lamar Valley for wildlife; this is the road kept open to cars year-round, weather permitting.
Return to Belgrade (about 98 min / 88 mi).

Seasonal notes: Park entrance fee applies. In winter only the North Entrance–Cooke City road is open to regular cars.

Family tips: wildlife watching from the car; keep the NPS distance rules for wildlife.

Suggested plan, not a tested report. Drive times are approximate OSRM routing estimates (no traffic, construction or winter conditions); allow more time in snow. Check hours and road status before you go.

Where to eat and drink

Wonderland Cafe & Lodge (206 Main St). site

Several Gardiner restaurants close seasonally; use the dining list at visitgardinermt.com before you go.

Map and getting to Gardiner

Map © OpenStreetMap contributors. Markers are approximate.

The route from Belgrade runs through Livingston and Paradise Valley on US-89.

🚗 Rent a car in BozemanFlying into BZN? Compare rental cars and drive to Yellowstone and Big Sky on your own schedule.

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Gardiner by season

Summer is busy with rafting and park traffic. Fall is the elk rut, often right in town. Winter is Gardiner’s quiet secret: you can drive into the park toward Lamar Valley, weather permitting. NPS Many businesses close or cut hours in the off-season.

Annual events

See the town listings for current events. Visit Gardiner

A short history of Gardiner

Gardiner was founded in 1880 and named, with a spelling slip, after Johnson Gardner, a trapper who worked the area in 1830–31. Gold had been found in nearby Bear Gulch in 1865, and James McCartney moved his business here in 1879 from Mammoth. Northern Pacific trains reached Gardiner in 1902–03 (sources differ on the exact year), and on April 24, 1903 Theodore Roosevelt laid the cornerstone of the Roosevelt Arch. Wikipedia Wikipedia

The Yellowstone Heritage and Research Center opened in Gardiner on May 18, 2005. In June 2022, historic floods severed the North Entrance road; a new road now links Gardiner and Mammoth. Wikipedia

Stay in Belgrade

Make Belgrade your base

Gardiner is a full but rewarding day trip from Belgrade, especially in winter.

Day trip or overnight? Gardiner is about 98 min / 88 mi from Belgrade (OSRM, approximate; no traffic or winter conditions), a long day trip. For several days in the north of the park, staying in Gardiner saves driving.

We host five whole-home vacation rentals in Belgrade, about 5 minutes from Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN): three homes plus a duplex with two private units that can be booked together. Sky (3BR, up to 7 guests), Cozy (3BR, up to 8), Comfy Lodge (up to 6), and the Mountainview duplex: Unit A and Unit B (6 guests each), or the whole duplex for up to 12.

Sky 3BR Lodge, up to 7 guests · Check dates on Airbnb
Cozy 3BR Lodge, up to 8 guests · Check dates on Airbnb
Comfy Lodge House, up to 6 guests · Check dates on Airbnb
Modern Mountainview A, up to 6 guests · Check dates on Airbnb
Modern Mountainview B, up to 6 guests · Check dates on Airbnb
Whole duplex (A + B), up to 12 guests · Check dates on Airbnb

Belgrade works best as a base for day trips around southwest Montana. If you plan several days in a row inside Yellowstone, staying in a gateway town may suit you better; see where to stay near Yellowstone.

Compare our homes

Nearby guides

Livingston · West Yellowstone · Yellowstone day trip from Bozeman · Where to stay near Yellowstone · All guides

Frequently asked questions

Is the North Entrance open in winter?

Yes. The road from Gardiner through Mammoth to Cooke City is open to cars all year, weather permitting.

Where to eat in Gardiner

See our starting list of Gardiner restaurants.

Things to Do in Gardiner, Montana

Yellowstone near Gardiner: our photos