Things to Do in Livingston, Montana

Livingston sits where the Yellowstone River swings north out of the mountains. It was built by the Northern Pacific Railway in 1882 and was the first town where travelers changed trains for Yellowstone. Today it is a compact, walkable downtown of brick buildings, galleries, bars and fly shops, about 42 minutes (36 miles) from our homes in Belgrade (approximate, OSRM routing; real times vary with weather, traffic and road work) OSRM.

Suggested itinerary from Belgrade: half day to full day

1. Belgrade → Livingston on I-90 east over Bozeman Pass (about 42 min / 36 mi).
2. Walk downtown and visit the Livingston Depot Center (seasonal) or the Yellowstone Gateway Museum: allow 1–2 hours.
3. Lunch downtown (see where to eat).
4. Optional: continue south on US-89 into Paradise Valley; Chico Hot Springs is about 37 min / 27 mi from Livingston.
5. Return to Belgrade (about 42 min / 36 mi), or continue to Gardiner and the North Entrance (about 65 min / 55 mi from Livingston).

Seasonal notes: Winter roads over Bozeman Pass can be snowy, and Livingston is often very windy in winter. The Depot Center is a summer museum.

Family tips: the Depot Center’s trains and the July 1–4 Livingston Roundup rodeo.

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

Places listed on official sites (we don’t publish hours or prices; check before you go):

• Murray Bar (201 W Park St): a historic Livingston bar with food. Murray Block
• Gil’s Goods (207 W Park St): bakery and wood-fired dishes. Murray Block
• 2nd Street Bistro (123 N 2nd St): French-inspired bistro. Murray Block
• Chico Hot Springs dining room, in Pray in Paradise Valley. Chico

Livingston by season

Summer is peak season for the river, the rodeo and the Depot museum. Fall brings golden cottonwoods along the Yellowstone. Winter is relatively mild for Montana but Livingston is famously windy; it sits on the one road to the only Yellowstone entrance open to cars all year (North Entrance → Mammoth → Lamar Valley → Cooke City). NPS Spring is quiet, with runoff on the river. Wikipedia

A short history of Livingston

William Clark camped near the site on his return journey in July 1806. The Northern Pacific Railway reached the area on November 22, 1882; an earlier settlement nearby was known as Clark City. Livingston was incorporated on December 21, 1882 and named for Johnston Livingston, a Northern Pacific director. Wikipedia

The railroad made Livingston the first gateway to Yellowstone: a Northern Pacific branch ran south up Paradise Valley to Cinnabar and later to Gardiner, and visitors changed trains here. The current depot was built in 1902 to a design by Reed & Stem, the architects later known for New York’s Grand Central Terminal. Livingston Depot Center

Calamity Jane lived in Livingston for a time. Dan Bailey opened his fly shop here in 1938, helping turn the town into a fly-fishing capital, and films including A River Runs Through It (1992) were shot in the area. The town has 17 sites on the National Register of Historic Places; its population was 8,040 in the 2020 census, at about 4,495 ft elevation. Wikipedia

Nearby guides

Gardiner · Bozeman · Paradise Valley hot springs · Yellowstone day trip from Bozeman · All guides